Eminem Discusses Drug Abuse

Detroit rapper Eminem opened up about his drug problems spurring from the murder of his friend and fellow D12 member Proof, reports Spin.com. In an interview with XXL magazine Eminem said "I just went into such a dark place that, with everything, the drugs, my thoughts, everything. And the more drugs I consumed -- and it was all depressants I was taking -- the more depressed I became, the more self-loathing I became."

Proof was shot to death in 2006. About his death, Eminem went on to say "The way I felt was almost like it happened to just me. It just blindsided me. I'm just now at the point where I'm better talking about it. It took me so long to get out of that place where I couldn't even speak about it without crying or wanting to cry."

He then admitted that his drug problems were the reason for his three-year absence from the music scene. "I wasn't ready mentally. I wasn't ready to give up drugs. I spent the next three years struggling with it. At that time, I felt like I wanted to pull back, because my drug problem had got so bad. I felt like, 'Maybe if I take a break, maybe this will help."

The break seems to have paid off, Eminem's has come out with his first album in five years. The album titled "Relapse" will be released May 19.