D12 is a legendary duo from Detroit, Michigan, now consisting of Kuniva and Swifty McVay. The group’s storied history includes members such as B. Flatt, Bizarre, the late Bugz, the late Dirtty Ratt, the late Eye-Kyu, their late de facto leader Proof, Killa Hawk, DJ Head, Fuzz Scoota, mR. pOrTeR, and most notably Eminem. As the first act to sign with Shady Records, their debut Devil’s Night remains a hometown classic, while their sophomore effort D12 World leaned into a more commercial sound. Now, two decades after the tragic passing of Proof, the group continues its legacy with their third album, D12 Forever, released under Compound Interest Entertainment.
The album opens with “My Salsa,” featuring an intro titled “Again, Another Public Service Announcement” produced by Jake Bass. The track samples “My Band” and sets the tone for a project that aims to fill the void left by the group’s absence. This is followed by “Tear It Down,” a hardcore hip-hop single featuring B-Real and Xzibit. Other highlights include “Proof & Eli,” which features a posthumous appearance by Derty Harry alongside his son, Elijah Ble$$ed, and the introspective “Better Dayz.”
The project showcases the duo’s lyrical chemistry on tracks like “Kill the Engineer,” where Swift and Kuniva trade bars over a classic boom-bap instrumental. The energy remains high on “Tenderism,” which features Method Man, and “Dirty Nation,” a clever flip of the Funkadelic anthem “1 Nation Under a Groove.” The hardcore sound persists on “Still Hating,” featuring King Iso and Tech N9ne.
Emotional depth is present throughout the record, particularly on “Bugz ‘98,” which pays homage to their fallen member, and “Nightmare Walking,” which features a touching callback to Xzibit’s “Kurt Kobain.” The album concludes with the title track, “Forever,” a definitive statement on representing the team for life.
Despite Eminem’s declaration on “Stepping Stone” that D12 had reached its end, Swifty McVay and Kuniva deserve immense respect for keeping the group’s spirit alive. Jake Bass’ production successfully captures the essence of the Dirty Dozen’s earlier output, and the guest features are curated with care. For fans, D12 Forever serves as a compelling gift, especially as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of their debut.
Score: 8/10