Detroit rapper Eminem’s last full-length album of new material was released on November 16, 2004.

Eminem’s fourth album, “Encore,” sold 710,000 copies in it’s three-day opening weekend and claimed the top spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart, but the album received criticism for it’s lack of controversial material and overall toned down creative lyricism.

Since then, Eminem has only released “Curtain Call,” a greatest hits album, and an autobiography entitled “The Way I Am.”

Many fans have been waiting and wondering if we would ever hear from the 8 Mile rapper ever again, and if he would be able to capture the same intensity and brutal honesty that was a cornerstone during his first three albums.

Well that wait is over; Eminem has announced a new album for this spring.

No official date has been set by Interscope Records.

Eminem’s new album is called “Relapse,” and so far a partial song called “I’m Having a Relapse,” has leaked to the Internet, while the song “Crack a Bottle,” was officially released on Jan. 6 by Shady45 Satellite radio, Eminem’s satellite radio station.

Eminem’s “Crack a Bottle” features 50 Cent and the return of Dr. Dre to the rap game. The song was originally released with Dre’s part being rapped by Eminem.

The final version features Dr. Dre rapping the second verse.

The song features a sing-a-long style chorus where Eminem raps, “So crack a bottle, let your body waddle/ Don’t act like a sloppy model, you just hit the lotto.”

Then the Doctor comes in for the second verse.

Dr. Dre follows Eminem’s verse with a confident return to the microphone.

Dre raps “They see that low-rider go by, they like, ‘Oh my!'” while the piano based rhythm moves along.

It’s good to hear Dre can still rap considering we have all been waiting for his long-awaited album “Detox.”

50 Cent’s third verse follows a somewhat different lyrical tempo, but the content is typical 50 Cent with 50 rapping “I’m the napalm, the don, I’m King Kong. Get rode on, wrapped up and ringed on/ I’m so calm, through Vietnam, ring the alarm.”

So far, the song “Crack a Bottle,” has opened with immediate success.

Billboard.com reported that the new single has broken the record for opening week download sales with 418,000 downloads and a number one spot on the Hot 100 singles chart.

The record for most downloads was previously held by T.I. featuring Rihanna.

Eminem’s new single broke the record by 83,000 downloads.

If the opening week downloads are any indication of what’s to come, Eminem’s new album should re-establish him in the rap game.

“Crack a Bottle,” is a radio-friendly tune that fans of all genres will at least give a listen to.

Hopefully it is an early indication of better things to come from Eminem’s upcoming new album.