Eminem hasn’t released a brand new album in about four years, but that may soon change.

Over the weekend, a report by HITS Daily Double sent Shady fans into a frenzy after indicating that the rap loch ness monster is gearing up to drop an album in the fall. While there are no details on the supposed release or confirmation from the Shady camp, the report happens to corroborate the only piece of info Eminem delivered to fans a little while ago: “Don’t worry I’m working on an album!”

The last time the bat Slim Shady signal illuminated the hip-hop sky was in 2013, when he released The Marshall Mathers LP 2: an album that not only debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and later becoming the second best-selling album of the year, but also earned recognition as a return to form for the self-professed Rap God. Em’s eighth studio album was later met with a Grammy Award at the 57th annual award ceremony for Best Rap Album, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (“Monster”), and Best Rap Performance (“Rap God”). Following the release, he slipped into subtle hibernation mode, only popping up for the 2014 compilation Shady XV, which spawned the mega posse cut “Detroit Vs. Everybody,” the SHADY CXVPHER with Slaughterhouse, and 2015’s soundtrack for “Southpaw.” In 2016 he delivered a surprise drop via the politically-charged “Campaign Speech” and earlier this year, the world experienced its first taste of new Shady on “No Favors,” a song from Big Sean’s I Decided. album.

The music world now sits in anticipation, winding up the murmurs until Slim Shady himself picks up a megaphone to formally make his long-awaited announcement. Until then though, let’s unofficially kick off the campaign by picking up the traces.

Production

Not only is Eminem is coy on leaking out info or teasing studio moments, so are his producers. So not much has been hinted about a direction or sonic ambition. However, back in May, Em’s longtime pal and producer-in-crime Mr. Porter hinted on Instagram that it’s “almost time” for new music. Although that post has since been scrapped from his page, it’s inevitable that the beatsmith has a hand in the upcoming release.

In addition to Mr. Porter, another familiar face expected to appear is the one and only Dr. Dre. In a recent interview with Uproxx, director Allen Hughes, who worked on the Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine documentary “The Defiant Ones,” revealed that Dre is “producing, in the 11th hour, a track for Eminem’s latest album.” The two giants most recently collaborated on “So Bad” from Eminem’s 2010 album Recovery, and on “Medicine Man” from Dr. Dre’s 2015 album Compton.

Guest Features

Speculation on possible guest features on an Eminem album is hard to come by, especially when the album isn’t even announced yet. Heck, the guy barely posts anything besides promotional items on his Instagram page. So lo and behold, there aren’t many names to throw in the potential guest appearance pool. There is, however, one name to consider: 2 Chainz.

Back in June, Tity 2 G.O.O.D. posted a photo of himself standing alongside Eminem and evidently sent fans into a frenzy. Appearing on DJ Drama’s Shade 45 show a month later, the “Good Drank” spitter revealed that he had been working with Em on the rapper’s new album.

According to Chainz, Denaun Porter made the connection. “That’s how I know I can rap,” 2 Chainz said about the collaboration. “He didn’t want to talk about nothing but rap.” At first, the initial request was for Chainz to re-record a hook that Em had written and deliver some ad-libs, but as he put it, “I write my own hooks, and I want my (publishing).” After laying out his contribution, Chainz recalled “Eminem came up to me and said ‘Man, how the hell did you rhyme ‘tabernacle with Adam’s apple?’” From there, he confirmed that the rapper has “a project coming out.”

Another interesting tidbit to consider, in 2015, Eminem made a surprise appearance on the official remix of The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness smash single “The Hills.” Since then, he tagged in the singer for the “Southpaw” soundtrack and performed the remix version of “Hills” during his headlining set at Lollapolooza. Seeing as how these two exhibit very similar taciturn strategies when it comes to recording music, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if a new Eminem-Weeknd collab appears on this new album.

Release Date

Back in 2013, Eminem announced the arrival of his eighth studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 via a television commercial aired during the MTV Video Music Awards. With the award show looming around the corner (August 27) and the fall season approaching, a November drop doesn’t sound improbable. Adding more fuel to that flame, a new report by DJ Booth this week indicated that a fall release for Em’s ninth studio album was confirmed by a Shady Records representative. There’s also the new announcement of Em’s manager Peter Rosenberg getting a job as the new CEO of Def Jam come January; will Em still be with Interscope after this album? Either way, all signs are pointing toward an impending Slim Shady return.