D12 Album: “D12 World”

I've read a lot of these reviews and I've learned this much......Amazon.com critics either get 1,000,000% behind an artist and hands them higher praise/stars than they really should be getting......or they do the exact opposite and just hate it for very childish reasons. Very few people speak on the actual CD, rather they bash Eminem/D12 rather than telling the reader what makes the CD so bad. I've seen reviews that gave this album 1 star because the reviewer prefers Esham instead.....or because he's a white man that hangs out with black men.....or because they're just die hard Ja Rule fans......or simply because he is who he is. Then you have those that give this album 5 stars if for no other reason than the fact that Eminem is associated in some way (we have a word for these two extremes where I'm from: Haters or D*ck Riders). Either way, none of these reviews are acurate and almost all of them fail to speak on the CD itself. This album isn't anywhere close to 5 stars, but it's not deserving of a 1 star either. "D12 World" is typical pop rap. Anyone that bought this album in search of anything else was a fool to begin with. The CD opens with Eminem spitting rhymes that would be ultra tight if they came from someone else, but Eminem (who has always been tight to me up until this point) has lost some steam and on this album it starts to show. I'll speak about the other group members, but as we all know....they don't really matter. Bizarre manages to bring the rating of this album down 2 stars all by himself. If you want some decent rhymes from someone other than Eminem, look for Kon Artis or Proof. Those two should break camp and start doing some solo stuff. There are tracks produced by Kanye West and Lil' Jon (who supplied a VERY weak beat for the "40 Oz." single), but for the most part, Eminem handles the production work and most of his beats sound the same. Don't get me wrong, I like his beats, but they can get REALLY repetitive. Most of the songs are VERY long and tend to be on the boring side. A perfect example would be "Loyalty" feat. Obie Trice. I love the beat and some of the lyrics are hot, but it's kind of long (5:54). If you strip this entire album of all the beats and just listened to the lyrics, you'd actually have a pretty wack album on your hands. The beats aren't really that tight either. And having Eminem perform every hook can be a bit tiresome. But on a positive note, it's a progression from the last album in the sense that they're not trying to "out gross" or "out shock" each other on this album like they were doing on the last LP. Overall, this is a middle of the road album. Like I said before, it's typical pop rap. If you expected something other than that, then the joke is on you. Pop heads will love it, but heads like me that want skills and substance are better off searching the underground for quality hip hop because there is none on this album. I would reccommend downloading this album instead of actually buying it though. Come to think of it, I would NEVER reccommend buying any album that has Bizarre rapping on it. He has NO SKILLS at all. But that's just my opinion. In my mind, if Eminem had never blown up like he did, you'd never hear from these guys (well maybe you'd hear from Proof and Kon Artis). This is a perfect example of how having a famous homie can get you a record deal instead of landing a deal with actual skills. Just ask Juelz Santana, him and the rest of the Dip Set are in the same boat.

Good album but its not as good (...)!

1. Git Up: Em rips it but it gets kinda boring after that. 3/5

2. Loyalty: Obie Trice is in this one and he pulls it out of the gutter. this song is too loooong. 2/5

3. Just Like U: This is on of my favorite songs. Bizzie by himself in this one it's better than "Girls", Em's single on Devils Night. I Wonder whos next to do a solo? 4/5

4. I'll Be Damned: This song is upbeat but it isn't that great, but Kon Artist throws it down and i cant ingnore that. 2.5/5

5. Dude (skit): This is pretty funny. Leads up to "My Band". The security guard guy forgets Kuniva's name and thats pretty funny.

6. My Band: The first single off the album. The video is funnier than hell and so is the song but it gets annoying because the radios played it too damn much. But overall a good song. 4/5

7. U R The One: This is a pretty good song I love Kuniva's verse in this. Bizarre's is pretty hot too. 3.5/5

8. 6 In the Morning: This is a good too song. But it gets boring too. The chorus rocks. 3/5

9. How Come: This song rocks! This is one of my favorite songs on the album and it is actually pretty serious for Em. Kon Artist is good in this too. 4/5

10. Leave Dat Boy Alone: This song is fun but gets annoying fast. Em should never try to have a southern accent. 2.5/5

11. Get My Gun: This song is awesome one of my favorites. Fast paced and the chorus just plain rocks. 4/5

12. Bizarre (skit): This is not that good. not even near as good as Bizarre's skit on Devils Night. His rap isn't even that great.

