Album Overview and Release Details
Relapse is the sixth studio album by American rapper Eminem, released on May 15, 2009, under Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, and Interscope Records. The album was produced primarily by Dr. Dre and features a return to Eminem's horrorcore and Slim Shady style after a hiatus following his 2004 album Encore. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling over 608,000 copies in its first week in the United States. The project marked Eminem's first studio release in nearly five years and was supported by the lead single "We Made You." For more on the album's commercial debut, see the Billboard chart archives here.
The album was recorded over a period of roughly two years, with sessions taking place at 54 Sound in Ferndale, Michigan, and other studios. Eminem described Relapse as a concept album centered on his character Slim Shady and a fictionalized account of his past struggles with addiction and incarceration. The project features 20 tracks and includes guest appearances by Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, and Nate Dogg. The cover art was designed by Mike Saputo, with photography by Joseph Cultice.
Tracklist and Production Credits
The standard edition of Relapse contains 20 tracks, including "3 a.m.," "My Name Is," "Crack a Bottle," and "Beautiful." The album features production from Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Dawaun Parker, with mixing handled by Dr. Dre and others at Record One and 54 Sound. The tracklist reflects a narrative arc focused on relapse into drug use, violent fantasies, and dark humor, continuing themes from The Slim Shady LP and The Marshall Mathers LP.
Dr. Dre served as executive producer and contributed to several tracks, while Eminem handled the majority of the writing. The album's runtime is approximately 77 minutes, making it one of the longer hip-hop releases of its era. The deluxe edition includes additional tracks and a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes footage. The project was mastered by Brian Gardner at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood, California.
Chart Performance and Legacy
Relapse debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for 33 weeks. It also topped charts in several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales exceeding two million copies in the United States. It earned Eminem a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album at the 2010 ceremony.
Relapse was followed by a sequel, Relapse 2, which was later rebranded as Recovery in 2010. The album's themes of addiction and recovery were revisited in subsequent projects, including Revival and Music to Be Murdered By. For more on the album's certification and chart history, see the RIAA database here.