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Swifty Mc Vay interview (Dubcnn Com)

May 20, 2008 in D12, Detroit Underground Scene | 2 comments

Read the original article here.
When life suddenly sideswipes us with a heavy blow of unfortunate tragedy, we find ourselves re-evaluating our strength, our endurance. Though we know that there is a season for everything – a time to laugh and a time to mourn – it is the perception that hard emotional times never end that make the pain so unmanageable. It is in these times, however, that some see the mission as a chance for redemption and others as a chance for escape. It is in these times that soldiers are produced…

Only two short years ago, the members of D12 found themselves on the receiving end of tragedy’s clenched fist, losing both a family member and a friend when Proof was brutally murdered in a Detroit nightclub. The momentum of the blow sent them into a season of hibernation, but as a rap collective who has learned to live their life under the gun, they have regained their strength and are back to reclaim their power.

Swifty McVay explains to Dubcnn how the group has since mended old wounds and united forces with some heavy hometown Detroit emcees, such as Royce Da 5’9”, to deliberate a mixtape that will generate the first show since the death of Proof. Though their pieces may never again add up to a dozen, the Detroit Twelve dust themselves off and return bruised — but never broken — showing proof their worth as soldiers.

Make way for the Return of the Dirty Dozen…

As ever, you can read this exclusive interview below and we urge you to leave feedback on our forums or email them to haywire@dubcnn.com.

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Interview was done in May 2008

Questions Asked By: Jonathan Hay

Excerpts from the Swifty McVay Interview. Listen Here
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The Return of D12
(The Swifty McVay Interview)
By Jonathan Hay
www.myspace.com/jonathanhay
………………………………………………………………………………

Dubcnn: Hey man… this Is Jonathan Hay AKA Haywire for Dubcnn and we got a whole lot of people who really love and support you on the website and, you know, you have a strong fan-base of people everywhere who really love what you’re doing.

Swifty McVay: Wow, man, that’s a blessing, man, that’s a blessing.

Dubcnn: Yeah, Definitely. So what has been going on?

Swifty McVay: Man, we just got finished working on the D-12 Mixtape CD, called Return of the Dozen. Just finished it, man, you know. Look for that to come out toward the end of the month, the end of May. You know, we been in the studio for about a good two and a half almost three weeks working on that and we’re formulating a mix CD release party, too, the end of May also, you know what I’m saying. So, I’ve been in work-mode, man, doing the mix CD and about to put out this solo stuff on my own at the same time.

Dubcnn: Where will people actually be able to get the Mixtape?

Swifty McVay: You will be able to grab the Mixtape off of Napster, iTunes, iTunes London, iTunes Japan — all the big major stores, you know what I’m saying, and maybe the MySpace. And there’s gonna be a big website campaign network with it. All the information will be on www.d12world.com

Dubcnn: Okay, so it will actually be commercially released to the public everywhere.

Swifty McVay: Exactly.

Dubcnn: Yeah, that is great – so, how many songs are on it? Do you have the track listing available and any other info?

Swifty McVay: The track listing will be available soon, man. There’s about 18-19 songs on there. Mostly are all original tracks, you know what I’m saying, so we giving you a nice little mix.

Dubcnn: Cool, that’s great. So it will be the D-12 collective. Are there any, like, features or guest appearances from anybody else on the Mixtape?

Swifty McVay: Oh yeah, we got features with a lot of Detroit artists; we got Royce Da 5’9” on there, you know, we got Guilty Simpson from Detroit, we got Young Miles, we got T-Flame & Famous, you know what I’m saying, we got King Gordy on there…

Dubcnn: So it is going to be Motor City classic…. So Royce Da 5’9” will be on it?

Swifty McVay: Yep.

Dubcnn: Yeah, that is good man because you know how everybody has been talking about how that whole Royce Da 5’9”/Eminem beef being squashed…. So that’s a good thing…

Swifty McVay: Right. Yeah, that was about 5 years ago, man. So, you know, we all from the same city, man, it’s time to do some unifying…it’s time to unify, man, and bring the city together so we can have a powerful fist, you know, and without that fist, man, the CD really ain’t nothing. A lot of other cities are uniting and it seems like Detroit is hard to keep it tight-fist, man. So, that’s what we doing, we’re bringing all the emcees together so we can go ahead and unify, so it’s professional.