13. Bitch: My Favorite song on the album Em is great on it. "You just mad me mess up Bitch." Bizzare is awesome. "Scrambled eggs and steak, strawberries and grapes damn that sounds great hold on wait." i love when kuniva and kon artist go back and forth. Oops, somebodys jackin' off tonight!" Proof is hot too. "Swallow and breath, swallow and breath." 5/5

14. Steve's Coffee House (skit): Pointless but funny. The dude does a horrible reenactment of "Purple Pills". 2.5/5

15. D12 World: Not that good. Bad for a title song. 2/5

16. 40 Oz: This song is awesome, really hardcore. The whole thing is good but Bizarre trying to act tough makes me laugh. hahaha. 4/5

17. Commercial Break (skit): This is like Obie's skit on the last album but with Young Zee, oh yeah, and its better. 3.5/5

18. American Psycho 2: This song would be crazy IF i hadnt already heard part one. but you have to hand it to them for tryin' but noone will ever be able to match part one. this features B-Real from Cyprus Hill. 3.5/5

19. Bugz 97: Bugz was pretty good. It's too bad. It's just too bad. 4/5

20. Good Die Young: This song brings a tear to my eye, no not because it sucks, it doesnt, but because it so sad. gotta feel sorry for all of them. Em doesnt rap on this track. But thats good this isnt Em's kind of vibe. My 2nd favorite song on the album. 5/5

21. Keep Talkin: This song was released a long time ago but its still awesome. Its a Ja Rule diss and Ja will never be able to strike back near as good as that. Bizzare's verse is sick but its funnier than hell 4.5/5

This is a good album. But it dissapoints everyone who has the other album. As you can see it gets better as it goes along.

top five songs:

I read all the reviews on here and most people are just either basing it on My Band (which sounds nothing like the rest of the album, fyi) or not really basing their disses on anything, just coming on here to diss just for the hell of it. All I have to say is get your kicks some other way, cuz all you're doing is annoying the people who actually have something legitimate to say, the only thing you're pointing out is your own stupidity- anyways-

this album I think is better put together than Devils night was. The songs sound more 'tied together' (the only way I can think of to describe it) but they each have their own sound. My Band does sound a little out of place, but I think it's a lot better than a lot of the other stuff on the radio right now. All the members are very talented including Bizarre. Yes he isn't as good as the others flow wise, but he has very creative and interesting lyrics, and his flow is all part of his charm. Eminem steps back on this album like he said he would, and isn't near as prominent as he was on Devil's Night letting the others stand out, and that's a good thing. This is one of my favorite cds right now. These guys are definitly not victims of the sophomore slump- major props- 5 stars, very nice

D12's second album "D12 World" (2004) is a decent release. To be honest I have never been big into there work, I remember copping there first album and only liking a few tracks. Maybe this comes from me genuinely finding them to be a bit to out there using controversial lyrics to get attention and sell records. I generally dont care if millions buy a record, what matters to me is can I feel it, can I relate to it on some level, and can it get play in the ride. The lead single "My Band" is a somewhat funny track, Eminem's chorus and D12's lyrics make it a different but entertaining track. The video for this cut had me laughing...I think one of the good things about Eminem is he doesnt mind making fun of himself. Alot of early tracks just dont do much for me and fall under skip material, though there are definetly some standout tracks and for me they are "How Come", the pounding second single "40 Oz", and the grimey Dre produced "American Psycho II" feat. Breal of Cypress Hill. My favourite track is the deep "Good Die Young", D12 drops an excellent cut while talking about life and death, appreciating each day and remembering those who have past. Maybe this one is my fav because D12 deliver some real relevent lyrics and take things to another level. "D12 World" is a release I would recommend for D12 and Eminem fans. 3.5.

I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed, this album brings some very repetitive beats and sometimes lyrics. This LP also lacks any real meaning, most of the songs have no points at all. But as always there are some good points on this album.

Notable Tracks

"Git Up":

Eminem starts this song with some very fast rhyme that will make you have to hit the Play button again on your MP3 player. Swifty then hits the next verse very well, delivering more fast paced well woven rhymes. The final verse is even better than the first two with Kuniva bringing some tight lyrics, perhaps one of his best verses ever. Despite Eminems great verse and chorus Kuniva brings it on this track.

Best Performance: Kuniva

"6 In the Mornin'":

This song starts off excellent, Eminem brings a heavy first verse that leads into a solid catchy chorus. Swifty brings the next verse which is also very good, the flow is great in this verse. Kuniva brings yet another short but fantastic verse here, try to play this verse and catch every word the first time, you won't. Kon Artis takes the last verse, this verse starts off strong but dies off at the end. Em kills his first verse and follows it up with a great chorus.

Best Performance: Eminem

"How Come":

Once again Eminem rips the first verse with an emotional dedication to his fellow members of D12 at first, then it goes into them changing. Kon Artis hits the next verse with an attack with some tight rhymes this is a great Kon Artis verse. Proof really brings a great verse hear talking about his old friends who have gotten resentful because he was "just actin' out the part he was thrown." Proof shines on this one.

Best Performance: Proof

"American Psycho II":

A nice chorus starts off this song delivered by B-Real. Swift takes the first verse with some fast paced rhymes and hateful lyrics this is a great opener. Kuniva brings the next verse, very good lyrics but the flow is a little off, not the best Kuniva verse. Bizzare brings the next verse, with the normal sick and disturbing lyrics, but this is actually one of Bizzares best verses. The last verse is the best, Eminem brings the best series of lyrics and flow on the album. Eminem owns this one.

Best Performance: Eminem

Other Good Ones:

40 oz.

My Band

-Kyle Walker