Eminem has spoken in depth about his successful battle with drug addiction – and admitted he feels “born again”.

The rapper sought help to overcome his drug problem shortly after he suffered an overdose in December 2007.

Eminem, who was aided in his recovery by his friends after an unsuccessful stint in rehab in 2005, said making music now felt better than ever.

“When I got clean and sober, it was like I was a kid again. Everything was new” he told the New York Post.

“Not to sound corny, I felt like I was born again. I had to learn my writing skills. I was relearning how to rap. I didn’t know if my MC skills were intact.

“But everything was fun and suddenly I started feeling happy. I hadn’t felt happy for a long time.”

Eminem added that he had to relearn how to rap because “rapping wasn't like riding a bike”.

“It was [as much] physical as mental. I was relearning basic motor skills. I couldn’t control my hand shakes. I’d get in the [recording] booth and tried to rap, and none of it was clever, none was witty and I wasn’t saying it right.”

As previously reported, the rapper took home two prizes at last weekend's MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.

The rapper also performed his hit 'Not Afraid' and recent Rihanna-featuring single 'Love The Way You Lie' at the ceremony.

(by Jason Gregory)