However, it was as a solo artist that D12 member Eminem found success. All of the members of D12 have aliases and Eminem chose Slim Shady as his. Eminem was formerly in a group called Soul Intent along with Proof before leaving and forming with D12.
Eminem's success persuaded Proof to establish D12 on a more permanent basis in early 1999. Bizarre, Eminem, Kon Artis, Bugz, and Kuniva were recruited to join the group. Kuniva and Kon Artis were previously part of Da Brigade. However, Bugz passed away in Detroit on May 21, 1999 because of a gun incident at a picnic that turned into a shooting, leading to Kuniva proposing Swift take Bugz's place. Each of the members of the crew wears a tattoo of Bugz's name in his honor. The tracks Good Die Young and Bugz 97 (the latter of which features an appearance from Bugz) on D12 World are also in his memory.
The six members of D12 signed a contract with Eminem's Shady Records and Interscope in 2000. The fact that D12 rose to prominence after Eminem led many people to assume that the other members had less significance in the group - this would be the concept of the group's 2004 hit single My Band. They also made the song to adress the common using of Eminem featuring D12.
Despite Eminem's prominence in the music industry, D12 insists that there is no frontman in the group and that Eminem is just another member. In spite of this, D12 recently began to tour as a separate entity to Eminem, a controversial move that could lead to confusion among concert-goers who may believe they are paying to see Eminem as well as the other five performers.
Sadly, early morning on April 11, 2006, Proof was shot and killed at a Detroit-area nightclub. Proof, real name DeShaun Holton, was 32 years old. Proof was also one of Eminem's best friends and will be missed by fans and friends.
History
Early career and The Underground EP (1996–1998)
In 1997, they released their debut extended play, The Underground EP, which was recorded between 1996 and 1997. In 1997 and 1998, its members began establishing reputations locally. Bizarre was named Inner City Entertainment's "Flava of the Week" and went on to release an album, Attack of the Weirdos. Along with Eminem, Rah Digga and Young Zee, he became an honorary member of The Outsidaz. Proof won a freestyling competition run by The Source. In 1999, Bugz released These Streets EP, and made several appearances on other rappers' songs.
Around the time of Eminem's first record deal, Proof attempted to revive D12. He managed to recruit local Detroit hip hop duo Da Brigade, composed of Kuniva, a local MC, and Mr. Porter, a longtime friend of Eminem and Proof. At the time, Porter was the group's producer (he later produced Eminem's first album, Infinite), but Kuniva persuaded him to join the group as an artist. Later the group was joined by Bugz, and Bugz introduced his longtime friend Swift, who at the time was a member of rap duo Da Rabeez.
Death of Bugz (1999)
On May 21, 1999, Bugz was shot and killed at a picnic. One of his final acts had been a request that Swift join the group. Eminem volunteered to replace Bugz; this led to him rejoining the group. Mr. Obnoxious, his first solo album, was released in February 2000 after his death. D12's first album, Devil's Night, is dedicated to him.
Devil's Night, D12 World and appearances without Eminem (2000–2005)
Their debut album, Devil's Night, referring to the tradition of setting unoccupied buildings on fire the night before Halloween, was released in June 2001. It debuted at number one on the U.S. and number two on the UK chart, also reaching the top of the Canadian charts. Devil's Night went on to sell four million albums worldwide and two million in the U.S. In 2021, the album was rereleased digitally as an expanded edition to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its release which featured three bonus tracks, an unreleased freestyle, the a cappella version of "Shit On You" and the instrumentals to "Shit On You", "Purple Pills", "Fight Music" and "Blow My Buzz".
