However, Trice had to be patient. Although he was the first artist signed to Shady Records, Eminem's other projects--D12's album, the film "8 Mile" and its soundtrack, 50 Cent's album and "The Eminem Show"--all had priority.

Trice had various opportunities to plug himself, however. On the Eminem hit "Shady's Back" Trice says, "Obie Trice, real name, no gimmicks," just before Em launches into the song. Trice also plays a rapper during a parking-lot scene in "8 Mile," and, on the movie's soundtrack, he lent his vocals to "Adrenaline Rush" and "Love Me."

Now it's time for Trice to serve up his own recipe of rap with "Cheers," the recently released debut album that he began working on six months ago. Trice talked to liveDaily about "Cheers," working with Eminem and Dr. Dre, and how Eminem virtually saved his life.

liveDaily: What was it like to work with Eminem as a producer?

Obie Trice: He was a good producer to work with, a brilliant dude. He ain't an artist that doesn't let you be your own individual and say, "Make this kind of record," or "Do this type of song." It was all on me. I enjoyed it.

So he was more of a hands-off producer?

Yeah, he worked on it. He worked with me, but he let me go wherever it took me. He was hands-on, but he let you basically be free as an artist with your lyrics.

Tell me about your songwriting process.

I write in the studio, fresh off hand. They played the beat, and whatever I was feeling [I wrote]. I run away with it like that. Pressure, I love pressure. I love it down to the wire. That's easier for me to go to the studio and make a fresh song. Some days I got out a couple hours, some days it take longer. That's how I work.

You collaborated with several producers on the album.

I worked with Dr. Dre. We did, like, four songs on the album, knocked them out. It was great working with Dre. Timbaland is on the album. Denaun Porter [D12's Kon Artis] from D12 is on the album, producing. This up-and-coming producer named Emile from Queens, he produced a couple joints. And I've got "Fredwreck" Nassar from the West Coast producing on the album. And Eminem, of course.

It must have been educational to work with all those different producers.

I think I learned the most from Eminem because I spent the most time with him in the studio. Going to L.A. with Dre was a learning experience, just seeing how the dude works and being up-close and personal with a dude whose music I appreciated growing up.

What was it like when you first walked into Dr. Dre's studio--someone whom you had admired for so long?

It was just like love love. We met a couple times prior to that. Quick hollas, "What's up." "What's up." To sit down with him and listen to the beats was just an unbelievable thing. I went in there and worked. He's a real dude.

What was the most important thing that you learned from Dr. Dre?

I definitely like his work ethic. I can see where Eminem get his from. Dre is the father of work ethic. You gotta get in there and you really gotta to work. When I go to work in the studio, I'm not there to bulls--- around. I'm there to make music.

How did you meet Eminem?

I met him through Bizarre from D12. He brought me to the studio. I met Eminem and gave him a CD. That was the first time I met him.

A lot of people dream of something like that happening to them, or if it does, the musician just chucks aside the CD.

I really didn't think nothing of it. At that time in my life, my whole thought process was all f----d up. I ain't really seen the future with what I was going through. It wasn't like, "Oh my God I just met Eminem." I really didn't see the vision that I could be saved or found like that until I got the phone call that they were ready for me.

You sound like Eminem really saved you.

Definitely. Definitely. He changed my life around. He definitely changed my change in my pocket.

Other than the change in your pocket, how has he helped you?

My mother, she smiles when I come around now. My daughter's eatin' decent meals and she's in private school. She's 4 years old. She started school. It's a beautiful thing.

Do you let your daughter see your shows?

Naw, I don't let her see the shows.

You performed in "8 Mile." What was it like to dabble in the film industry?

It was cool. It was like one of those quick shots, you know what I'm saying. It took 14 hours a day to do the s---, and I did it two days in a row. It was freezing cold, you know what I'm saying. It was cool to be on screen for that hot second.

For people who aren't familiar with Detroit's rap scene, would you say that "8 Mile" is fairly true to the story?

Yeah, I think the movie really got close, if not right on top of what Detroit's rap scene was and still is.

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