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D-1240 Oz.Fight MusicGit UpHow ComeKillZoneMy BandOutroPurple HillsU R The OneWhen The Music Stops
In order to make up the dozen, it was decided the six members at the time would each create an alter-ego.[citation needed] Proof chose Dirty Harry, Bizarre became Peter S. Bizarre, Kuniva became Hannz G. (which later became Rondell Beene), Kon Artis chose Mr. Porter, Bugz became Robert Beck and Eminem created the character Slim Shady. In 1997 and through 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 called 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. D12 went through many changes during the early
days even becoming temporarily inactive when, after being heard
by Dr. Dre, Eminem left to pursue a solo career. Around the time
of Eminem's first record deal, Proof attempted to bring new life
to D12. He managed to recruit local Detroit hip hop duo Da Brigade,
which was composed of Kuniva, a local MC, and Denaun, a longtime
friend of Eminem and Proof. At the time Denaun Porter was the group's
producer and later produced Eminem's first album Infinite, but
was persuaded by his partner Kuniva to join him in the group as
an artist. Later the group was joined by Bugz and needing one more
member, Bugz introduced his long time friend Swift, who at the
time was a member of rap duo Da Rabeez.[4] Prior to a show in Detroit, Bugz attended a picnic at which an incident took place that led to his fatal assault. An argument with a man over a water-pistol fight escalated, the man went to his SUV to retrieve a firearm which he then fired in Bugz's direction. He was shot four times as well as being hit by the assailant's vehicle as he fled the scene. The incident, on May 21, 1999, was captured on video and shown later that day on local news. Members of the group were shaken by the tragic incident, darkening the mood within the collective. One of his final acts had been to request that Swift join the group.[5] Unfortunately, a few weeks after Swift joined, Bugz was killed. Many of the remaining members started to believe the group was finished. Following the death of Bugz, Eminem volunteered as replacement in order to fulfill the group's forthcoming obligations. This led to Eminem eventually rejoining the group.[6] In memory of Bugz, the group recorded the track "Good
Die Young" on their second album D12 World. The album also included a song titled "Bugz '97", which was a 1997 recording of Bugz, originally from the song "Desperados". All five members of D12 bear a tattoo of his name somewhere on their bodies
in remembrance of him. The group recorded their first LP Devil's
Night in his memory. Eminem's second album The Marshall Mathers
LP was also dedicated to Bugz. The group has released two albums, Devil's Night and D12 World. Both albums debuted at number one on the Billboard music charts in the U.S. and topped the charts in many other countries. The two albums' hit singles included "Purple Pills", "Fight Music", "My Band", and "How Come". In August 2009, D12 and Esham were kicked off the Warped Tour after members of the group allegedly 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.[7][8] The group was often overshadowed by Eminem's massive
success, and toured without him for the second album while Eminem
was busy recording Encore. Although shadowed by Eminem's success,
other members Bizarre and Proof managed to prevail with mildly
successful solo careers with the releases of Hannicap Circus and
Searching for Jerry Garcia in 2005. D12 (minus Eminem) appeared
on Tech N9ne's 2002 album entitled Absolute Power on the track "She-Devil". They also decided that Eminem would not be as prominent on their upcoming third
album, which remains evident even after Proof's death. Their third
album is estimated to be 70% completed without any input from Eminem.
However, in June 2009, Eminem confirmed he was also working hard
on the group's 3rd studio album on an announcement made on Rap
city during an interview with Eminem and Denaun Porter.[9] The
group recorded a song for Eminem's album Recovery titled "Hit me With Your Best Shot," but it was not featured on the official album.[10] On April 11, 2006, Proof died from a gunshot wound
at a club in Detroit, after fatally shooting Keith Bender, Jr.,
following an argument over a game of pool. Proof was then shot
by the bouncer Mario Etheridge, Bender's cousin. At St. John Health's
Conner Creek Campus, he was pronounced dead on arrival shortly
thereafter. [11] He was buried on April 19 in The Fellowship Chapel,
Detroit, to a full house of 2,660 with thousands mourning outside.[12] Swift was arrested in Novi, Michigan on April
21, 2006, after failing to appear in court. It was due to his attendance
as an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of group member Proof.