In August 2001, D12 and Esham were kicked off the Warped Tour after members of the group physically attacked Esham over the lyrics of his song "Chemical Imbalance", which contained a reference to Eminem's daughter. Eminem was not present during the tour. D12 World was released on April 27, 2004, featuring production by Dr. Dre, Eminem, Porter and Kanye West, and guest appearances by Obie Trice on the track "Loyalty" and B-Real of Cypress Hill on the track "American Psycho II". It debuted at the top of the U.S., UK, and Australian albums charts, and at number two in Germany—selling over half a million records in its first week of release in the U.S. alone. "My Band", the album's first single, also reached number one in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. rhythmic top forty, the top five in the UK[9] and Germany, and the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.
D12 was eclipsed by Eminem's success, touring without him to promote their second album while he recorded Encore. D12 members Bizarre and Proof managed mildly successful solo careers with the releases of Hannicap Circus and Searching for Jerry Garcia in 2005. D12 performed live, without Eminem, at the House of Blues in Chicago to promote both albums. That concert was released on DVD in 2005 as D12: Live in Chicago. D12, without Eminem, performed on the track "She-Devil" of Tech N9ne's 2002 album Absolute Power. They recorded "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" for Eminem's album Recovery but the song wasn't included on the album. It was eventually included on an Eminem mixtape Straight from the Lab Part 2 in 2011.
Death of Proof and Eminem Presents: The Re-Up (2006)
On April 11, 2006, Proof "pistol-whipped an unarmed man and shot him in the head", and was in turn fatally shot by the man's cousin. On December 5, 2006, Shady Records released Eminem Presents: The Re-Up which featured performances by Eminem, D12, 50 Cent, Obie Trice, Stat Quo, Bobby Creekwater and Cashis while affiliated artists such as Lloyd Banks, Akon and Nate Dogg, made guest appearances. Some tracks were collaborative performances from D12 members, such as "Murder" by Bizarre and Kuniva and "Whatever You Want" by Swifty McVay and Mr. Porter. The track "Trapped" by Proof included an intro by Eminem paying his final respects saying, "Big Proof, rest in peace dudey we love you. We just wanna keep making you proud."
Member changes, hiatus, mixtapes and comeback (2007–2013)
After four years of inactivity D12 released a new mixtape Return of the Dozen Vol. 1 (2008), without Eminem who was working on his solo album Relapse. There were solo performances by D12 members such as Kuniva's "If You Want It", similar to Eminem's solo performance "Girls" on Devil's Night. The mixtape Return of the Dozen Vol. 2 (2011) followed three years later. It featured Fuzz Scoota, an original member of D12 who left in 1999. Eminem performed on one track. Because Eminem was on tour promoting Recovery with Mr. Porter his hype man D12 had only four active members, Bizarre, Kuniva, Fuzz and Swift.[citation needed] D12 performed at the Kanrocksas Music Festival on August 5, 2011. The track, "Outro", off the Return of the Dozen Vol. 2 mixtape, had a music video released on September 1, 2011, though the video did not feature either Eminem or Mr. Porter. The group also stated intentions to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of the Devils Night album, though the celebration was held on the actual Devil's Night on October 30 in Saint Andrew's Hall in Detroit, Michigan, even though the album was released months earlier on June 19, 2001. In 2012 Bizarre left D12, citing creative differences, and Mr. Porter left to pursue a solo career, leaving D12 with four members. Asked about the group's status in 2012, Kuniva replied that it's "not over, we're still coming. However, when Mr. Porter was asked in 2013 about a possible new D12 album he responded "Not happening bro sorry".
Bizarre and Kon Artis rejoin, Shady XV, unreleased third studio album and The Devil's Night Mixtape (2014–2015)
In January 2014, Mark Bass of the Bass Brothers confirmed that D12 had been recently recording at the F.B.T. studio and he had been mixing their recorded material. He also confirmed that Eminem was featured on at least three songs that had been completed. February 2014, Bizarre confirmed that he was back in the group and that D12 would be releasing their third studio album during 2014. On August 25, 2014, a press release on Eminem's official website also revealed D12 to be featured on the label's upcoming 2-disc compilation album, titled Shady XV. The album, released on November 24, 2014, featured one greatest hits disc and one disc with new material from a variety of Shady Records recording artists including D12. The new D12 song was entitled "Bane", which features the return of Kon Artis and was also produced by him. The song did not feature Eminem or returning member Fuzz Scoota.
