March 5, 2009 14:33

Eminem announces new album 'Relapse' release date

Furthermore, he plans to follow it up with a second new LP in late 2009

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Eminem has confirmed the release date of his long-awaited comeback album 'Relapse' - as well as announcing plans to release a follow-up later this year.

'Relapse' will be released on May 17. An as-yet unnamed single will precede the album, coming out on April 7.

The rapper has also confirmed that he is already working on the follow-up to the LP.

He plans to release 'Relapse 2' in the latter part of 2009.

"A lot of people were expecting 'Relapse' to drop last year," Eminem said in a statement.

"I was one of them. Then Dre and I went back in the studio in September for a few days, and that turned into six months. We were on such a roll; we wound up with a ton of new music produced by Dre. Putting out 'Relapse 2' will let everyone get all of the best stuff."

In February, the low-key release of Eminem's 'Crack A Bottle' broke download records as it went straight to the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.