Dubcnn: Now will this release be through Shady Records?

Swifty McVay: No, this is gonna be our own release. We are still dropping an album up under Shady Records but the mix CD is put together D-12 style, with the distribution of Shady.

Dubcnn: Okay, cool, man, that is great… Now you mentioned that there would be a release party for that…is there any kind of confirmed date or venue for that?

Swifty McVay: The release party is going to be on May 21st at the Magic Stick Hall in Detroit, Michigan on Woodward Avenue. That’s the mix CD release party. (Info below)

Dubcnn: Okay, that’s beautiful. So all the members from D-12 will be there in attendance, too?

Swifty McVay: Yep, the members of D-12 will be there performing, along with T-Flame & Famous, along with [King] Gordy, Guilty Simpson, Team Truly and a couple other artists.

Dubcnn: That’s has to be exciting to bring out this new music…

Swifty McVay: Yeah, man, it will be the first performance party we had since the Super Bowl when big homie Proof was living, so you know, it’s real special man, we bout to put it down again.

Dubcnn: Yeah, will there be any Proof verses on the mixtape?

Swifty McVay: Oh yeah, most definitely.

Dubcnn: On a personal note, how are you all still dealing with the loss of Proof, as your friend?

Swifty McVay: Man, you know, to be honest, man, we will never be completely patched up again from that, man. There’s a void missing and we will never be really up to par with it but I know each day that goes by we’re getting stronger and stronger each day, you know what I’m saying. And we’re dealing with it, but that void is gonna always be gone so it’s gonna always be a part missing from us that won’t allow us to stand firm like we want to because, you know, that void is gone, but we learn how to deal with it by getting stronger and stronger every day by keep going on and doing the day-to-day, it’s these situations that gets us stronger, you know.

Dubcnn: That is very deep…

(moment of silence)

Dubcnn: So you have the upcoming release party for the mixtape…are there any other tour dates on the horizon for this summer?

Swifty McVay: Right now, we’re working on tour dates right now, we don’t have any dates that’s carved in stone at this moment, you know what I’m saying, but we going step-by-step. So, we going to go ‘head and promote the music first and then we’re gonna get all the tour dates and the shows put together afterwards and follow up – - we will have all that up on www.d12world.com

Dubcnn: Well, I don’t wanna keep a whole lot of your time. Is there anything else that you wanna promote or let people know how to find you…

Swifty McVay: Oh yeah. You can find Swifty McVay at swiftymcvaysfyredapartment.com where you can go ‘head and hear, you know, snippets and samples of the Forest Fyres CD. I got a solo EP coming out, you can be able to purchase it online, called Under-Estimated Volume 1 — got about 5 or 6 tracks on there — and I’m also working on a Swifty McVay mix CD myself that I’m halfway finished with. So at the end of the day, you can get the solo Swifty McVay, you can get the D-12 mix CD, called Return of the Dozen ,– and we puttin’ it down — and the CD release party’s gonna be on the 21st of May, so it’s gonna be a big month.

Dubcnn: Yeah, that’s definitely exciting. So, you definitely got your support with Dubcnn. We’ll definitely be talking to you again real soon.

Swifty McVay: Hey, thank you, man, I appreciate you, man, for putting me air, man, and you know, giving me the time to let you know what’s going on, man. It’s definitely a blessing and I will talk to you soon, man, thank you.

Dubcnn: Alright, thanks a lot…

Swifty McVay: Alright, peace and love Haywire!

D12 Mixtape Release Party
Wed, May 21 2008
Magic Stick
4120 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 833-9700
Tickets: $12 US

Doors open at 8:00pm
Showtime is at 9:00pm

To find out more visit Majestic Detriot

To get tickets for the event visti Ticketmaster

The Return Of D12 ( Detroit Metromix)

May 16, 2008 in D12 | 1 comment

The return of D12
The Dirty Dozen’s Kuniva talks mix tape(s) and more
By B.J. Hammerstein
Metromix article available here.

May 12, 2008

It’s been four years since the hard-hitting Detroit rap group D12 a.k.a. the Dirty Dozen was sitting atop the Billboard charts with its second major studio album, “D12 World.”

