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Producer Says Eminem Was in “Rare Creative Form” for “Relapse”

5/28/09, 12:51 pm EST

Photo: Legato/WireImage

Everyone knows Dr. Dre produced Eminem’s new Number One album, Relapse, but he didn’t do it alone. Among the Aftermath staff producers who helped put together beats and hooks for the album is Dawaun Parker, who joined Dre’s team in 2005, two days after he graduated with the prestigious Berklee College of Music.

Parker spent long weeks in Eminem’s Detroit studio, working on all but one of the tracks on the Relapse and earning a co-production credit with Dre on “Same Song and Dance.” He says collaborating with the master MC was inspiring. “If he felt any pressure, he didn’t show it,” says Parker, adding that Eminem was constantly listening to rhymes over and over, making syllabic changes that a lot of other rappers would overlook. “He seemed like he was in rare creative form during that time.”

Parker says that even before Eminem mentioned that he was returning to the Slim Shady character of his early records, people in the studio could tell. “In the studio, we would say, ‘It sounds like Shady. It sounds like he’s rhyming like an animal right now.’ ”

Since completing work on Relapse, Parker, who has also worked with Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and T.I., is recording overdubs for 50 Cent’s forthcoming album, Before I Self Destruct, and working on Dre’s long-delayed solo project, Detox. “Every year that anticipation builds,” says Parker. “At this point, people aren’t even sure what they want it to sound like. They want to hear some kind of frequency that doesn’t exist.”

As for when Detox will be released, he’s making no promises: “Whenever Doc feels like it’s ready.”


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Comments

Kevin the Robot | 5/28/2009, 12:55 pm EST

Detox is the new Chinese Democracy.

Greendale | 5/28/2009, 1:25 pm EST

Eminem has gotten dull & predictable.

doobler | 5/28/2009, 1:49 pm EST

Detox is NOT the new Chinese Democracy. Dre is still Dre, not some washed up has been that everyone hates and thinks is a douchebag.

whatever | 5/28/2009, 2:04 pm EST

I love 3 A.M off of his new cd although the media has allowed him to side about beating his wife Kim (Okay that B deserved every lick?)

Tom the jones | 5/28/2009, 2:35 pm EST

Greendale has gotten dull & predictable.

Jeff | 5/28/2009, 2:41 pm EST

Doobler,

Uh yeah Detox is the new Chinese Democracy. Deal with it.

Relapse sucks. I hope Relapse 2 is the complete opposite.

doober | 5/28/2009, 3:27 pm EST

Detox must be the new Chinese Democracy.

Donna Parker | 5/28/2009, 4:57 pm EST

I am so proud of my son Dawaun in all of his accomplishments

Craig | 5/28/2009, 6:09 pm EST

For the people that bash Ems new stuff. Its because you hold him on a pedestal next to Christ. I barely knew of Wayne when i bought his album last year.. It was a good offering. Had we had the same standards we have for Em, the album woulda been shit, and we would have never heard of him again. Tiger Woods is amazing these days. But are you going to constantly compare him to Tiger of 2000? Relapse is as good as any CD he has ever put out, the thing we seem to miss the most is his Eye of the tiger.. Well kinda hard to still have it when you’ve accomplished everything you’ve ever dreamed of. I’m so thankful he manages to still put out better music than any of his peers. Listen to him, then someone else.. You’ll have withdrawls.

JD | 5/28/2009, 7:14 pm EST

I think all his stuff sounds the same. I saw an ad on TV promoting the album and what I heard was typical Em.

Nick | 5/28/2009, 8:04 pm EST

Relapse is lyrical genius.

You can hate the style of it all you want but anyone who can’t respect or appreciate the lyrical prowess AND insane deliveries doesn’t know rap.

He changes styles / flows every fucking track. Most rappers keep one style FOREVER.

Eminem "Beautiful" | 5/28/2009, 8:37 pm EST

Eminem’s rap “Beautiful” is soulful, inspirational. Sometimes when individuals get everything they ever wanted they realize that they’re the same person inside. Money or broke, it’s a rude awakening when we realize inside we still have the same demons.

Shakespeare | 5/28/2009, 9:12 pm EST

Who cares about DETOX really? The man had one good album and it was called THE CHRONIC! He has produced alright songs for 2pac which was CALIFORNIA LOVE that went to #1! The only other single the man has produced that went to number 1 on the charts was IN DA CLUB by 50cent. Yeah he has produced alot of good beats for EMINEM, but none of the songs he produced for EMINEM went to #1 except CRACK A BOTTLE! Eminems only other number 1 song on the billboard charts was LOSE MYSELF! Eminem makes better albums without the help of DRE! Hell im not saying that DRE is bad, im just saying, dont compare him to MOZART! The man had one good album and 2001 was alright, not as good as THE CHRONIC! It was only good because EMINEM was on it. So point in short is this, stop making this man out to be greater then he is! He doesnt write his own raps, and he never produces a song by himself! He always has another co-producer credit! Meaning he thinks up a beat and has two other people make it for him, and thus takes the credit! Just look at all of the liner notes in all his productions or CDS! DRE is so over hyped, when his album drops it will flop! Keeping your fans waiting for maybe 5 year gap, they might still be around to like you? But you keep them waiting more then a decade, sorry folks its OVER!

