Report: Eminem says he's just `taking a break'

NEW YORK (AP) _ Is Eminem headed for retirement _ or just taking a break? <br/><br/>Earlier this month, reports from his hometown of Detroit quoted sources as saying the 32-year-old rapper would play his

Tuesday, July 26th 2005, 12:42 pm

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Is Eminem headed for retirement _ or just taking a break?

Earlier this month, reports from his hometown of Detroit quoted sources as saying the 32-year-old rapper would play his last concert at Slane Castle in Dublin, Ireland, on Sept. 17, at the end of ``Anger Management'' tour.

In a posting on its Web site, MTV quotes Eminem as saying, ``I'm not retiring,'' and also denying that ``Encore'' is his last album.

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, is quoted as saying: ``When I say I'm taking a break, I'm taking a break from my music to go in the studio and produce my other artists and put their albums out.''

He is also quoted as saying, ``When I know my next move, I'll tell everyone my next move. Not some reporter who writes a story about `This is Eminem's last album.' I never said (`Encore') was my last album.''

Phone messages and e-mails left with the rapper's publicist by The Associated Press hadn't been returned Monday.

Eminem has won nine Grammys, including best rap album for ``The Slim Shady LP,'' ``The Marshall Mathers LP'' and ``The Eminem Show.'' He won an Oscar for the song ``Lose Yourself'' from the 2002 film ``8 Mile,'' in which he also starred.