On August 18, 2015, D12 confirmed on Tim Westwood TV that they had already recorded a large number of songs for the album and will release it "when the time is right."[25] On October 1, 2015, it was announced that D12 would be releasing a new mixtape, The Devil's Night Mixtape was released on October 30, 2015, and it featured Lazarus, King Gordy, Royce da 5'9", Bizarre, Swifty McVay, Kuniva and Mr. Porter. It also included a freestyle by Eminem for its introduction although he wasn't present on any other tracks throughout the whole mixtape. It was hosted by DJ Whoo Kid.
Solo careers, collaborative works and breakup (2017–2018)
In 2017, D12 had been focusing on their respective solo careers. On February 17, Swifty McVay released his debut album Grey Blood. Bizarre released his new mixtape Tweek Sity 2,in addition to working on collaborations with other artists such as Riff Raff, King Gordy and Qom Qazamah respectively. Swifty McVay and Kuniva are currently working on their collaboration album, titled My Brother's Keeper. On August 31, 2018, Eminem released a song titled "Stepping Stone" on his album Kamikaze. On it, Eminem announced that D12 was officially broken up due to the death of Proof.
Art Of War
D12 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tired of niggas rapping the same
Talking the same, ya, hah
Living in the same place
What style is Proof gonna do this time?
Ya really wanna know, huh?
What is he gonna do?
You got niggas who said,
Fuck, all them niggas
Fuck *Einstein*
Nigga said me and Bizarre hate each other
Fuck you
Fuck Low Key
Fuck that nigga
Talking 'bout he battled me and beat me
Fuck you
And when I see you on the streets
I'm in your grill
Ya know what I'm saying?
Listen
By the age of aquarius
My mind state was gugarious
Various opponents whose stature was hilarious
Like you
Throwing fairy dust
Then frowning hard on whack chorus
Proof was on the scene before Nat Morris
Cold as a black forest in these starving streets
A garbage heap that was brought
Stars could eat
The nerve of haters
Diss us perging gators
So I spit venom at you through your serve in vegas
The primitive fool again
None can match that
Blast at your rib cage
Making your spine hatch back
You lack fat tactics
And thoughts of Dexatrim
Whippin' my dick out on nuns
If they say sex is sin
Next to Slim
I'm Shady as a Tetris win
Dirty Dozen solo are respected men
Get known for craft
Irritate me like infected skin
The future ain't lookin' the same
Like a neglected twin
Some test the scary
That's unnecessary
To kill your crew, family, your friends
Your tech can carry
Knock your paws off sync
Left you flat like a soft drink
Got more styles than Diana Ross swing
Zone like Rick James when he smoke crack
You and Charli Baltimore
Got something in common
Y'all both whack
Proof the king P-I-N
If I ain't the best this year
The motherfucker be my twin
[Bizarre]
Who's the bitch ass nigga
That's mentioning my name?
No one to blame
I just cock back your name
None of y'all bitch ass niggas wanna test
Cuz five minutes or less
I'll be at your assets
You're just a bitch
And I wanna test you
And the niggas you was with
They already left you
So duck down cuz Bizarre Kid's comin' here
Shootin' at you and your peers
And cousins you ain't seen in years
Hope you believe in God
Cuz nigga you better pray
Pull your kids from the window
And duck from this AK
And already done called the Proof and Denaun
And even if I want to
I can't change my nigga's lines
Cuz you on the shit list
These bullets are relentless
And ain't no way in hell that you avoidin' this
Ain't no apologies
Yo I see your number on my caller ID
Bitch, stop callin' me
Fuck the truce
Nigga I pull the deuce deuce
And my niggas go wild
Like a bunch of rats that got loose
I'm comin' for you nigga
So hide behind your door
Cuz all my niggas believe in the Art Of War
Chorus (x4)
What you startin' for?
Is you on for war?
Trife assassins
Bringing you the art of war
[Kuniva]
Straight wylin'
Burying bodies right on top of each other
So when somebody ask
I just say you under the weather (Killer Eel)
No matter what the problem
Revolvers can solve 'em
Keep a nigga breathless
The tech whips regardless
Heartless
Walking you punks right to the edge of darkness
We're way beyond that
When I pull me out a cartridge
I bank shots
Wettin' up your white tank top
While my nigga Bugz is stickin' up
Your nearest gang spot
Just another scarred liar retired
We make niggas pass out like fliers
Flossin' my teeth with barbed wire
Leavin' a bloody mess
Then harass kids
And buy 'em a candy bar
So they can tell me where you live
[Kon Artist]
Highly dangerous
Spraining my wrist
Lickin' off this black tech
With my eyes flossed bitch
Look up the Art of War
In the ghetto dictionary
And see Bizarre holding your kids
Hostage for their Crunch Berries
My pump stay hot
Coat stomachs like Malox
Run away spots
Setting it off with the guns that Dre got
Ghetto séance
But ass backwards
Fuck bringing you back to life
Nigga we putting you in your caskets
Running off with the mop like you got somethin'
But in my mind I'm thinking
Blast soon as I spot somethin'
And when you fall
I know damn well I done shot somethin'
And I'm cleaning your brains
Off my windshield for frontin'
D-12 is
Your local weed sellers
Throwing pipe bombs in your church
To kill your elders
The men on bitches like tracks
You notice these
Banging clits and ovaries
Till they drop the sheets
Niggas'll die from these
Blows we inflict
You supposed to be in some shit
Cuz you the underdog bitch
Chorus (x2)
[Bugz]
Bugz'll murder you
In less than a word or two
Bring the art of war to your door
Call me Sonny Zoo
Nigga don't be mad cuz your broad is a trick
Always dialing 976-need-a-dick (bitch)
Niggas like you
I'm known to smack, stab, and spit on
Kick at, hit on, you hear me bitch? It's still on
Calling through my crib
Like your bout it with your shouts
Ain't you the same nigga
Who was crying on his couch
Apologize on site boy
If you like your life boy
(Yo Bugz, leave that nigga alone
You know he just a white boy)
Fuck that
I smack him off the wheels
And take his bleel
Or bought a royal mope
And destroy him with my steal
You pussy ass
How you figure it will linger
Take your bitch on Jenny Jones
Then beat your ass on Jerry Springer
Don't fuck with it
Or get your head split and mouth bruised
That's a promise
Fuck *Hal Shoes*
Chorus 'till fade
The D12 song "Art of War" is a declaration of the group's mastery of the art of rap as well as their ability and willingness to engage in battles with other rappers who talk the same and live in the same place. The song is made up of a series of verses from individual members of the group, each showcasing their unique flow and style. The verses are full of braggadocio, insults, and threats of violence against anyone who dares to step to them. The chorus repeats the question, "Is you on for war?" suggesting that the group is always prepared for battle and wants to know if their opponents are up for the challenge.
Proof, the first member to deliver a verse in the song, sets the tone for the rest of the group with his aggressive flow and hard-hitting lyrics. He calls out other rappers who claim to be leaving the game, insults fellow rapper Einstein, and dispels rumors of tension between him and Bizarre. Bizarre's verse directly addresses someone who has mentioned his name, threatening violence and promising to come after them with his crew. Kuniva's verse is full of vivid descriptions of violence and death, while Kon Artist's verse is a play on words, full of puns and literary references. Finally, the late Bugz delivers a verse full of insults and threats, promising to destroy anyone who dares to cross him.
Overall, "Art of War" is a showcase of D12's skills as individual rappers and as a group, as well as their willingness to engage in battles and beefs with other rappers. The song is full of energy, aggression, and sharp lyrics that demonstrate why the group was so influential in the early 2000s.
Line by Line Meaning
Tired of niggas rapping the same
Proof is exasperated by the repetitive nature of rap music.
Living in the same place
Proof is frustrated by the lack of variety and originality within his surroundings.
By the age of aquarius
Proof's state of mind was free-thinking during this time period.
My mind state was gugarious
Proof's frame of mind was very sociable and outgoing.
Various opponents whose stature was hilarious
Proof found it amusing that his opponents thought they could challenge him.
Throwing fairy dust
Proof's opponents used weak tactics that did not faze him.
The nerve of haters
Proof is upset that there are individuals who would hate on him and his crew.
Diss us perging gators
Proof expresses his anger towards those who try to drag him and his team down by releasing false information.
Primitive fool again
Proof feels that his opponents are foolish and lack the necessary skills to challenge him.
Blast at your rib cage
Proof threatens to physically harm his opponents.
You lack fat tactics
Proof believes his opponents do not have strong strategies to defeat him.
The future ain't lookin' the same
Proof thinks that things are going to change drastically from what they are now.
Some test the scary
Proof believes some people try to scare him and his crew, but it is unnecessary.
To kill your crew, family, your friends
Proof would not hesitate to harm anyone who is a threat to him or his team.
Next to Slim
Proof feels he is just as talented and skilled as fellow rapper Eminem.
Dirty Dozen solo are respected men
Proof and his group D-12 are highly regarded in the music industry and respected as solo artists.
Get known for craft
Proof wants to be recognized for his talent and hard work in the music industry.
Irritate me like infected skin
Proof is annoyed by people who bother him or his crew.
Who's the bitch ass nigga
Bizarre is addressing someone who he believes is a coward or weak.
None of y'all bitch ass niggas wanna test
Bizarre challenges those who try to challenge him, claiming he will easily overcome them.
Pull your kids from the window
Bizarre threatens to harm people and their families.
I see your number on my caller ID
Bizarre knows who his opponents are and is ready to confront them.
Trife assassins
The members of D-12 consider themselves dangerous and capable of taking down their opponents.
Straight wylin'
Kuniva is going all out, acting wild and without care for consequences.
Revolvers can solve 'em
Kuniva suggests that a gun is the best way to solve a problem.
Heartless
Kuniva does not have a heart and is not afraid to inflict harm on his opponents.
Highly dangerous
Kon Artist is very dangerous and capable of causing a lot of harm.
My pump stay hot
Kon Artist's gun is always ready and loaded.
Ghetto séance
Kon Artist and his group are causing chaos and destruction in their surroundings.
Bugz'll murder you
Bugz is not afraid to take the life of his opponents.
Always dialing 976-need-a-dick
Bugz insults his opponents for being promiscuous and in need of sexual attention.
Ain't you the same nigga who was crying on his couch
Bugz calls out his opponent for being weak and emotional.
Fuck *Hal Shoes*
Bugz expresses his distaste for a specific person or brand.
Chorus (x4)
The chorus is repeated four times throughout the song, emphasizing the theme of war and aggression.
Contributed by Carson Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@AnnihilationXable
Proof's verse is so hard
@Jamie---
I miss it all so much. The whole rap scene back then was legitimately historical for a period of time. It'll be spoke about for a long, long time.
@markstelle9402
Man I really wish proof was still here. And bugz. Bugz verse hard too. D12 was my all time favorite group. Really wish they'd still do albums
@FYourOpinions
Same. That Devil'z Night mixtape from 2015 was ill.
@Shroctopus
dope miss proof but glad he made so much music before he left
@midsesory7429
thats right!
@joshgoldbullion
rip bugz and proof !
@reversegiraffe3976
Such a banger
@Jamie---
Just realised the indirect shoutout Em gave Bugz on 'Role Model' with the Jerry Springer line.
@electrohead2064
Did this ever get an official release?