Eminem is using his new album to apologize to his previous collaborator Rihanna.
Slim Shady, 48, surprisingly dropped new album “Music to Be Murdered By—Side B” on Friday and uses his track “Zeus” to atone for supporting Chris Brown in lyrics that leaked in 2019.
“But, me, long as I re-promise to be honest / And wholeheartedly, apologies, Rihanna,” Eminem raps on “Zeus.” “For that song that leaked, I’m sorry, Ri / It wasn’t meant to cause you grief. Regardless, it was wrong of me.”
In the leaked track, Eminem said he had Brown’s back following his 2009 assault of 32-year-old Rihanna, rapping, “Of course I side with Chris Brown / I’d beat a bitch down too.”
Eminem and Rihanna collaborated on “Love the Way You Lie” in 2010, “Numb” in 2012 and “The Monster” in 2013. They went on to tour together in 2014. The song with the eyebrow-raising lyrics was reportedly recorded in sessions for his 2009 album “Relapse.”
Brown, 31, served nearly five years of probation for the attack and was sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service. He and Rihanna reconciled and romantically reunited in 2012 but split again in 2013.
