Eminem Joined By 50 Cent and Dr. Dre On New "Crack A Bottle"

The third and likely final version of Eminem's "Crack A Bottle" hit the Internet today, complete with new verses featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. The track is expected to be included on the Slim Shady's upcoming comeback LP Relapse, due out in the first quarter of 2009. As opposed to those previous five song leaks that left Eminem "heated," this time the song was actually distributed to the media. The track originally appeared back in December under the title "Number One," where the unmastered version featured on Big Mike & Neptune's 4th Quarter Pressure Part Two mixtape.

Besides the more polished production and Eminem's proclamation that Slim Shady is the "undisputed most diabolical villain," the real all-star here is Dr. Dre, who makes a rare return to the microphone since his own Chronic 2001 and shows fans he hasn't lost his lyrical flow as we anxiously await the long-delayed Detox (even though Eminem reportedly wrote the verse). 50 Cent, who has his own Before I Self Destruct due out in '09, also contributes one of his most melodic verses. Eminem will pay 50 back for his cameo by appearing on Self Destruct's "Norman Bates Motel," also produced by Dre and possibly the first rap song ever inspired by Alfred Hitchcock. The majority of Relapse was also produced by Dr. Dre, and marks the first Eminem album since 2004's Encore. With three of their biggest acts due to release new albums this year, it's sizing up to be a big year for Aftermath Records.

Related Stories:
• Eminem "Heated" About Song Leaks, Says He And Dr. Dre Are Back To "Mischievous Ways"
• UMG's Iovine Talks U2, Dre and Eminem Album Delays
• In the Studio: 50 Cent Gets "Dark" on New Disc

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Song Stories

“The A Team”

Ed Sheeran | 2011

This debut track from the then-20-year-old British singer-songwriter has a dark story behind it. Sheeran says he culls songwriting inspiration from "viewing other people's situations," which, for the heroine in "The A Team," involves drug addiction and prostitution that began as a teen. Sheeran paints the woman's trials with haunting imagery such as "But lately her face seems/Slowly sinking, wasting/Crumbling like pastries." "I did a gig at a homeless shelter, [and the song] is about one of the women there. It's her story," he said.

More Song Stories entries »

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