D12 consists of the Detroit MC’s Proof, Bizarre, Kon Artis, Swift, Kuniva, and everyones favourite (or not so favourite) whiteboy Eminem. More of a sideshow to Eminem’s career then a group that has earned deep respect, D12 entered the Hip Hop world with there patchy debut album ’Devil’s Night’ in 2001. This album featured dark broody beats, filled with shock horror rhymes and some wicked humour, much in the vain of the Detroit style that the likes of Esham have gained a following for.

Personally I liked ’Devil’s Night’, but can’t honestly remember ever listening to the album since 2001. Probably because it was during Eminem’s peak, and the novelty factor of D12 including Eminem was too hard to resist. The biggest problem with D12 is that amongst these six MC’s is a big difference in skill. Bizarre is an obvious choice for ‘world’s worst MC’, with his slow monotone rhymes that sound like they are being read off cue cards. However Bizarre does add that crazy edge to the group like Flavor Flav or Ol’ Dirty Bastard did to PE or the Wu. Besides Eminem, and maybe Proof, the other lyricists in D12 fail to do much for me, both in flow and lyrical content.

While what we are truly waiting for is a new Eminem album, this D12 album has the potential to fill that hole for Eminem fans. No doubt it ‘s going to be full of that Detroit flavour, and Eminem trying to shine on each track, but will it make us do a double think on D12 as a group, so that we can respect them like a Wu-tang Clan, Ruff Ryders, or Little Brother? Well…

1. Git Up - 2/5
This first song begins with a dark high tempo beat, featuring Eminem spitting some fast but meaningless lines, in a quasi battle mode. Eminem’s opening verse is surprisingly weak packed with his own cliches, and then even more surprisingly the rest of D12 outshines him with superior verses. This track stinks of blandness though.

2. Loyalty - 3/5
You know exactly what this song is about, just look at the title. No surprises here as D12 (assisted by Obie Trice) rap about being loyal to one another and themselves. A bland Eminem beat only ever breaks a sweat when it includes a few sound effects; otherwise it’s average. D12 do combine well however, as they bounce off each other with gusto from verse to verse. But unfortunately this song doesn’t reach any new grounds, and sounds like I’ve heard the Dirty Dozen do it all before.

3. Just Like U - 4/5
Warped sounding track begins with Men singing in a women’s voices, and Bizarre spitting his first solo for the album. I like this song purely because it does what D12 are best at, which is black comedy. Bizarre goes from rapping about smoking crack, to teaching a son about sex, and him wickedly laughing through out the play. Morally this song is flawed, but then that’s maybe why I like it; it pushes the envelope of taste.

4. I’ll Be Damned - 3/5
Extremely ordinary commercial beat. This song about females could be initially called sexist, but it really is about a mistrust of women, rather then some typical sexual innuendo romp. However for every verse that portrays some genuine insights, there would be a violent verse from Bizarre or someone, losing all the impact the song was building.

5. Dude - n/a
Skit.

6. My Band - 2.5/5
The opening single from D12 World gives me mixed feelings. Firstly as a comedy track the song certainly has some good humour, with Eminem and D12 brilliantly take the p*ss out of themselves. On the downside the song is just a novelty, and the beat along with Em’s singing grate very quickly. So while after first listen you are bound to smile, this song will soon become one of your most hated. Finally this song reeks of a commercial play at 12-year-old fans, which I simply cannot condone. I will however give respect to the video clip for this song, which is hilarious.
”Verse 4 - Proof]
They say the lead singers rock, but the group does not
Once we sold out arenas to the amusement park
I'm gonna let the world know that proof is hot
I should cut his mic off when the musics starts
Ready to snap on a dumbass fan
Every time i hear (Hey dude I love your band)
We ain't a band b*tch we don't play instruments
So why he get 90 and we only get 10 percent
And these guys they can find every area code
([Em:] Proof carry my bag)
B*tch carry your own
Can't make it to the stage, security in my way
(Who the f*ck are you? Where's Obie and Dre?!)”

7. U R The One - 2.5/5
Funky bass beat is one of the albums better ones, but still can’t escape that blandness feel that fills much of the album. A love song from D12’s twisted perspective, is average at best, lyrically it is up and down with a boring verse followed by a clever verse, pretty much all the way through.

8. 6 In The Morning - 4/5
No this is not Ice- T’s gangsta rap, but D12 going into gangsta mode with some hard core battle lyrics. The beat is pulsating, along with Eminem giving his strongest show on the album upto now, both as a producer and an MC. This angry battle track will please D12 and Em fans, filled with vicious lines, and clever one liners.

9. How Come - 4/5
The beat and subject matter pick up a notch here, but unfortunately Eminem singing the chorus and opening to this song is hard to bare. The lyrics touch on a more introspective feel, as D12 rap about broken friendships. It’s all good, however Eminem seems to be fixated these days on singing the hooks. At first this was ok, but now his voice is just annoying, and lets not forget Eminem can’t sing and stay in tune to save himself.

10. Leave Dat Boy Alone - 2/5
Last song tested my nerves with Em singing this song breaks it. Eminem begins with more singing, this time with a trailer park trash hick edge to his voice. While the subject matter again is interesting about being careful on who you treat the wrong way, Eminem’s corny singing along with a corny beat, will make you go into a fit.

11. Get My Gun - 1.5/5
Dated sounding claustrophobic beat is awful, in this below average song about guns and gunplay. Garbage, not much more I can say.

12. Bizarre - n/a
Skit.

13. B*tch - 1/5
Ok ladies, here is another reason for you to hate Eminem (though funnily it seems most of Em’s fans are female!?!), as D12 enter sexist misogynist mode, with there take on females. As a tongue in cheek joke, this song falls flat, it is far from innovative, and the only time it succeeds is that it is highly offensive to women. Years ago I could laugh a little at this song, these days I can’t, not just because it sends a bad message, but also because it is just so inane.

14. Steve’s Coffee House - n/a
Skit.

15. D12 World - 2.5/5
The beat on this song is actually interesting with a mellow strings sample, but it is almost hidden with it’s low sound. D12 spit fast and furious on this click track, and title song for the album. Once again the performance as a group is the highlight, however the lyrics are average ruining the energy displayed.

16. 40 oz - 1/5
Southern sounding beat with high bpm. D12 hit a new low on this song, as they attempt to do a Southern bounce track (see Three Six Mafia, or Ludacris). This is so bad it’s almost laughable, as they come off sounding as the biggest try hards since Vanilla Ice. I wonder what in the world convinced them to do a club track with a southern feel to it. I like Three Six Mafia as they know how to do these tracks (it’s there ‘thang’), but this is absolute garbage.

17. Commercial Break - n/a
Short song is really a showcase for Young Zee, who last impressed on the 8 mile soundtrack. And as such is more of a freestyle then a song. Still I look forward to hearing more from Zee who I believe has signed to Kon Artist’s label.

18. American Psycho II - 4.5/5
The highlight to the album is this sequel track, which features the skills of Cypress Hill’s B-Real. Each member of D12 takes turns in spitting a wicked dark horrocore verse. The beat is also good with an intense dark vibe to its strung melody. Very good.

19. Bugs 㤅 - n/a
Another short showcase track.

20. Good Die Young - 3/5
D12 kick a more genuine song here, as they rap about death. The beat is till too bland and too commercial however, failing to bring the emotion sonically that this song needs. Lyrically D12 sound real, but this whole death theme has been done so much better, that this song doesn’t quite make the impact it should.

21. Keep Talkin’ - 3.5/5
The bonus song is a DJ Green Lantern song, and actually has the best beat on the whole album. A click battle track with Shady and his boys firing shots at those that have crossed them… geez I haven’t heard this all before… not. As a bonus joint it’s good, in fact better then most of the album.

The first thing that hits me with this album is its blandness. Which is a shame because even with D12 having some weak MC’s, the one thing in the groups favour, is the character that the MC’s possess, especially Eminem and Bizarre. However the problem is they never seem to do anything they haven’t already done on Devils Night or any mixtape they’ve been on. To compound issues more, the general production on the album is wack. The beats aren’t ugly but just plain boring, and at moments amateurish. To put is simple too much Eminem and not enough Dre, I hope this doesn’t happen with Shady’s solo joint.

D12 as a group only confirm my belief that they are a novelty, and while on the odd track they can kick a good song, they just can’t sustain my interest on a 17 song album. What’s’ worrying is that the Shady camp seems to be doing these by the formula albums (see Obie Trice, 50 Cent etc…), that feature tired concepts and none of the innovation that featured so heavily on Eminem’s first two Aftermath albums. It’s lazy and cynically exploits the fans that purchase the records, of course one could say it’s the fans fault for buying this stuff in the first place, I place the blame firmly at the feet of Eminem. Eminem is arguably the biggest thing in Hip Hop right now, and has a duty to do what’s right by the culture, for it is the Hip Hop culture that Eminem heavily owes, not the other way around. Sure Eminem isn’t as exploitive or bad as a Ludacris or a Chingy (and their backers), but he is someone that can make a difference in commercial Hip Hop. D12 World does not make that difference and is only going to disappoint everyone.


Recommended: No

Great Music to Play While: Sleeping