It’s been years since we heard from rap superstar Eminem, but just as quickly as he disappeared from the scene four years ago, talk of his return is taking over at the water cooler of hip hop. His last original album was Encore (iTunes), back in 2004. A year later he released a greatest hits album, Curtain Call, with no new material on it. Then in 2006 he led a project called The Re-Up, but again, his lyrical contributions were sparse. Just when we were about to write off Slim Shady, we got word that he was going to be dropping an album by the end of the year. We figured that was near impossible, so we didn’t report on it. Then, out of nowhere, everywhere we turned we were reading quotes from Eminem himself, saying he has been back in the studio, and is aiming at getting his album, Relapse, out the door before the end of 2008. That means sometime in the next 9 weeks or so.

A taster track, “I’m Having a Relapse”, has already been leaked to the Internet, and is featured in the video above. Do be aware that there is some offensive language in the track. Rumor has it that Dr. Dre is producing most of the album (which likely explains the delay in his album, Detox,) and if that is the case, then we can likely expect a return to the roots of The Slim Shady LP (iTunes) and The Marshall Mathers LP (iTunes), both runaway hits. 50 Cent is also reportedly working with Eminem on the album as well. Hopefully, we’ll find out if Em is truly back again before Christmas.