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Eminem and Elton John partner in recovery, reinvention

By April MacIntyre Jan 3, 2010, 1:32 GMT

US rapper Eminem performs in concert at the Voodoo Music Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 30 October 2009. EPA/STEVE C. MITCHELL

Eminem has battled drugs, his weight and rumors that his musical career had stalled out for lack of worthwhile material.

He recently revealed that his recent work on his last album "Relapse" was not worthy of his fan base.

The release followed 2004's 'Encore', and Eminem shared with Complex he was drying out still from his drug addiction during the recording of it.

"Making 'Relapse', I was still working the drugs out of my system, so there was a lot of... just jokey sh*t. It was a lot of punchline-y, funny, shock value – kind of going back to 'The Slim Shady LP'," Eminem told Complex.

"It wasn't until I got into songs like 'Stay Wide Awake' that it felt like my mind got sharper. I became more on-point towards the end of recording the album."

Eminem now credits his improved level of songwriting to an unlikely friendship.

It was Sir Elton John, 62, who has been providing moral support for the rapper to clean up his act.

"I've been helping Eminem over the last 18 months and he's doing brilliantly," John revealed in a radio interview.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 in the U.K. on Saturday, fellow recovering addict Elton said "I'm there if people want my help. If people ask for help you tell them where to go but there's no point advising people if they don't want to do it."

Eminem had a similar addiction that conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh did with OxyContin, he preferred the opiates in pill form, taking upwards of 20 Vicodin, along with sleep aid Ambien and tranquilizer Valium in a single day.