Already on probation for a DUI offence, for which he'd served two
days in October 2005, he was sentenced by District Court Judge
Brian MacKenzie to 93 days in jail for violating the terms of the
probation. It resulted in the stalling of recording for D12's third
album. Following his release, work did commence on the album. Rapper Eminem was granted "2/5
mics" for his sophomore effort, The Marshall Mathers LP, by infamous Hip-Hop magazine
The Source during early 2000. This did not go over well with Eminem,
and he mocked The Source in a few songs. However, an argument did
not follow until Source co-owner, Ramond 'Benzino' Scott, released
a diss track aimed at Eminem, and granted his own rap group's album "4/5" mics, as well as a front page cover on the magazine. Beef quickly ensued, where
Eminem, along with Shady Records artists, 50 Cent, Obie Trice,
and D12 ripped apart The Source's credibility, citing that nowadays
with Scott as the owner, the magazine was corrupt.[13] Competing
Hip Hop magazine, XXL also became entangled with the feud, and
eventually Scott retired from his position at The Source. Since
then, Benzino has attempted to discredit the reputation of Eminem
and other upcoming artists such as Slaughterhouse and Shady Records
by leaking racist comments made by a youthful Eminem. Eminem's
last known response to Benzino was on the track, "The Sauce"[14] Eminem was notified while on the Anger Management
Tour that former House Of Pain member, Everlast, had mocked him
on a song. Everlast claimed that while passing by Mathers in a
hotel lobby, Mathers gave him a "weird look."[15] Taking offense to this, Eminem quickly began work on a retaliatory song, "I Remember" and later teamed up with D12 to make the song, "Quitter". It was reported that long-time friends of Eminem, group Limp Bizkit, were meant
to be featured on "Quitter", but Fred Durst canceled at the last moment.[citation needed] The record continued
its release without featuring Limp Bizkit, causing the Everlast-Mathers
dispute to continue. In a TRL interview, Limp Bizkit member DJ
Lethal made a statement that if Mathers and Everlast were to fight
in real life, Everlast would win. This angered Eminem to the point
of rage, and an insulting track aimed at both Everlast and Limp
Bizkit appeared on D12's mainstream debut, Devil's Night, as a
hidden track called "Girls". Recently, things seem to have settled, and Eminem has no longer been heard
insulting Everlast or Limp Bizkit. It is currently unknown if the
dispute is resolved.[16] During the time Eminem and Mr. Porter started
recording Recovery the rest of D12 were featured on a diss song
towards Eminem with rapper Canibus, who had already had a feud
with Eminem off his new record Melatonin Magik which was called "Air Strike (Pop Killer)". Canibus name dropped Eminem's long time deceased friend Proof (rapper), Canibus
said "If Proof Was Alive He'd Be Dying Inside". D12 member Swift responded to the record publicly, and had the following to
say about DZK (another rapper featured on the track). "[He] asked us to do a track with him when he already was teamed up with Canibus
without us knowing. They dissed Em, took our verses and added them
to the song so they can bring traffic and make it seem like we
turning on Em... as a desperate attempt to be heard after ducking
and dodging Em for 7 years. It was a straight hoe move."[17] 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 British charts, 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. It featured the following hit singles: * "Purple Hills" (the
clean version of "Purple Pills") reached the top twenty on the Billboard 100 and number one on the rap tracks
charts in 2001 as well as number two in the UK and the top ten
in Australia. The group's second album was D12 World released
on April 27, 2004, featuring production by Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kon
Artis 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 album charts, and 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, was also successful reaching number one in Australia,
New Zealand and the U.S. rhythmic top forty, the top five in the
UK and Germany, and the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. The members of the group have also, on occasion,
turned to acting. Eminem is the lead actor in 8 Mile and has a
cameo appearance in The Wash, while Proof also appears in 8 Mile
as a freestyle rapper called "Lil' Tic". The group (without Eminem) appear in 2005's The Longest Yard credited as "Basketball Convicts" although at one point Eminem can be heard rapping about football while the convicts
are practicing. The group recorded the song "My Ballz" for The Longest Yard soundtrack. D12 member Denaun Porter has a cameo appearance
in Drake's song Forever. He is seen behind Eminem while he raps
his verse. * Eminem Former members * Proof Discography * The Underground EP (1996)
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