Eminem is rebooting plans for the successor to his first studio album in five years, “Relapse,” which brought the Detroit rapper back to the top of the national sales chart when it was released in May.

He had announced his intention to release “Relapse 2” in December, but now comes word that on Dec. 21,  he and his label, Interscope Records, are putting out “Relapse: Refill,” an expanded version of the first “Relapse” that includes seven bonus tracks. He said he and producer Dr. Dre had to rethink what they had come up with for the follow-up.

“I got back in with Dre and then a few more producers, including Just Blaze, and went in a completely different direction which made me start from scratch,” Eminem states in post on his website. “The new tracks started to sound very different than the tracks I originally intended to be on ‘Relapse 2,’ but I still want the other stuff to be heard."

The bonus material includes “Forever” from the “More Than a Game” soundtrack; “Taking My Ball,” which appeared first in the DJ Hero video game; and five previously unreleased recordings.

"Hopefully, these tracks on 'The Refill' will tide the fans over until we put out 'Relapse 2' next year," Eminem said.

-- Randy Lewis

Photo: Getty Images

One of the few artists able to make an impression during the Kanye West/Taylor Swift-dominated 2009 MTV Video Music Awards was Lady Gaga.

Her elaborate, fake blood-smeared performance of single “Paparazzi” was equally disturbing and engrossing, yet another example of Gaga putting her own indelible mark on the world around her.

Lady Gaga is proving herself to be just as creative when it comes to capitalism. Her forays into unusual merchandise (from school supplies to hooded leather jackets) have been readily documented. But she ups the ante via a new collaboration with audio accessories company Monster to design her own signature brand of high-performance in-ear headphones.

“Heartbeats by Lady Gaga” feature space-age aesthetics, innovative design (the flat cables are simple yet ingenious, all but eliminating tangles) and crisp, loud sound sure to shame your stock iPod ear buds. Monster is the same company that designed the popular “Beats by Dr. Dre” studio headphones, and Lady Gaga’s brand boasts comparable quality. They retail for $99.99, and pre-orders are available through Best Buy.

-- Scott T. Sterling

Photo: Lady Gaga attends Marc Jacobs Spring 2010 fashion show on Monday in New York City. Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

"Dre Day" will fall again on Sept. 1, when the newly resuscitated Death Row Records reissues a digitally remastered edition of his Magnum opus, "The Chronic." In addition to the cleaned-up sonics, the label is trying to sweeten up the smoke by offering liner notes written by the legendary Quincy Jones, plus a second-disc DVD entitled "From the Vault."

Promising never-before-seen footage from the label's glory years, the DVD is said to include promotional pieces, and seven previously unreleased songs from Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, Jewell and Boss Hogg. The video also contains an interview with Dr. Dre, reportedly waxing philosophic about the future of hip-hop. Hopefully, the dialogue in question reveals secret hints pertaining to the release date of "Detox."

--Jeff Weiss

Photo of Snoop Dogg, left, and Dre in 1993 by Patrick Downs / Los Angeles Times

It’s official: Eminem and Mariah Carey had a relationship. There’s simply no other explanation why two full-grown pop stars would so publicly go at each other the way they do (see Carey's most recent video, "Obsessed"). It’s like a real-life remake of “The War of the Roses” on steroids and excessive video budgets.

But with the release of the aptly titled “The Warning,” (the song is the very definition of NSFW), the Eminem that rose to the top of the rap game with steely-eyed psychosis and dazzling vocal dexterity over a top-shelf Dr. Dre loop has suddenly come back to light.

Eschewing the odd pseudo-Jamaican inflection so rampant on “Relapse,” Eminem spins an elaborate and graphic recount of his side of the relationship with a passion sorely lacking from most of his latest release. Gleefully hurling threats of releasing incriminating photographs and phone messages, he takes no prisoners during the caustic verbal assault. Expectedly, Carey’s husband Nick Cannon gets thrown under the bus during the melee as well.

But in classic Slim Shady style, he lyrically goes at himself as aggressively as anyone in his purview, admitting to a lack of sexual prowess and having no game at all in his dealings with Carey.

Dr. Dre steps up too, with a haunting piano-based beat reminiscent of his work on “2001,” the perfect setting for Eminem’s wrath. It would seem that both have been holding out on us, if this song is any indication. The use of Carey's vocal samples in the mix is an effective and ironic touch. The two could easily produce a hit single together, that’s for sure.

In Eminem’s case, inspiration is key. Stewing in the old K-Mart mansion outside Detroit and self-medicating in the aftermath of losing his best friend and mentor Proof didn’t leave him much to talk about on “Relapse.”

But having an international pop star sink piles of cash into calling him out on video definitely did the trick.

Mariah Carey, Eminem fans salute you.

-Scott T. Sterling

Photo credit: PRNewsFoto/Interscope Records

After Eminem had his five-month marketing blitz -- which saw the gradual release of multiple tracks and a partnership with Fox series "Family Guy" -- producer-rapper Dr. Dre appears ready to start receiving similar treatment.

The rap impresario will appear in an ad for a major soda company -- one that has some experience with long-awaited albums that can never possibly live up to your expectations. The clip will start airing on national television June 1, Billboard tells us.

The ad features a bit of "Detox," but don't get too excited. It's only about eight seconds of a slow groove, and the crowd seems more interested in getting down with the soda than Dr. Dre.

You can view the ad below, but we suggest just waiting until "Detox" sees release, so you won't forever associate the long-awaited album with some soda pop.

On and off release schedules since about 2004, "Detox" will supposedly be out by the end of 2009.