Don't Call It a Comeback for Eminem

Out of Retirement

Does anybody in the music industry really retire? They should call it more of a hiatus or maybe a sabbatical, maybe even an extended leave of absence, but not retirement. Aside from Eminem, you've got Jay-Z who claimed it and 50 Cent said he'd do it if Kanye's album did better than his (which it did), but nary a mention of hanging up the mic. As a matter of fact, Fiddy has a new album coming out this December titled Before I Self Destruct.

Rumor had it that he was working on new music and planning on releasing some of his own stuff in the form of a new album. Mr. Mathers neither confirmed nor denied the album, but did say he had been working on new material.

During an interview on October 15, Eminem announced that the rumors were true and that he is, in fact, dropping his sixth album later on this year.

Eminem the Multi-Hyphenate

Yes, the term is rather bothersome, but here's what the Detroit rapper has been up to since announcing his "retirement":

• Writing – Not rhymes, but books. Eminem's new book The Way I Am is set for release on Tuesday, October 21.
• Releasing CD's – Yeah, he may not have been touring, but he was definitely not retired. Here's what he's released since what was believed to be his final 2004 album Curtain Call:
  • Curtain Call: The Hits – 2005
  • Eminem Presents the Re-Up – 2006

He also collaborated with Akon on his hit Smack That in 2006. Boy, retirement sure is busy for Mr. Marshall Mathers. Look for Relapse on store shelves and online just in time for the holiday season in December of 2008.