D12: D12 World

When D12 emerged nationally with their "Devil's Night" debut, they basically got all their juice from being associated with Eminem. That disc was haphazard and lazy, as D12 proved to be equal-
opportunity haters who spewed venom in all directions over some pretty played-out funk beats. They're back, and it's clear that they've learned from some of their missteps and tightened their act, as this is a more confident, less derivative, and often sly take on the whole gangsta routine. The first single, "My Band," actually pokes fun at the fact that their notoriety often comes from their link to Slim Shady, who produces the cut and adds his wicked charm. Eminem's prominence is muted, though, as the other MCs (Swift, Kuniva, Proof, and Bizarre) spit verse that is both obvious and provocative in their quest for creating mayhem and one-upmanship. Tracks like the brawny "Git Up" and "40 Oz." are paths we've been down many times before. Unlike their mentor, these guys are too busy breaking heads to break new ground. They actually send up the whole Glock mentality with "I'm Gonna Get My Gun," which displays more than a few winks and nods. The Detroit natives are helped by the white-hot Kanye West on the title track as he offers a neatly surreal mix, as well as other producers such as Hi-Tek and Trackboyz, who add some bounce. The group's in-house beatmeister, Kon Artis, drops some beefy funk on "I'll Be Damned" to good affect. Ultimately, D12's world spans around the block and back, but here their limitations don't seem so debilitating.