Artist: D12Mixtape: Return of the Dozen
Released: June 2008
Listen: http://www.datpiff.com/D12_Return_Of_The_Dozen_The_Mixtape_Vol1.m15537.html
D12 is a hip-hop group originally from Detroit that incorporates their "rags to riches" story and their hardened personalities to their music. D12 reached the height of their fame during the first half of this decade. Their albums Devil's Night and D12 World reached the top of the Billboard charts in 2001 and 2004 respectively (3). During this peak, Eminem highlighted the group and was the biggest focus in the group. However, since this period, they've largely gone unnoticed. In 2006, one of the group's original members Proof was shot and killed, and the group left the spotlight for the next couple of years.
Although the group has a lighter side as evidenced by hit singles "Purple Hills" and "My Band," their 2008 mixtape Return of the Dozen is every bit serious. The four members of the group on the mixtape, Swifty, Bizzare, Kuniva, and Kon Artis, try to establish themselves without Eminem. They reveal their pain of losing Proof as they reminisce about another deceased member Bugz in the album. They supposedly will release another mainstream album over the next year, and this mixtape could be drawing attention to their group as they anticipate this release (4).
Songs:
- Throw 'em High - As the first full song on the mixtape, this song clearly expresses their pain of losing their former members. They show ambition to reestablish themselves in the hip-hop world without them.
- I'm a G - Based off "The Boss," by Rick Ross, D12 shows that even though they've been hurt, they still have the same swagger as before. They're lyrics bring an edge to the song but flow well.
- Plead For Your Life - This song is about their desire for revenge. Both Bugz and Proof were murdered, and they want to avenge their deceased friends. The lyrics are witty, and the style works well with the song, and they bring their soul to their music.
(4) http://www.rapbasement.com/features/features/d12-return-of-the-dozen.html
