Why did Eminem leave the band D12?

by

As an ardent fan, I’d say it’s fascinating how Eminem bucked the usual trend in the hip hop scene. Typically, a group rises to fame, one member breaks out, and then they go solo. But with Eminem, the legendary Detroit rapper was initially part of D12. However, he achieved success as a solo artist before helping boost the international reputation of the group. Later on, he chose to move on independently.

From 1996 to 1998, Eminem was part of the hip-hop collective D12. In 1999, he rose to stardom, and then reconnected with the group for their albums “Devil’s Night” (2001) and “D12 World” (2004). The songs “My Band” and “Purple Pills” were successful hits for D12. However, since Eminem chose to leave, the group finds itself in a sort of cultural gray area, known more as an offshoot of Eminem’s solo career. Despite this, they continue to be active in the music industry.

Eminem distanced himself from D12 in 2006

Eminem had been associated with the group D12 until as recently as 2018, but his participation in the group significantly decreased more than a decade prior. The passing of founding member and close friend Proof in 2006 was a profound shock to Em, and it coincided with Eminem’s struggles with addiction. After 2006, Eminem contributed to just two D12 songs, and the latter track, “Trapped,” directly referenced Proof’s death.

During the 2010s, Eminem’s absence drew attention, but he himself clarified that he was no longer associated with D12 in the song “Stepping Stone.” In this track, he shares his memories of recording with Proof and other group members, and reveals how he leveraged D12 to advance his own solo career rather than helping them attain mainstream success.

D12 continues to perform as a trio

Eminem confirmed in the final verse of the song that D12 no longer existed. In simpler terms, he rapped, “The more we keep up this charade, the less chance for resolution, so let’s move on.” He added, “It’s not an end to our friendship, but the D12 era has concluded.” Essentially, Eminem chose to call it quits on the group that achieved their greatest success with the song “My Band.

Although Eminem may have moved on from D12, the group remains active today. The original members Bizarre, Kuniva, and Swifty McVay recently opened for Snoop Dogg during his 2023 tour, and they’ve been performing a series of shows to commemorate the anniversary of their second album. Unfortunately, Eminem, Proof (who passed away), and Kon Artis are no longer part of the founding members involved in the group.

Read More

2025-04-10 22:00