D12 - D12 World [2LP]

D12 World is the second album from Detroit's most chaotic crew, a 2004 double LP that caught Eminem and his friends at the peak of their powers and their mischief.

D12 came up in Detroit's underground battle-rap scene, a collective of MCs that included Eminem, Proof, Bizarre, Kuniva, Swifty McVay and Kon Artis. By 2004 Eminem was one of the biggest stars on the planet, and D12 World arrived with the full weight of Shady Records behind it. The result is darker, more confident and often funnier than their debut, swinging wildly between brutal shock humor and surprisingly personal moments.

"My Band" became the album's breakout, a hilarious send-up of group dynamics in which the rest of the crew grumble about Eminem's frontman status. "How Come" takes a more reflective turn, wrestling with loyalty and friendships strained by fame, while "40 Oz." and "U R the One" show off the group's anarchic chemistry and love of a big, bouncing beat.

Two decades later, D12 World stands as a vivid snapshot of a crew that was never afraid to offend anyone, and of Proof's irreplaceable presence before his death in 2006.

This double LP brings the full, gleeful chaos back to the turntable, skits and all, exactly as loud and unruly as it was meant to be.