D-12 DiD U KnOw???
Eminem aKa SliM ShAdY
Real Name: Marshall Bruce Mathers III
Birthday: October 17
Peter S. Bizarre aKa BiZaRrE
Other nickname: The Red Headed Rapist (HaHa)
Real Name: Rufus Johnson
Birthday: July 5
Swift aKa SwIfTy McVaY
Real Name: Ondre Moore
Birthday: March 17
Proof aKa DiRtY HaIrY
Real Name: Deshaun Holton
*RIP* October 2, 1975-April 11, 2006
Kuniva aKa RoNdElL BeEnE
Other nickname: Hannz G
Real Name: Von Carlisle
Birthday: December 10
Mr. Denaun Porter aKa KoN ArTiS
Real Name: Denaun Porter
Birthday: December 7
DiD YoU KnOw???
~D-12 originally wanted to be called the Dirty Dozen, but the name was already taken by a jazz group. They ended up choosing D-12 which is short for Dirty Dozen or the Detroit 12. The reason why the group wanted to be named the Dirty Dozen was because they all wanted to do a Western song and be outlaws in it.
~All members had to have alter egos, but EM had the most trouble picking a name. He says that the name (Slim Shady) finally came to him one day while he was taking a shit and that once he thought of it he started thinking of 100 other words that rhymed with it.
~While D-12 was touring in Australia (2001), they spent some of their free time fishing and bowling.
~The rest of D-12 say that EM can’t dribble a basketball without traveling, but still don’t see him as white and even call him “nigga”.
~Devil’s Night would have been released sooner, but EM lost his Britney notebook that contained a grip of lyrics on a Delta Air Lines Flight from Cincinnati to New Orleans. Even though a big ass reward was offered (either $$ or a chance to meet EM in person), it never turned up.
~Devil’s Night was named after the Detroit holiday (which takes place the night before Halloween) where everybody basically trashes everything in sight. The tradition began in the mid 80’s and last year, Devil’s Night was the cause of 151 fires that were set in the city.
~All of the members have kids except for Kuniva.
~Before D-12 was formed, EM was a battle rhymer, Proof was a freestyler and hosted open-mike battles every Saturday, Bizarre was a solo artist, Kuniva and Kon Artis were part of Da Brigade, and Swift was part of the Rabeez. DJ Head, EM’s former CO-producer and DJ, was also the turntablist at the Hip Hop Shop.
~Proof came up with the idea to form the group because he wanted to bring all of Detroit’s illest MCs together.
~D-12 used to perform at Maurice Malone’s Hip Hop Shop on 7 Mile Road, St. Andrew’s Hall, and Alvin’s.
~When the group didn’t get any record deals after years of touring, they all decided to go solo and the 1st one to become famous would come back for the rest of D-12. Everyone in the group thought that Proof would be the first member discovered. When Dre discovered EM out of nowhere and signed him to Aftermath, everyone was surprised.
~Even though EM was the member to get D-12 signed, he’s not the leader because the group says that it doesn’t have one.
~Kon Artis used to steal cars and wanted to be in the NBA, but after getting shot in the leg, he decided to stick to rapping.
~Kuniva battled EM to boost his early career.
~Swift took the place of the late member Bugz. He passed away May 21, 1999 because of a water gun incident at a picnic that turned into a fistfight. One of his last requests was to have Swift in the group. .
~Bizarre had a solo effort called Attack of the Weirdos EP in 1998.
~EM and Proof met during their high school years. EM was at Lincoln High passing out flyers to a talent show he was doing. He gave 1 to Proof and they ended up rapping together. Proof and him both ended up rhyming “first place” with “birthday”. Proof then introduced EM to Kon Artis and the rest is history…
