Dr. Dre's long overdue album Detox may had actually had a chance to drop this year if it wasn't for Eminem, says Interscope Records CEO Jimmy Iovine.

Earlier this year, Dre divulged that he was releasing Detox by the end of 2008 but Iovine recently revealed to Billboard that the legendary producer had to stop work on his own project to help Emimem on his upcoming album Relapse.

"Eminem was always coming next year. But what happened was, I lost Dr. Dre to Eminem. Dre had to stop making his album to finish Eminem's album," explained Iovine. "Eminem hit a streak, and when a guy like Eminem gets on fire, you stop everything. That's how we lost Dre."

According to Iovine, Dre will go back to wrapping up Detox in January.

"He'll be finished with Eminem by then, and he'll finish his album,” said Iovine.

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames. sited="1">2009 will see Interscope's three rap giants (50 Cent, Eminem & Dre) dropping new projects.

Eminem's Relapse will be the Detroit rapper's first solo project in four years while 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct will the G-Unit honcho's last album on his current contract with Interscope.

Detox, which will be Dre's first solo project in ten years, will feature appearances from Lil Wayne and Jay-Z, among others.