Mark Batson shared a heartfelt tribute to Eminem’s Relapse era and revealed he was back in the studio with Dr. Dre on the album’s anniversary.
Acclaimed producer, composer, and classically trained pianist, who worked closely with Dr. Dre, Eminem, and 50 Cent during the Relapse era and recent projects, took to Instagram to reflect on the gritty, immersive energy of that time.
Fittingly, Batson had just spent time in Dr. Dre’s studio on the album’s anniversary, joining a group of elite collaborators known as the ICU, short for the “Intensive Care Unit”, Dre’s nickname for his in-house team of producers and musicians. Mark thanked Dre and the ICU crew for letting him “jam in the studio”, praising their unmatched musical standards: “Every time I’m in the studio with Dr. Dre, it reminds me of what the highest level of sonic excellence is all about. Both school and church”.
He name-checked several members of Dre’s squad, including Focus…, Dem Jointz, Fredwreck, Curt Chambers, Erik “Blu2th” Griggs, Preach Balfour, and EQ. He also shouted out longtime collaborators like bassist Mike Elizondo and drummer Trevor Lawrence Jr.
Whether Dre is officially working on a new album is not confirmed, but with this kind of talent back in the studio, something big could be on the horizon.