Marshall Mathers a.k.a. Eminem was arguably the largest pop star on the planet at the time. The unofficial D12 leader Proof was the reigning hip-hop mayor of Detroit. And pop fans around the world couldn’t get enough of the grim lyrics and grimy production style the group was known for.

A lot has changed since 2004. The April 11, 2006 death of Deshaun Holton (Proof) still sends shivers throughout the rap community in Detroit. Eminem, who toured with D12 in 2004 while finishing up his last studio album “Encore,” has had numerous rumors swirling about, but has kept an almost total lock-down low profile.

Denaun Porter a.k.a. Kon Artis has kept busy with acclaimed production work for acts like Guilty Simpson and Little Brother among many others while Rufus Johnson a.k.a. Bizarre has had media attention from his stint with VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club” and dropping two solo albums, the most recent being 2007’s Koch Records’ “Blue Cheese and Coney Island.”

As the summer of 2008 heats up, D12 is set to make a big splash. Wednesday, May 21 they hit the Magic Stick for a release party for their new mix-tape “Return of the Dozen” and then they take off on a tour to support.

“It’s mostly original songs,” says Von Carlisle a.k.a. Kuniva while playing a couple of tracks during an interview conducted inside the Detroit Free Press office. “We all got together; Bizarre flew in from Atlanta and we just holed up in the studio and did it. (We’re) letting people know that we’re back and ready to work. We’re ready to go to out there and show people who we are. We’re not dead.”

Over the phone, Bizarre chimed in from Atlanta and answered the big question: Is Eminem on the record?

“Naw, he’s not on the mix tape,” Biz says. “We just kind of wanted to let the world see us without Marshall. He’s doing his own thing. He’s got his own album to worry about, to put out. We just wanted to just do it with the four fellas.”

So now Kuniva, Bizarre, Kon Artis and Ondre Moore a.k.a. Swift are entering a familiar world at an unfamiliar time. Kuniva, who was mostly known as the “quiet henchman” in the back of group, is opening up about life, music and the “Return of the Dozen.”

It’s been four years and a couple serious changes — the death of Proof, and Eminem not being involved in the mix tape recording – since “D12 World.” What was the recording process like, you guys getting back together?
We never lost a step. It just comes back automatically. No matter what. No matter how far the distance. When we see each other and come back to work, it’s like we just left off from the last album. It’s comes second nature to us.

We just went in and we didn’t have a set marker of what we were trying to hit. We just went in and did the music how we felt at the time. I think for us, it’s a big step for people to look at us in a different light.

The tracks that you’ve played, on first listen they sound a lot different than “Purple Pills” and the older stuff. How has the music changed?
They’re used to seeing us doing this one-formula type of music. They’re not used to seeing the more serious side of D12.

Our fans will hear a more ferocious side – [but] a realistic ferocious, not a humorous ferocious…There’re a lot of more serious songs, but at the same time we’re having a lot of fun. We wanted to let people know where we really come from: The true origin of D12 is to be dirty, to be grimy. We were raised in the battle-type world as far as battling emcees. We’re just getting back to our roots.

So, you’re kind of moving into the role that Proof kind of had – the spokesperson of the group?
With everything that I do, I’ve always enjoyed playing the back and letting everybody else handle things. I’m usually the laid-back reserved one of the group. I don’t cause any ruckus. I usually don’t cause any bullshit or any kind of mess. I barely go out to clubs or anything like that. I’m always to myself. I’ve always been kind of isolated. I never really fought for the camera time.

It’s changed a lot because now everyone has to hold there own weight in this group. And I’ve learned that in this business, you have to step up, and be more aggressive — more noticed, more seen. And Proof carried all that weight with everything, and nobody can do what he did. So what we’re doing now, everybody’s holding up their end — and we’re all holding that shit up, holding it above our heads.

Proof really understood the rap game. What are some of the things he instilled to you, that you’re carrying on?
With the rap, he gave you a certain drive and a certain focus. And that focus was he taught you how to rhyme. He taught you how to make complete songs. I didn’t know how to really do it. He really sat me down and told me to write this amount of bars, and here’s the hook. You can’t just rap on and rap on. After a while someone’s going to start snoring.

