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Eminem has admitted he struggled with performing sober following his stint in rehab to overcome drugs and alcohol addiction.

In his candid interview with Radio 1's Zane Lowe, the rapper, who became sober in 2008, revealed his substance abuse had left him unable to interact properly with his audience. "I was so trapped in my own head. I think that back then it was so big in my head, it was like, 'f**k man' let me take this and drink this and get through it as opposed to going out there and actually being able to see the people and connect with the crowd and have fun with it," he said.

Eminem said he had to downsize to smaller shows so he could get used to performing with a clear head. "I don't think on the 'Relapse' record or on that whole album run - I don't think that it was something that I jumped right back into," he said. "It was like smaller shows here and there, let me get my feet wet again. It took a minute but the more you do it, it just becomes second nature. Now I can look out and I can see the crowd and I can actually see the people. I can see what people look like."

Watch part 1 of Em's interview with Zane Lowe below: 

Eminem and Lowe also discussed the making of the Marshall Mathers LP 2, as well as what's in store for the rapper, who seems to have no imminent plans to quit music. "I don't know what the plan is for the near future but I do know there'll be other things coming up, other projects things like that that I'll probably get into working on. I always write and I probably always will," he said.

Below: Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2 reviews - what the critics say: