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.
Don
D12 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kamikaze south splash like it shot from a gauge
Until your body sound clash
Head of the Class, Magna Cum Laude
Beats bring the beast out me, flagrant, foul rowdy
Reed pipe but deed tight, disposition keep on flipping
Keep em playing they position
Keep making the people listen what I spin
Got tears, got blood, got sweat, leaking out of the pen
Y'all fake niggas not setting a trend
We never listen to them
It's like trying to take a piss in the wind
My home team doing visitors in, yo don't test em
They all standing close to the edge, so don't stress em
Now who the type built to last?
It's no question, the Master!
Villain in Black wit no stets in my sound
Hitting you hard from - every direction
Your head and shoulder, area your midsection dawg!
Yeah
Give it here, and don't say nuthin'
Just give it here, and don't say nuthin'
Cut the check
Give it here, and don't say nuthin'
Nigga, give it here, and don't say nuthin'
Yeah Illadelph, home of the original gun clappers
Out on the wrong corner your shit'll get spun backwards
You got the fool wanting the rules, enter at risk
Or your own nana'll keep a gat under the mattress
Shorties running reckless from Philly to Texas
Surprising what niggas willing to do to get a neckless
Some emotions felt better left unexpressed at times
Niggas' crime record longer than a guest list
Yes, I done seen things you wouldn't believe
Seen people reach levels thought they'd never achieve
Silhouettes waiting in the wings ready to D
Thirst decise or need at least a buck to breathe
C'mon! Stick up kids, they be out to tax
Most times they be sticking you without the gats
I'll still be on the grind when it all collapse
And if it's my worst bar then I'm a take it right back nigga
Yeah
Give it here, and don't say nuthin'
Just give it here, and don't say nuthin'
Cut the check
Give it here, and don't say nuthin'
Nigga, give it here, and don't say nuthin'
Yeah, it ain't nothin' like I rush I get, in front of the band
On stage wit the planet in the palm of my hand
When a brother transform, from aynonomous man
To the force, crush whoever might of thought I was playin'
I'ma flame some, sentence the shit, the cold twist to slang
Thicker than big boy baby, mom, sister pain
Beyond measure, relaxed under pressure
You see the master piece, but to me it's unperfected
Give it here Geffen Records, I'm off the handle
Cut the check, and yo it better be as heavy as anvil
Next joint comin', all bets is canceled
Nigga black ink, red was a G financial
We finna have the whole industry at a stand still
See me put the system on lock like can pill
So get wit them endorsements, and call reinforcements
Cause my click come a full sizable portions
Yeah
Give it here, and don't say nuthin'
Just give it here, and don't say nuthin'
Cut the check
Give it here, and don't say nuthin'
Nigga, give it here, and don't say nuthin'
The first verse of D12's "Don" is a boastful display of lyrical skill and confidence. The singer establishes their dominance with metaphors like "Kamikaze south splash like it shot from a gauge," comparing their impact to a powerful weapon. They also position themselves as an expert in their craft, calling themselves "Head of the Class, Magna Cum Laude," and asserting that their beats bring out the beast in them. The singer is proud of their ability to make people listen, and unafraid to take risks with their art.
The second verse takes a darker turn, as the singer reflects on the harsh realities of life in their hometown of Philadelphia. They describe the prevalence of gun violence and crime, and the emotional toll it takes on the community. The singer has seen things that most people would not believe, and they recognize the danger of their circumstances. However, they also maintain a sense of resilience and determination, vowing to keep going even when things "all collapse." The repeated refrain of "give it here, and don't say nuthin'" can be interpreted as a demand for respect and recognition.
Overall, "Don" is a powerful message of confidence and resilience in the face of adversity. The singer acknowledges the harsh realities of their world but refuses to be defeated by them. Through metaphors and confident wordplay, they establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the world of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah! That all mighty amazing, ill, highly contagious
This is a great and infectious song.
Kamikaze south splash like it shot from a gauge
The rap is intense and aggressive, like a bomb exploding.
Until your body sound clash
The energy of the music will shake and jolt your body.
Head of the Class, Magna Cum Laude
The rapper is highly skilled and successful, like a top student.
Beats bring the beast out me, flagrant, foul rowdy
The music brings out the rapper's aggressive and wild side.
Reed pipe but deed tight, disposition keep on flipping
The lyrics are smooth and slick, but the rapper's attitude and style are always changing.
Keep em playing they position
The rapper wants everyone to know their place and stay in it.
Keep making the people listen what I spin
The rapper wants to keep entertaining and impressing his audience.
Put em out on a limb
The rapper wants to test and challenge his listeners.
Got tears, got blood, got sweat, leaking out of the pen
The rapper puts a lot of emotion and effort into his lyrics.
Y'all fake niggas not setting a trend
The rapper thinks that fake people are not original or influential.
We never listen to them
The rapper doesn't pay attention to fake people or their opinions.
It's like trying to take a piss in the wind
Ignoring fake people is useless and pointless.
My home team doing visitors in, yo don't test em
The people from the rapper's hometown are tough and not to be challenged.