You have to have a concept. You have to have some kind of a hook. You have to have a bridge. You can’t just write about the same thing on every single song. You can’t kill a person in each and every song. He taught us how to be versatile, but at the same time, be realistic. Then, sometimes, be unrealistic.

You always want to leave some kind of mark on someone’s brain every time they come across you — and anyone who met Proof, he left an impression good or bad.

You have a solo project, too, that you are trying to finish up and release at the end of the summer. After fours years, it seems like you as an individual, and the rest of the members in D12, have a lot to say about a lot of different subjects?
As far as my style and my music and the mix-tape that I’m putting together, it’s more just getting into the mind of me because a lot of people tell me I’m too laid back. I need to step up more. People need to know what I’m thinking.

Most people already know the group and they know who’s who, but they always have trouble with me and Swifty. We are always the ones who really don’t get that recognition because they always call us the henchmen. Proof was so vocal. Bizarre is vocal without even saying anything and Kon Artis, people know him for his beats. And, of course, there’s Marshall…

Now it’s to the point where we really have to step it up and also just show people who we are. And that’s what I’m doing on this mix tape here. I’m showing people who I am. What I go through. I’m addressing a lot of issues. Like people saying that he’s [Eminem] fat.

“Marshall’s fat. Bizarre is this.”

They’re taking our quietness for weakness.

D12 is here to stay. Everyone knows that D12 means Dirty Dozen. I’ve read the blogs where people are so fucking cruel: “Why do they call it the Dozen when two members are dead?”

We’re always going to be the Dozen. D12 isn’t going anywhere.

D12 feat. Royce da 5.9 Plead For Your Life (Illest Lyrics Com)

May 11, 2008 in D12, Detroit Underground Scene | 3 comments

Posted by complexity 4 days ago (Editorial). Read the original article here.

After a well documented beef and a lot of tension. D12 and Royce Da 5’9 finally get back together for a new track titled, Plead For Your Life.

Royce recently was interviewed by Hiphopdx and mentioned that he has reconciled with Eminem.

Although, Eminem is not on this track, but Royce said, they’d most likely collaborate.

Illest Lyrics will keep you updated with all the latest news and hip hop music from D12 and Royce.

Mr Porter interviews from Hip Hop Ruckus

May 10, 2008 in D12 | 2 comments

Watch them here.

The Return Of The Dozen mixtape…updated news!

April 30, 2008 in D12, Detroit Underground Scene | 6 comments

Two tracks from D 12′s brand new mixtape are currently available. I had the chance to listen to Biggest G, that features Akon, thanks to D 12 lover who posted a link on the comments section.

Good news, dear readers. You’ll be able to download You Never Know, thanks to Da Shady Spot:)

A new D12 mixtape has been rumored…

April 21, 2008 in D12, Detroit Underground Scene | 2 comments

Apparently, the rumor seems to be true…looks like it will be out soon.
It is called The Return Of The Dozen.

Credit to D12 lover for the pic!

A minute of silence for our fallen soldier RIP Big Proof

April 11, 2008 in D12, Detroit Underground Scene | 2 comments

April the 11th

Thanks to all of you who have been posting messages remembering the brilliant Detroit emcee.

We love you Proof. You will live on in our hearts for ever:)

Mr Porter reveals details on Eminem, Detox, solo album & more…

April 9, 2008 in D12, Detroit Underground Scene, Eminem, Hip Hop | No comments

(a Hip Hop DX exclusive)

Read the original article here.

Denaun Porter aka Mr. Porter aka Kon Artis from D12 has been a busy man as of late. While putting in work for artists like Little Brother, Pharoahe Monch and Jay Electronica, Mr. Porter revealed to HipHopDX what he has coming up in 2008.

“I definitely am going to help get this D12 album done,” he states about working with his crew. “I got 6 songs that I’m in love with – not just because I did them but because the guys are spitting their hearts out.”

Porter also reveals a solo production album coming out this year titled Who Is John Doe.

“I’m putting out the Who Is John Doe project this year and it’s a great thing because it gives you a CD of all of the beats that didn’t make it (on other albums),” the Detroit producer explains. “It’s all chops and niggas ain’t never heard me do that. They are hearing beats that aren’t even put together. They are raggedy.”

