Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg talks about Shady's drug addiction

As a part of their coverage of Eminem's Marshal Mathers LP 2, Billboard interviewed Paul Rosenberg, Eminem's longtime manager. Though it's a subject Eminem has covered himself ad nauseum in his own songs, it's still interesting to hear the man who was charged with making sure Shady made it on stage every night talk about the rapper's struggles with drug addiction. I've got the highlights below:

A lot has changed in Eminem's personal life, as well. He's been through a lot over the past several years.
He's five years sober, so things are a lot different. But it's not as different now as it was when he first went into recovery. There was a time during that period where I felt like I was sort of meeting him again for the first time. He came out of this like horrible spell and he just wasn't himself. But then as I got to know him again as he is now. It's been really great. It was hard to connect with him when he wasn't present. And now [that] he's present, he's a much better partner. I think his art's a lot better and we have a lot more fun doing it. Our relationship both professionally and as friends is stronger than ever.

What was it like watching someone you're so close to go through something like that?
It was horrible. It was difficult in a lot of ways. It was sad because of his condition and we were worried about his health first and foremost, but beyond that. Trying to keep everything running when you don't have a partner who is so important to the brand that you've built together and he's just not present and unable to contribute, it's just... very difficult. But we were definitely most worried about his health and wellbeing.

Billboard also asked Rosenberg about the pressures of creating a sequel to your best album, and the competition that is likely to create. The manager played it off saying that Eminem can't compete with himself and that they don't think of MMLP2 in that way.

"I don't think he can compete with himself. It was a different time period, it was a different record and he's a different guy now, you know?" Rosenberg said. "To compete with yourself in what sense? Is it gonna sell as many records? The industry is half the size that it was, I don't see how it can. So competition? No. I think people are lucky to get a guy who's as creative and brilliant as him who's willing to take that task on honestly."

Eminem's new album has received generally favorable reviews, despite ruffling a few feathers in the LGBT community and having a song as tired as "Rap God" for a single.

MMLP2 debuted on top of the Billboard charts, registering the second-highest sales total of 2013 (behind JT's 20/20 Experience) with 702,000 copies sold.