With the release earlier this summer of Detriot rapper Eminem's latest '"Greatest Hits" compilation, Curtain Call 2, Em's long-time manager, Paul Rosenberg, is taking an in-depth look at the hits, art, albums, and inspirations that make up the legendary library of Mr. Mathers -- told through first-hand experiences, and anecdotes by participants and collaborators in a new 7-part series in celebration of the new collection.
LISTEN NOW: Paul Pod: Curtain Call 2: Eminem (Part 1)
Following conversations with collaborators Skylar Grey, Royce da 5'9, and more, Slim Shady himself joins Rosenberg today for the first of two chats to complete the celebratory series. "I was indeed very concerned," Paul shared on his social media teasing their interview, and rightfully so, given the seriousness of the topics covered. After the death of his childhood friend Proof in 2006, Em decided to take a break from the music game, prefaced by the release of his first singles collection in 2005, Curtain Call: The Hits.
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The new offering begins where the last collection left off, covering the most recent years of his career, beginning with 2009's Relapse, plus three new songs -- "The King and I" with CeeLo Green; "From the D 2 the LBC" with Snoop Dogg and "Is This Love ('09)" with 50 Cent.
During his mid-00s hiatus, Eminem was hospitalized following a methadone overdose in December of 2007 after collapsing on his bathroom floor. According to doctors, he was very close to death after ingesting the equivalent of four bags of heroin. After checking himself out and returning to his bad habits within a month, the rapper sought to rehabilitate himself with counseling, exercise, and some unlikely support from “The Rocket Man,” Elton John. Eminem has been sober since April 20, 2008.
Thinking back to when he officially began work on 2009's Relapse after a four-year pause, Eminem admits in his talk with Rosenberg, "when I first got sober and all the s*** was out of my system, I remember just being, like, really happy and everything was f***ing new to me again." Adding, "It was the first album and the first one that I had fun recording in a long time."
Although it "took a long time for my brain to start working again," Eminem confesses, he reiterated that "it was like the first time I started having fun with music again," while at the same time "relearning how to rap." Rosenberg explains further, "You literally were coming off of an overdose, and they had to sort of stabilize you with a few medications... And some of them took you a minute to adjust to, let’s just leave it at that. So, you’re learning how to rap again almost literally, right? Because it’s the first time, probably, you were creating without having substances in your body in, however many years, right? I thought you might have some permanent problems. I was concerned, for sure."
His first attempts at music, Eminem says, were not quite up to par. "It was f***ing weird," he admits, "because as my brain started turning back on I started going over lines like, 'Wait, that's not good.'" But the hard work certainly paid off. His sixth studio album, Relapse, would eventually be heralded as a fan-favorite and is certified 3X Platinum in the U.S., 2x Platinum in the UK, Australia, and Ireland, and Platinum/Gold in just about every other territory on the planet.
Follow along right here as Paul Rosenberg, continues his look back with the inside players, stars, and unsung heroes that have helped, guided, and inspired Eminem throughout the past 15+ years of his career -- exclusively on The PAUL POD: Curtain Call 2 -- now streaming on Audacy.
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Follow along with even more of Audacy's all-new stations like Eminem Radio, Dr. Dre Radio, Snoop Dogg Radio, West Coast Rap, Conscious Hip Hop, Hip Hop Uncut, and more -- plus check out our talent-hosted Ed Lover's Timeless Throwbacks and Greg Street's Dirty South Hip Hop!
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