2009 promotional single by Eminem featuring Dr. Dre
News of the song's future release was first published on the official Eminem site on April 30, 2009, as a part of the official countdown.[2] The song features, and is also produced by Dr. Dre. It is one of the only two songs on the album to have guest appearances; the other song, "Crack a Bottle", also features Dr. Dre, as well as 50 Cent.
The song received mixed reviews from critics. MTV summarized "Old Time's Sake" as "featuring a party vibe".[1] The article went on to describe that "the record has the familiar West Coast bounce, and that Dr. Dre himself leads the song with a 'simple sing-songy flow' as well as adult content."[1] Allmusic highlighted the song.[3] The Guardian was negative: "More troubling is the sense of going through the motions - something that comes with the album's attempts to scandalise, and which seems to have seeped through into the song title"[4] Louis Pattison was also negative: "‘Old Time’s Sake’ with Dre heralds a mid-album slump."[5] Pitchfork was really positive: "the mere fact he's working with Dr. Dre is seen as cause for celebration (the entirety of "Old Time's Sake" is great)."[6] Rolling Stone wrote that the song is "where Dre drops tasteless lines about getting Shady stoned again."[7]
