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Not many rap groups can say they’ve sold 4 million CDs worldwide their first time out. And none have a member who sold more than 50 million CDs as a solo artist, but D12 can. Furthermore, not many can boast about having a member produce two of the hottest singles in 2003 – 50 Cent and G-Unit’s “P.I.M.P.� and “Stunt 101� respectively, but again, D12 can. And as if that wasn’t enough, the group is poised to release their sophomore CD, D-12 World, on April 27th.
Made up of Proof, Eminem, Bizarre, Kon Artis aka Denaun Porter, Swift, and Kuniva, D12 released their multi-platinum debut album, Devil’s Night in 2001. Devil’s Night was received with critical acclaim and spawned two chart-topping singles “Purple Pills� and “Fight Music.�
In Part I of our two part interview, Chronic talks with Denaun, D12’s producer extraordinaire, about their new album.
Chronicmagazine.com: How does it feel to be back in the studio with everyone?
Denaun: It was fun. It felt like old times.
Chronicmagazine.com: What did you do when you weren’t recording?
Denaun: I stayed in the studio. I was working on other people’s albums. I [produced] “P.I.M.P.� and “Stunt 101� [for G-Unit]. I worked on the 8 Mile Soundtrack. I worked with Method Man, Redman, Bilal, Rah Digga, Snoop Dogg.
Chronicmagazine.com: So basically, you didn’t take a break at all.
Denaun: No.
Chronicmagazine.com: You’re doing so much production. Do you want to just focus on that?
Denaun: Maybe one day, but right now I have a lot to prove. I don’t know. Maybe a while from now.
Chronicmagazine.com: What exactly do you want? Is it achievable? Some people search, but never find.
Denaun: It’s not respect. Everyone eventually gets some kind of respect whether it’s from peers or people in the industry. I think I’ve gained a lot of respect from people in the industry and I still have that drive. I really don’t know. I think I just love doing music. I don’t know. I think the goal is to put new artists out and sell records on my own. Basically, I just want to become an entity outside of Shady/ Aftermath that can also produce records.
Chronicmagazine.com: Do you find that working with new talent is harder than working on your own project?
Denaun: Well, I think sometimes new talent or any other talent is easier. With your own project, you get so worried about what you’re saying and what you’re doing. With someone else, I can guide them in the right direction, but it’s hard for me to write a song for myself. It takes me a long time. It’s a very long process. I’m harder on myself than I am on other people. I can’t dictate what a Busta Rhymes wants to say on a song. I just give him a beat.
Chronicmagazine.com: Your new album, D-12 World, is set to drop in April. What will people hear on it?
Denaun: It’s not the same sound of the last album. “Loyalty� is a good song. It [describes] our relationship as D-12 - our loyalty to each other before our loyalty to the label. Sometimes that’s more important. People look at us as a group that was just put together, but we really grew up together. We’re really a group. “Good Die Young� focuses on early demise. I wonder what Pac and Biggie would be doing right now if they were still alive. “Bitch� is funny. You would expect us to be doggin’ a chick, but it’s a funny story about men v. women. This album is different from a lot of music that’s out right now.
Chronicmagazine.com: How do you decide what to put out?
Denaun: It’s a dare to be different, but we don’t try real hard. It’s just the way we think. I’ve been shot and flatlined on the table before. I had to go through the whole rehabilitation thing of learning how to walk again, but I don’t want to talk about that. That’s the worst experience of my life. I’ve been through a whole bunch of shit.
Me and Kuniva grew up in the same hood. We represent that to the fullest. All of our n*ggas are trying to get out of the hood and we’re their hope. Everyone reps their hood. I’ve been through it already. I don’t want to ever go through some of that shit again. Hopefully, I won’t have to, but if I ever go back, I’ll still have the love of my friends. I keep them close. If everyone around you is happy or feels like they're apart of something, you won’t have to worry about someone stabbing you in the back.
http://chronicmagazine.com/features-view.mv?1
Made up of Proof, Eminem, Bizarre, Kon Artis aka Denaun Porter, Swift, and Kuniva, D12 released their multi-platinum debut album, Devil’s Night in 2001. Devil’s Night was received with critical acclaim and spawned two chart-topping singles “Purple Pills� and “Fight Music.�
In Part I of our two part interview, Chronic talks with Denaun, D12’s producer extraordinaire, about their new album.
Chronicmagazine.com: How does it feel to be back in the studio with everyone?
Denaun: It was fun. It felt like old times.
Chronicmagazine.com: What did you do when you weren’t recording?
Denaun: I stayed in the studio. I was working on other people’s albums. I [produced] “P.I.M.P.� and “Stunt 101� [for G-Unit]. I worked on the 8 Mile Soundtrack. I worked with Method Man, Redman, Bilal, Rah Digga, Snoop Dogg.
Chronicmagazine.com: So basically, you didn’t take a break at all.
Denaun: No.
Chronicmagazine.com: You’re doing so much production. Do you want to just focus on that?
Denaun: Maybe one day, but right now I have a lot to prove. I don’t know. Maybe a while from now.
Chronicmagazine.com: What exactly do you want? Is it achievable? Some people search, but never find.
Denaun: It’s not respect. Everyone eventually gets some kind of respect whether it’s from peers or people in the industry. I think I’ve gained a lot of respect from people in the industry and I still have that drive. I really don’t know. I think I just love doing music. I don’t know. I think the goal is to put new artists out and sell records on my own. Basically, I just want to become an entity outside of Shady/ Aftermath that can also produce records.
Chronicmagazine.com: Do you find that working with new talent is harder than working on your own project?
Denaun: Well, I think sometimes new talent or any other talent is easier. With your own project, you get so worried about what you’re saying and what you’re doing. With someone else, I can guide them in the right direction, but it’s hard for me to write a song for myself. It takes me a long time. It’s a very long process. I’m harder on myself than I am on other people. I can’t dictate what a Busta Rhymes wants to say on a song. I just give him a beat.
Chronicmagazine.com: Your new album, D-12 World, is set to drop in April. What will people hear on it?
Denaun: It’s not the same sound of the last album. “Loyalty� is a good song. It [describes] our relationship as D-12 - our loyalty to each other before our loyalty to the label. Sometimes that’s more important. People look at us as a group that was just put together, but we really grew up together. We’re really a group. “Good Die Young� focuses on early demise. I wonder what Pac and Biggie would be doing right now if they were still alive. “Bitch� is funny. You would expect us to be doggin’ a chick, but it’s a funny story about men v. women. This album is different from a lot of music that’s out right now.
Chronicmagazine.com: How do you decide what to put out?
Denaun: It’s a dare to be different, but we don’t try real hard. It’s just the way we think. I’ve been shot and flatlined on the table before. I had to go through the whole rehabilitation thing of learning how to walk again, but I don’t want to talk about that. That’s the worst experience of my life. I’ve been through a whole bunch of shit.
Me and Kuniva grew up in the same hood. We represent that to the fullest. All of our n*ggas are trying to get out of the hood and we’re their hope. Everyone reps their hood. I’ve been through it already. I don’t want to ever go through some of that shit again. Hopefully, I won’t have to, but if I ever go back, I’ll still have the love of my friends. I keep them close. If everyone around you is happy or feels like they're apart of something, you won’t have to worry about someone stabbing you in the back.
http://chronicmagazine.com/features-view.mv?1
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