Eminem's third studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP, is hailed by some as the best project from his future hall of fame collection. Critically acclaimed, 21 million in worldwide sales, and notables like "The Real Slim Shady" kicked his career into high gear, and next month Em returns to his roots with The Marshall Mathers LP 2. 

With the clock ticking on the unfinished project, pressure is mounting, Em explains in the new issue of Rolling Stone magazine. "Right now I'm probably working harder than I've ever worked in my life," he says. "Calling it The Marshall Mathers LP, obviously I knew that there might be certain expectations.

"I wouldn't want to call it that just for the sake of calling it that. I had to make sure I had the right songs — and just when you think you got it, you listen and you're like, 'F---, man! I feel like it needs this or that to paint a whole picture.'"

Helping to landscape Em's vision is Rick Rubin, who produced "Berzerk," the album's lead single. "Getting him was like, 'Holy s---!'" says the Detroit MC. "As many genres of music that he is able to f--- with, he's like Yoda. I couldn't do it. You sit me there with a rock group, I don't know the first f---ing thing about banging on the drums."

Aside from the title, the album isn't "necessarily a sequel," but a "revisitation" of the first installment. "So there's not gonna be, like, continuations of every old song on there or anything like that," Em explains. "To me, it's more about the vibe, and it's more about the nostalgia."

The Marshall Mathers LP 2 drops Nov. 5, his Rolling Stone issue hits stands Nov. 7. 

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(Photo: Skip Bolen/WireImage)