UNIVERSAL CITY, California – Eminem is back. Selling an impressive 608,000 copies in its first week, his latest album Relapse announced the rapper’s comeback in a big way. And now, to further cement his return, Eminem will be hitting the MTV Movie Awards stage, for one of his first live-TV performances in years.
Eminem had a top-secret, closed-door rehearsal at the Gibson Amphitheatre late Saturday night for Sunday’s show, and MTV News’ Sway caught up with the Detroit MC on his way in to the theater to talk about his recent success and what has surprised him lately.
“I don’t know if anything’s really surprised me,” he said. “More so, I’m happy about the response the record is getting. I’m glad people have caught on to the concept.”
After his bumpy road with substance abuse, Em has some less harmful ways to get pumped up for a performance.
“Lots of alcohol and lots of prescription medications used to be the ingredients,” he told MTV News. “But now, it’s Diet Coke and Red Bull.”
Em, who is no stranger to movies, having starred in the acclaimed “8 Mile,” said he’s considering a return to the silver screen. “For a while, I guess, I wasn’t ready,” he said. “But I’m ready now. I’m just looking for the right script.”
Eminem will take the stage during Sunday’s show, which kicks off at 9 p.m. ET.
Will the vampires grab more trophies than the slumdog? What was the year’s ultimate onscreen WTF moment? It’s up to you to decide the winners of the 2009 MTV Movie Awards. Vote now, and tune in on May 31 at 9 p.m. ET, when the big show airs live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.