B.O.DABL BB | 5/28/2009, 9:49 pm EST

All of you who diss eminem f u c k all of ya.hes the best and thats a fact.

drainyou | 5/28/2009, 11:10 pm EST

The record sucks not because we want marshall to be something he’s not.. it sucks because he’s a one trick pony and he’s a phony ony pony to boot..

The beats suck, the harmonies are discordant and his cadence is annoying. If it ain’t broke, but wait.. its broke.

testing-tester | 5/28/2009, 11:12 pm EST

The album is absolutely amazing, arguably better than the eminem show.

nikole | 5/28/2009, 11:41 pm EST

relapse does not suck. eminem is not dull, nor predictable. hes genius and hes on point right now. oh and btw if you have hear only a few songs off of the album, or heard bits and pieces off of amazon or on a commercial… dont come on here and give your two sense… listen to the music thoroughly before giving your opinion. jackasses.

???? | 5/28/2009, 11:51 pm EST

his new accent sucks so hard

Pistolo86 | 5/28/2009, 11:59 pm EST

It’s less a relapse than a rehash, less a comeback album than the kind of album artists need to come back from.

carib79 | 5/29/2009, 12:04 am EST

Eminem predictable and dull?? Please, just like Craig said, Em has become so great that everyone puts him on a pedistal next to Jesus. What do other rappers do different?? What does Jay Z or wayne do different? Nothing! Just a different beat and hook. Em is still more creative than all other mainstream rappers. Who knew Em was coming with the serial killer persona on this album?? I know everyone is allowed to have an opinion and that’s fine. I respect that, but we all know Em is the man and he will dominate this year!As far as Detox goes, I hope it lives up to expectations, but hey you can afford to just sit back when you got Em who is the precious jewl at interscope. Everything stops when he comes around. Can’t wait for Relapse 2 and detox…It’s going to be a hot summer.

OminousT | 5/29/2009, 12:35 am EST

Relapse is great.
Not as good as Eminem Show, but DEFINITELY better than encore. Looking forward to R2

Troy | 5/29/2009, 12:52 am EST

Upon first hearing the album I thought it was typical em then I took a long drive and bumped it. Lyrical genius and beats that are anything but the typical bubblegum bullshit that’s so popular in music today

Remeny | 5/29/2009, 7:10 am EST

Well rap is stereotypical, you get rappers who are always on about money ang girls then you get rappers who think they are deep, Eminem has never ben neither, he tells stories… This album is great, eminem is a wordsmith..the wordplay here is incredible

Remeny | 5/29/2009, 7:10 am EST

Well rap is stereotypical, you get rappers who are always on about money ang girls then you get rappers who think they are deep, Eminem has never ben neither, he tells stories… This album is great, eminem is a wordsmith..the wordplay here is incredible

DYEMIN21 | 5/29/2009, 11:21 am EST

oh yeah by the way CONGRATS Dawaun….

BIG C | 5/29/2009, 12:06 pm EST

Yeah,Em’s a gud rapper bt i dnt tink he’s d best.Relapse is ok,bt nt az gud as Eminem Show,beat dat!!!

Greendale | 5/29/2009, 12:25 pm EST

Em is still rapping about Christopher Reeves and butt sex……oh, how “cutting edge” and “shocking”. Desperate. He’s Marilyn Manson without the clown make up.

BooRadly | 5/29/2009, 8:06 pm EST

“big c” please don’t ever comment again on ANYTHING without using the spell check function.

Chad Forsgren | 5/30/2009, 8:58 am EST

Now the Doc back from his travels with U2 I’m sure that he’s incorporating a variety of beats, styles and finishing it up with his own personal touch to create the next level setting the standard to follow on Detox. I know it will be everything he says and then some.

UncleWIlly | 5/31/2009, 6:10 am EST

I’m sorry but to compare Em to Lil Wayne is like comparing a 747 jet to apples. Lil Wayne is in NO WAY anywhere close to Em’s league. His lyrics are garbled and his delivery is spotty at best. It’s crunk and that ain’t rap. Lil may freestyle his ass off, but then you have to refine those rhymes and make chicken salad out of the chicken sh!t. Em refines his rhymes, and makes them perfect. That Lil Wayne had the #1 rap albm last year is sad and alarming.

JRW | 5/31/2009, 8:54 am EST

Rap may make your head nod back and forth, but it ain’t music. How can anyone tell if it’s “creative” since it all sounds the same? Maybe by the number of times the “singer” drops the F-bomb and rhymes it with another similar sounding word or something?

