Review #9: D12 - Devil's Night (2001)

For this review I'll be doing D12's debut studio album, Devil's Night. Now, after listening to D12 World, I had zero expectations for this, as D12 World was total bullshit. But word on the street is this was like another Eminem album with loads of guest stars, which would be great, because it'd be old Eminem, not new disgusting Recovery crap. So I figured I'd give this a try.

1. Another Public Service Announcement (skit)
This, I guess, was the retiring of those Service Announcement skits on the Slim Shady and Marshall Mathers LP. This is a good sign though, as both of those albums were great.

2. Shit Can Happen
The beat's pretty simple and the hook's annoying. But the rap itself is still way better than anything D12 did on D12 World, and Eminem, as he probably will all album, in comparison to the rest of his band. He sounds like a tweaked version of the Shady on Marshall Mathers LP, so that's good.

3. Pistol Pistol
Just by the name of this track, I can tell it's probably gonna be a slapstick song about D12's guns. Eminem pretty much just sings the hook, and as most tracks without him are gonna be, it's lackluster.

4. Bizarre (skit)
This was pretty funny, especially when he farts, and says it's "from the soul". This is pretty much Bizarre's role.

5. Nasty Mind
This is pretty much your average D12 song, with kinda creepy female vocals that remind me of Die Antwood. Actually, this was pretty shitty.

6. Ain't Nuttin But Music
Eminem seriously kills his verse, and his hook is even alright. The beat's terrible, but the rest of D12 is okay on this. Maybe Eminem writes his band's lyrics for them on tracks he appears on?

7. American Psycho
Probably the only track on here I've heard already, and Eminem raps for like the first half of it. Also, as for Bizarre, he was pretty good on here. It's also funny when Kon Artis says he smokes 40's and drinks weed. Pretty good track.

8. That's How (skit)
That was fucking useless.

9. That's How...
Why does Eminem insist on singing hooks? He's not good at it. The rest of Dee Twizzy was solid on here though.

10. Purple Pills
I know I said American Psycho was the only track I've heard, but Purple Pills is a Shady classic, as is Fight Music. Everyone kills this. Like this is easily the best D12 song ever.

11. Fight Music
This beat goes super hard, and it's the only song besides Shit On You that even come close to Purple Pills for D12. Again, everyone in D12 goes hard, except Eminem. His verse was better than everyone else on here, and still sub par for him. You think D12 might be shitty?

12. Instigator
This was pretty boring, nice scratching on the beat though. Still, probably the least listenable track so far, besides maybe Nasty Mind.

13. Pimp Like Me
This track sounds like a Superman remix by everyone in D12, except Eminem, who does some funny background vocals, and the fucking hook. Stop it Eminem. But Swifty probably spits his best verse ever. Actually, this is probably the best D12 song that doesnt have Eminem spit a verse.

14.  Blow My Buzz
Eminem's alright on here, but even more sub par than Fight Music. Bizarre's opening line was the highlight of this song, besides maybe the beat, which was decent.

15. Obie Trice (skit) (Feat. Obie Trice)
Obie Trice wasn't good enough to get on an actual track, so he just did a short verse on a skit. Obie Trice is a bad rapper.

16. Devil's Night
This was alright, but Eminem's getting worse as the album goes on. Some lines were funny though, Kon Artis says he's an "anus" and Bizarre says he has Bow Wow in his basement. Should've kept him there Bizzy.

17. Steve Berman (skit)
Easily the best Eminem skit ever. Like, now I can see why they put sequels all over the place (I've reviewed one of em on Relapse). Steve Berman's yell at the end is funny as fuck.

18. Revelation
Uh oh. D12's getting deep. Wait maybe not. Slim kills this shit, and everyone else is pretty dope too. One of the best tracks on the album.

19. Girls (Eminem Solo)
My favorite way to close out a D12 album, with an Eminem solo track! This is a diss track for Limp Bizkit and Whitey Ford I believe, and he easily kills anything they've ever done. Actually listening to it, it might be a diss track to everyone Eminem's beefed with. The hook is pretty funny, and this is overall a good Eminem track. Classy way to end things.

Best Tracks: Purple Pills, Fight Music, Revelation, Girls, Ain't Nuttin But Music

Rating: 7/10

This is really good for D12, and easily the best thing they've put out. But it's no where near the status of an early Eminem solo album, so it's kiiind of a let down. Still, it's better than alot of shit now, and it's nice to hear some old Eminem verses.