US rapper Eminem’s long awaited new studio album is “coming out soon”, according to the producer working on the record.

In an interview with MTV, producer Focus, real name Bernard Edwards Jr., refused to talk about the as-yet-untitled record’s sound, however.

"Marshall's album is coming out soon, and we just did a couple tracks together, and we've done a lot of writing together," he said. "I make my beats and send them out to him."

Eminem has been on a career hiatus since the release of 2004’s, ‘Encore’, which topped the album charts in the United Kingdom and America.

Focus also said that he was “heavy” into his work on Dr Dre’s long overdue album, ‘Detox’ - which was originally scheduled for release in 2004.

"I'm trying to get some tracks on there and give him whole songs so he can keep everything moving,” the producer said.

“’Detox’ is coming this year. I know that's what he's been working very hard on,” he added.

(by Jason Gregory)