If Encore was never released..

[Coulter]

What would have been the reception of Relapse? In my opinion, Encore did a good job at pointing out how good The Eminem Show actually was. Like, it took the critic's bad reception of Encore for people to realize that Em's prime must have been 2002. So, let's say instead of him releasing Encore, Em took a hiatus of about 7 years. Let's also say there were no 2004-2007 features and other tracks. Would the absence of Encore have affected the people's view of Relapse and Recovery? For him to release The Eminem Show, then seven years later, release Relapse, would he still be viewed as an artist that "fell-off?"
You'd also have to question what kind of reaction Em would have had to it. Without Encore, only Em would have known how bad things went musically from 2004-2007. The fans would have had no idea that he had the "drugged-up zombie" music era, until he'd go into detail with it on Relapse. So.. any thoughts?

Edit: The 8-Mile Soundtrack still exists and The Re-Up was also not released.

[Blu]

I don't think Relapse would exist if Encore was not released.

[Kill You]

I don't think Relapse would exist if Encore was not released.

[UofLCard]

Then Eminem would have been on one long ass album break.

[ShadyHerbII]

Eminem made Encore because during that time he was bored with rap and wanted to make a point that he could produce shitty music and people would still eat out of his hands. But then with the whole incident of Proof being murdered he just disappeared. He made the Re-Up in 06 and then nothing. I literally thought it was the end of Eminem till he dropped Relapse. Now I want his new album to drop.

[BigBoss]

Eminem made Encore because during that time he was bored with rap and wanted to make a point that he could produce shitty music and people would still eat out of his hands. But then with the whole incident of Proof being murdered he just disappeared. He made the Re-Up in 06 and then nothing. I literally thought it was the end of Eminem till he dropped Relapse. Now I want his new album to drop.

are you forgetting Recovery?

[Mathers]

There would be no Relapse and Recovery.

[AbramIsaac]

He might have just called it quits, and left on top.

Without the bad reception Encore, there wouldn't be a need to redeem himself.

Either way, I don't think Relapse would have happened.