Is Rapper's Face Falling Thanks To Drug Overdose?

Eminem made a surprise appearance at the Wall Street Journal's Innovator Of The Year Awards in New York on Wednesday, Nov.5 but his haggard and gaunt face got everyone talking and questioning if his past drug addiction has finally taken hold of him.

The 42-year-old "Loose Yourself" hit-maker appeared dressed in his usual uniform of black with beanie, but the lines and prominent veins on Eminem's pallid face were eminent.

Of course its no news the star has admitted that his past drug use almost cost him his life but its likely the same drugs are damaging his face. If the latest pictures of Eminem in NYC are any indication, the years of abuse seem to have had a lasting impact on his face.

Eminem's drug abuse started during the filming of his movie 8 Mile, when he was on set 16 hours a day and could not sleep.

After being given an Ambien he sought out a prescription, and became addicted to the pills. This soon led to him taking what he calls a 'ridiculous amount' of pills - he has admitted to abusing prescription drugs Ambien, Vicodin and Valium.

He went into rehab in 2005 and then took a three-year break from his career, before releasing the albums Relapse and Recovery.

'Had I got to the hospital about two hours later, I would have died,' he said in a documentary, How to Make Money Selling Drugs. 'My organs were shutting down. My liver, kidneys, everything. They were gonna have to put me on dialysis, they didn’t think I was gonna make it.'

After his release from hospital Eminem only managed to stay off drugs for a month before relapsing but having spent time in rehab, and with the help of friends, the 42-year-old has his life back on track.

He is gearing up to release his double-disc album ShadyXV featuring stars including Slaughterhouse, 50 Cent, Big Sean, DeJ Loaf later this month