May 13, 2009, 8:55 GMT
Eminem wanted to kill himself at the height of his addiction problems.
Eminem. He told British TV talk show host Jonathan Ross: "I just wasn't taking care of myself, at times I wanted to just give it up. © Lee Roth / RothStock / PR Photos
The 'We Made You' rapper - who is set to release his new LP 'Relapse' following a three-year-break from music - admits he briefly considered committing suicide while struggling with his alcohol and drug problems.
He told British TV talk show host Jonathan Ross: "I just wasn't taking care of myself, at times I wanted to just give it up.
"I was in a dark place. I wanted to pull back from the spotlight to reassess my whole career.
"I got sober but it was pretty rough. A couple of years were bad for me."
The interview airs on 'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross' on BBC One this Friday (15.05.09).
Eminem - who axed a planned European tour in 2005 to go to rehab - recently revealed he almost died of a drug overdose.
He said: "My doctor told me those mysterious new pills were methadone, which is used to wean heroin addicts off dope.
"My doctor told me the amount of methadone I'd taken was equivalent to shooting up four bags of heroin. Even when they told me I almost died, it didn't click."
The 36-year-old hip-hop star is thrilled with his new material and insists he is only addicted to work these days.
He said: "I almost feel like a little kid again with rap. Rap was my drug. It used to get me high and then it stopped getting me high. Then I had to resort to other things to make me feel that... now rap's getting me high again."
Your Talkback on this Story