Eminem feels 'good,' is excited about new album

DETROIT, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. rapper Eminem says he feels good about this week's release of his first album in more than three years and is "excited" about its prospects.

Eminem, when asked by the Detroit Free Press how he's feeling, responded "good" -- and said the Tuesday release of "The Marshall Mathers LP2" has him "excited about making the music and I want people to hear it."

The title of the 21-track album refers to his 2000 breakthrough "The Marshall Mathers LP," and is in some ways a throwback to his early sound.

"While recording the album, people who would hear a song would say it reminded them of the first time they heard me. The more I listened to it, the more it made sense to call it that.

"We knew that if we called it that, we needed to have the right songs. There needs to be a certain kind of vibe," Eminem added.

The best-selling rapper told the newspaper he was nervous at first, working with famed producer Rick Rubin, but that changed once he got in the studio.

"I felt like a kid in the studio working with Rick," he said. "Obviously, it's an incredible honor. The way he can dip in and out of different genres ... he's like Yoda, a Jedi master."