They all standing close to the edge, so don't stress em
The people from the rapper's hometown are fearless and bold.
Now who the type built to last?
The rapper is durable and long-lasting.
It's no question, the Master!
The rapper is confident in his abilities and talents.
Villain in Black wit no stets in my sound
The rapper is like a dark character with a unique and original style.
Hitting you hard from - every direction
The music comes at the listener from multiple angles and is impactful.
Your head and shoulder, area your midsection dawg!
The music will hit the listener hard and affect their whole body.
Yeah
An exclamation of excitement and enthusiasm.
Give it here, and don't say nuthin'
The rapper wants to receive payment or recognition without any arguments or excuses.
Cut the check
The rapper wants to receive payment quickly and without any delays.
Illadelph, home of the original gun clappers
The rapper is from Philadelphia, known for its violence and gun culture.
Out on the wrong corner your shit'll get spun backwards
In the wrong neighborhood, bad things can happen to you.
You got the fool wanting the rules, enter at risk
People who break the law are at risk of getting hurt or killed.
Or your own nana'll keep a gat under the mattress
Even grandmothers in this neighborhood might keep a gun for protection.
Shorties running reckless from Philly to Texas
Young people are behaving dangerously and foolishly in this rapper's cities.
Surprising what niggas willing to do to get a neckless
People are willing to commit crimes and hurt others to get jewelry.
Some emotions felt better left unexpressed at times
Sometimes it's better to keep your feelings to yourself.
Niggas' crime record longer than a guest list
Some people have a lengthy history of committing crimes.
Yes, I done seen things you wouldn't believe
The rapper has witnessed some unbelievable and shocking things.
Seen people reach levels thought they'd never achieve
The rapper has seen people accomplish great things against the odds.
Silhouettes waiting in the wings ready to D
There are people lurking in the background, waiting to cause trouble.
Thirst decise or need at least a buck to breathe
People are desperate and willing to do whatever it takes to survive and make money.
C'mon! Stick up kids, they be out to tax
There are people who commit robberies and other crimes to take people's money.
Most times they be sticking you without the gats
Often, these robbers don't even have a weapon.
I'll still be on the grind when it all collapse
The rapper will keep working hard, even when things fall apart.
And if it's my worst bar then I'm a take it right back nigga
The rapper is willing to admit when he's made a mistake or hasn't performed well, and he'll work to improve.
It ain't nothin' like I rush I get, in front of the band
Performing in front of a crowd is an amazing feeling for the rapper.
On stage wit the planet in the palm of my hand
On stage, the rapper feels like he has control of the audience's attention and energy.
When a brother transform, from aynonomous man
On stage, the rapper becomes someone important and recognizable.
To the force, crush whoever might of thought I was playin'
The rapper is a powerful force on stage and can impress and intimidate his critics and doubters.
I'ma flame some, sentence the shit, the cold twist to slang
The rapper is skilled at using language and will impress and entertain his audience.
Thicker than big boy baby, mom, sister pain
The rapper's lyrics are intense and deep, like the struggles of a family.
Beyond measure, relaxed under pressure
The rapper is highly skilled and confident, even when facing challenges and adversity.
You see the master piece, but to me it's unperfected
The rapper is proud of his work, but he thinks there's always room for improvement.
Give it here Geffen Records, I'm off the handle
The rapper wants his record label to pay up and follow his lead.
Cut the check, and yo it better be as heavy as anvil
The rapper wants to be paid a lot of money for his work and talent.
Next joint comin', all bets is canceled
The rapper is confident that his next project will be even better and more successful than this one.
Nigga black ink, red was a G financial
The rapper is proud of his ability to make money in the music industry.
We finna have the whole industry at a stand still
The rapper and his crew are going to be so successful that they'll dominate the music industry.
See me put the system on lock like can pill
The rapper is confident in his ability to control and influence the music industry.
So get wit them endorsements, and call reinforcements
The rapper is encouraging people to support him and his brand.
Cause my click come a full sizable portions
The rapper's crew is large and successful, and they'll make a big impact in the industry.
Give it here, and don't say nuthin'
The rapper wants to be paid and recognized without any arguments or excuses.
Cut the check
The rapper wants to be paid quickly and efficiently.
Nigga, give it here, and don't say nuthin'
The rapper is demanding payment and recognition for his work and talent.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: TARIK L. COLLINS, SCOTT SPENCER STORCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BrianWRLD999_
I don't know dude
I think everybody's all jealous and shit 'cause I'm like the lead singer of a band dude
And I think everyone's got a fucking problem with me dude
And they need to take it up with me after the show
Because
These chicks don't even know the name of my band
But they're all on me like they wanna hold hands
'Cause once I blow they know that I'll be the man
All because I'm the lead singer of my band
[Eminem:]
So I get off stage right drop the mic
Walk up to these hot chicks and I'm all like
"What's up, ladies? My name's Slim Shady
I'm the lead singer in D12 baby"
They're all like "Oh my god it's him"
"Becky oh my fuckin' god it's Eminem"
"I swear to fucking god dude you fucking rock"
"Please Marshall please let me suck your cock"
And by now the rest of the fellas get jealous
Especially when I drop the beat and do my acapellas
All the chicks start yellin', all the hot babes
Throw their bras and their shirts and their panties on stage
So like every single night they pick a fight with me
But when we fight it's kinda like sibling rivalry
'Cause they're back on stage the next night with me
Dude I just think you're tryna steal the light from me
Yesterday Kuniva tried to pull a knife on me
'Cause I told him Jessica Alba's my wife to be
This rock star shit, it's the life for me
And all the other guys just despise me because
These chicks don't even know the name of my band
But they're all on me like they wanna hold hands
'Cause once I blow they know that I'll be the man
All because I'm the lead singer of my band
My band [9x]
Alright, okay, alright, give the mic man, okay dawg, gi—come on
Dude!
