Relapse is the sixth studio album by the American rapper Eminem. It was released on May 15, 2009, through Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, and Interscope Records. It was Eminem's first studio album after a hiatus following Encore (2004), due to writer's block and an addiction to prescription sleeping medication. Eminem's mentor Dr. Dre produced every track except for "Beautiful", which Eminem produced himself. Guest appearances include Dr. Dre and 50 Cent; a reissue, released on December 21, adds Drake, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne.
Relapse is a horrorcore album about drug rehabilitation and relapse. It features the return of Eminem's Slim Shady alter ego, and Eminem described it as reminiscent of The Slim Shady LP (1999) and The Marshall Mathers LP (2000). The concept album features Eminem as a serial killer using various accents, and includes skits with performances from Dominic West, Paul Rosenberg, and Angela Yee, among others.
Relapse was promoted with five singles: "Crack a Bottle" (which topped the US Billboard Hot 100), "We Made You", "3 a.m.", "Old Time's Sake", and "Beautiful". It received mixed reviews; critics generally praised its production, but were divided over the writing and criticized Eminem's accents. Nonetheless, Relapse won Best Rap Album at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, while "Crack a Bottle" won for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. While Eminem expressed dissatisfaction with Relapse following its release, it developed a cult following and underwent a critical reevaluation; it is now regarded as one of Eminem's best albums, with praise for its humor, performances, and creativity.
One of the most anticipated albums of 2009, Relapse debuted atop the US Billboard 200, with 608,000 copies sold in its first week, staying at top for two weeks. It also reached number one in 12 other countries. In 2022, it was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A sequel was planned, but canceled in favor of Recovery (2010).
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