Dr. Dre | 5/31/2009, 2:18 pm EST

Detox is coming…

Scrunchy | 5/31/2009, 3:39 pm EST

Hey JRW, welcome to 1985. That arguement is lame and tired. Get over it. The music is over 30 years old and isn’t going anywhere. Its hip hop. Rap is something you do over it. Goodnight grandpa.

L2thaK | 5/31/2009, 6:45 pm EST

JRW is retarded

Ken Kaniff | 5/31/2009, 8:06 pm EST

Have any of u even listened to any of his albums?Eminem show aint the best cd he put out its def Marshall Mathers lp or Slim Shady lp, eminem show comes after them though,Stop saying he should of evolved more in his career then every1 would be whining about him selling out atleast he does what he knos he can do also what got him big was doing songs like these so i respect Relapse great lyrics,great cd ,great theory and beats are good ,after encore dropped lots of ppl said they wanted the old shady back now he goes back to what he did on his 2nd album slim shady lp and kids whine i don’t get it, look at what happened to Lil Wayne once he got big he trying to evolve to this rock stuff and every1 will whine that we want old Lil Wayne back after he drops it,last thing i have to say so what if he rapping about Christopher reeves dudes a tool and always puts his superman costume on before break dancing desperate, also im 18 i grew up listening to Eminem and his 3rd verse in medicine ball is hilarious and that stuff will always be funny,ppl forget that 90% of rappers that are big today raps about money women,liquor,Eminem got big rapping about killing women gays,drugs and stuff about his family which most rappers dont do so……….

Eat mee | 5/31/2009, 11:25 pm EST

all yall are haters, enough said. you must live fantastic lives

Eat mee | 5/31/2009, 11:25 pm EST

all yall are haters, enough said. you must live fantastic lives

Marvel | 5/31/2009, 11:33 pm EST

watch out! detox is commin… you’re expecting something in particular? beware! We dont fuckin’ know what’s gonna come out of this studio! But you can be sure, that’s gonne be some gooooood shit!

SlimShady | 6/1/2009, 8:13 am EST

i thought all of his early stuff was great but my opinion is his music is just getting better. my favourite songs off the album are my mom,old times sake,stay wide awake,deja vu & beautiful
I do however think that since relapse 2 was made during the same time as the 1st that it will sound the same as relapse but wwho cares

SlimShady | 6/1/2009, 8:13 am EST

i thought all of his early stuff was great but my opinion is his music is just getting better. my favourite songs off the album are my mom,old times sake,stay wide awake,deja vu & beautiful
I do however think that since relapse 2 was made during the same time as the 1st that it will sound the same as relapse but wwho cares

Detox Just To Retox | 6/1/2009, 11:46 am EST

I think Relapse is great. Worth the wait in more ways than one. The packaging is great and I’m stoked all the lyrics are in there. One observation though–

I put MMLP, SSLP, Em Show, and Relapse jumbled and shuffled on a playlist in my ipod and if his voice isn’t higher now (which I doubt), it sounds like there’s some tonal tweeking on his voice on most of the tracks. Like the vocal track is super-compressed.

Since Dr. Dre seems to have posted a comment here, I’m surprised he didn’t discuss that with us…

Detox Just To Retox | 6/1/2009, 11:56 am EST

Greendale is a washed up waste of space. To Greendale–didn’t you rip on Jay-Z being a rock star too? And 2.–Do you have enough time in the day to talk enough smack about every rap release that comes out? That’s a lotta wasted time you’ll never get back assclown

Krista Jo | 6/1/2009, 12:54 pm EST

Dude i havent lissoned to much of his new shit but his old shit is so classic ,i know like all his songs ..the new music people sing now fuckin sucks..so keep so keep ur shit old school slim..fuck all those new bitches..um know whats up..

Krista Jo a.k.a Jones | 6/1/2009, 1:04 pm EST

dude eminem is like one of my fav. rappers ..i havent lissoned to much of his new shit..but eminem show is my fav…expecally when he raps shit about his mom..i can relate to that shit…and my dads gone crazy ,yea thats whats up with my life right now..so keep it cool and old school slim shady.. u know whats up..

B | 6/1/2009, 1:35 pm EST

E iswhats poppin for real even if his new music sounds shitty read the lyrics its whats in his mind not all of yalls anybody got beef wit slim ya got beef wit me he da best m.c

C | 6/1/2009, 2:54 pm EST

You B, you wack hom1e, 4 sho, uhhh, soul sister.

C | 6/1/2009, 2:54 pm EST

You B, you wack hom1e, 4 sho, uhhh, soul sister.

gray | 6/16/2009, 2:31 pm EST

its obvious 90 percent of you dont know your history you have only listened to em but if you did listen to every rapper ever you would realise that he is the best but if he was black he would be dead

Eminem | 6/17/2009, 1:58 pm EST

I Hope you all liked my album

SIlvio Berlsconi | 7/12/2009, 2:05 pm EST

the song beautiful is the best!
good job eminem!

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