Eminem: 'I was in a dark place'

Eminem has revealed he was in a "dark place" during his career hiatus.

Slim Shady discussed his weight problems and battle with drugs in an interview on BBC's 'Friday Night With Jonathon Ross'.

Talking about his spell in rehab, he said: "I knew I wanted to take a break from the spotlight, but at the same time I wanted to do music, I'd go crazy if I didn't do music".

He added he continued to write and record but "it wasn't anything I felt was good enough to put out".

He continued: "I probably tipped the scales at a little over 200 [pounds]. It was eating [badly], it was taking pills I had no business taking. I just wasn't taking care of myself. I was in a pretty dark place."

However, the rapper claimed his problems are now behind him, remarking: "I got sober first of all. It was pretty rough. There were a couple of years that were pretty bad for me, but I'm a little over a year sober now".

The hip-hop star also performed his recent single 'We Made You' on the programme, which namechecks US politician Sarah Palin.

"I want to nail her," he told Ross.

The interview can be viewed on the BBC iPlayer.

Eminem's new album 'Relapse' is released on May 17.