Give me this mic!
Ow, dude!
[Swift:]
You just wanna see a nigga backwards, don't you?
ADAT? How come we don't rap on Pro Tools?
Smash these vocals and do a performance
But we in a van and he in a tour bus
You don't want my autograph, you's a liar
And no, I'm Swift (oh I thought you were Kuniva)
What the hell is wrong with our dressing room
'Cause our shit is looking smaller than a decimal
See I know how to rap, it's simple but
All I did was read a Russell Simmons book
So I'm more intact, tryna get on the map
Doin' jumping jacks while get whipped on my back
[Kuniva and Kon Artis:]
Look at Em little punk ass thinkin' he the shit
Yeah I know man by himself taking all the flicks
Hey I thought we had an interview with DJ Clue
([Em:] No, I had an interview, not you two)
You gon' be late for soundcheck
I ain't gonna soundcheck
But our mics are screwed up and his always sound best
You know what man I'mma say something
Hey yo Em
([Em:] You got something to say?!)
Man no
I thought you was about to tell him off, man, what's up?
Man I'mma tell him when I feel like it, man shut up
And you ain't even back me up when we supposed to be crew
When I was bout to talk right after you
Aw, man, whatever
I swear, I swear man
These chicks don't even know the name of my band
But they're all on me like they wanna hold hands
'Cause once I blow they know that I'll be the man
All because I'm the lead singer of my band
[Proof:]
They say the lead singers rock, but the group does not
Went from sold out arenas to amusement parks
I'm gon' let the world know that Proof is hot
I should cut his mic off when the music starts
Hey yo what's... Ready to snap on a dumbass fan
Every time I hear, "Hey dude I love your band."
We ain't a band bitch, we don't play instruments
So why he get 90 and we only get 10 percent
And these guys acting funny every area code
([Em:] Proof carry my bag)
Bitch carry your own
Can't make it to the stage, security in my way
(Who the fuck are you? Where's Obie and Dre?!)
[Bizarre:]
God damn it I'm sick of this group
Time for me to go solo and make some loot
I told you I made the beats and wrote all the raps
'Til Kon Artis slipped me some crack
"Lose Yourself" video I was in the back
"Superman" video I was in the back
For the media, I got some suggestions
Fuck Marshall, ask us the questions
Like "Who's D12? How we get started."
(But what about Eminem?)
Bitch are you retarded?
Anyway I'm the popularest guy in the group
Big ass stomach, bitches think I'm cute (hey sexy)
50 told me to do sit-ups to get buff
Did two and a half and couldn't get up
Fuck D12, I'm outta this band
I'm 'bout to start a group with The Real Roxanne
[Eminem:]
Girl why can't you see you're the only one for me
And it just tears my ass apart to know that you don't know my name
[Bizarre:]
Man, fuck this!
These chicks don't even know the name of my band...
But they're all on me like they wanna hold hands... (Fuck Marshall)
'Cause once I blow I know that I'll be the man
All because I'm the
My band [6x:]
Roxanne
Shanté, lesbian
Loves me
The hottest boy band in the world D12!
[Eminem as a salsa singer:]
I'm the lead singer of my band, I get all the girls to take off their underpants
I'm the lead singer of my band, my salsa
Makes all the pretty girls want to dance
My salsa, well, look out for my next single, it's called "My Salsa"
My salsa, salsa, salsa, salsa, my salsa
My salsa makes all the pretty girls want to dance
And take off their underpants
My salsa makes all the pretty girls want to dance
And take off their underpants, my salsa
(Where'd everybody go?)
Eminem the GOAT 🐐 🚫🧢
@mylgamingg
It's been almost 20 years, and I'm still waiting for My Salsa to drop
@dT666
For real bro
@marlenecracknell2085
I'll be interested to see how that video goes lmao
@brittanyreid9200
It did drop
@bingbingbang5893
When
@lissaz77
Salsa salsa somethingsaucersassieerrrrrrrrrr🎉
@mimikanahd1638
The fact that a song about Eminem explaining how hes not the only member of D12 ends up being their most popular song because he is the main person in the song is hilarious
@duckysguidetoshipping8930
Ikrrr
@LongestComment829
half of it is about his salsa though
@AlaBama-hu1pr
@@LongestComment829more like 1/10