Eminem Voted "Best Rapper Alive" by Fans, Releasing New Book This Month & Album Details Emerge 

While many rappers have been claiming to be the "Best Rapper Alive," Vibe took it directly to the fans and let them decide who the best rapper alive is.  Well the two-month long, tournament style, head-to-head competition is over and the winner is ......... EMINEM!

In the final face off of the tournament Eminem and Jay Z went toe-to-toe, but Em beat Hov with 69% of the fans' votes and was annointed "The Best Rapper Alive."  

"It's obviously an honor to have won the fans' support by being voted the Best Rapper Alive," Eminem said in a statement released. "I don't think that there is any one rapper that is simply the best, though. Everyone who was in consideration and many others are the best at certain things, and at what they do. But since Vibe's offering the distinction, hell yeah, I'll accept!"

Sean Fennessey, Vibe's music editor said, "Vibe is thrilled we could put the debate about the Best Rapper Alive in the hands of the fans. Eminem isn't just one of the most successful MCs of all time, he's also one of the most beloved. The proof is in the voting."

In related news Sha Money, manager of G Unit, recently revealed on his blog that Eminem's new album will be titled "Empack" and will drop in December as previously reported.  According to him, Eminem's Empack, 50's Before I Self Destruct and Dr. Dre's Detox will all drop before the year's end and he cautions all rappers to push back their albums because, as he describes it, "The Three Headed Monster" is coming.

While Eminem fans are eagerly waiting on his new album they might want to buy his new book.  The book entitled "The Way I Am" is the follow up to "Angry Blonde."  According to the the book's reviews, Eminem "shares his private thoughts on everything from his inner struggles, to the trials of being famous, to his love for his daughter, Hailie, creating a book that is every bit as raw and uncensored as the man himself."  The book will ship to stores on October 21, 2008 and will compete with his mother's own autobiography (see here), were she disputes many of Eminem's claims about his upbringing.   

For more information or to buy the book go to Amazon.com