Eminem has told Vanity Fair magazine that two 2001 court appearances over separate gun possession and assault charges "woke him up" and made him determined to sort out his life. Talking to the magazine ahead of the release of new album 'Encore', he: "Nothing woke me up more than standing in front of a judge, and my life is in his hands." Eminem was given suspended sentences at those court appearances and ordered to perform community service.
In the same interview, Shady revealed that, although he recently bought a house in LA, he will never leave hometown Detroit. "I've seen the world, I've explored the world, I've travelled it, I've played in places, it's great to visit, this is where I want to live. I don't want to go to L.A. and get caught up in the party scene. All I ever wanted to do was to make enough money from music to be able to support myself and make a living, and have a future for my daughter. That was my plan from the beginning. It, getting this big, I never planned it."