The guest list is full of some of the Motor City’s finest.

“The album has got Guilty Simpson, it’s got Black Milk, myself doing solo songs, Phat Kat. It’s got all these cats I came up to listening with Jay Dee. It’s got Slum Village. Elzhi has a solo song on there. Dwele. So I made that project for myself before I go back out there.”

What Mr. Porter means by “before I go back out there” is supplying beats for Dr Dre’s swan song Detox. He – along with quite a few other notable producers – have been hard at work supplying the good Doctor with a plethora of beats. Many are curious what is going on with the project but Porter can give some insight.

“He just needs that first record,” he says of the hold up on the album. “He’s got records. We’ve busted our ass and I hope Dre feels that way. We really came to the table with different things. But Dre’s going to do that record. We’re not going to do it, we’re just giving him ideas. But Andre Young is going to come with it! It’s just his last record and he’s gotta go out with a bang!”

The one thing that piques the curiosity of many is the whereabouts of Porter’s close friend, Slim Shady.

“Eminem’s been recording, he’s always working. Me and him haven’t talked much because I have my own career.”

But although he hasn’t talked as frequently with his friend as many would think, Porter did take the time to squash a few rumors that had been hovering.

“Em ain’t fat,” Porter laughs as he talks about the blond emcee from 8 Mile. “He fucked his ACL up. What people don’t know is that Em got sick around Christmas and he had pneumonia. Then he fucked his ACL up right after that and that’s a serious injury. He’s straight. He just hurt himself and he’s good. He ain’t high or fucked up somewhere. That nigga is working. I’m going to help him get his record done. I need an Eminem record in my life for my own self. I need that.“

Porter also says that Eminem is completely clean and in great spirits.

“He’s the most clear and at his brightest point. That’s my family. We bump heads because we competitors. I’m cuter than him and he hates it. Bitches love me, they love him too but he got more money than me.“

Keep it tuned to DX for more on Mr. Porter, Eminem and Dr. Dre.

Enjoy that old school Proof track called Anywhere…

April 5, 2008 in D12, Detroit Underground Scene | 1 comment

It is from 1996. Anywhere by Proof: rediscover the emcee’s amazing freestyling qualities:)

Goon Sqwad: From Death featuring Proof (1996): a ride into old school Detroit hip hop

April 2, 2008 in D12, Detroit Underground Scene | 5 comments

Global rating of the product: 4.5 stars

The light and the dark are pictured in their eternal embrace, spoken out by harp and xylophone alike sounds, a penetrating dark voice introduce From Death, a Christian Mathis alias Trick Trick CD that features Deshaun Holton at his rapping debut. What a wonderful occasion to travel through the terrific world of the Murder Capital. Like a wirlwind, a high amplitude menace hangs over Detroit, preparing its folks for a “heaven’s hammer” devastation, as the somber voice in the background suggests. Be prepared for the most murderous verbal assaults.

Thug N’ U is a rhythmic Tupac sampled track adapted to a 7 Mile style. You are going to love it!

No Trust is built on a cadenced piano background mixed up with some astute lyrics. Feel the unsecurity of the narrator who trusts no one. Jazzed up sounds definitely enhance the tracks.The musical creativity of the song needs to be strongly underlined.

Meet a young OG named Trick Trick at the murderous 7 Mile. Keyboards and drum beats will make you feel the men on the run, trying to escape from the bullets.
The repeated 7 Mile-7 Mile reeinforces the gun talk and fuck the police attitude of its inhabitants. Trick and his crew are for real, better believe it!

To Death lets the listener guess about the rough environment his ears are about to meet. Like dark shapes emerging from a foggy background, the menace is there, waiting for the right moment to break out.

From Death is beautifully enriched with some Ruthless sounds and a chronic spirit. Back from Death, back from the land of the nightmares, Trick Trick is ready to bust his enemies with his crew

RIP To My OGs is a touching ode to hip hop’s fallen soldiers.

Hooked On Cronic : ready to get stoned by Trick Trick and his partners in crime. Blaze it up, seize the irony of the lyrics, enjoy our emcees’ know how.

Follow the crazy Booty Bounce and its musically instable syllables. It is followed by a filthy minded Pass Da Pu**y. Light, distorted sounds introduce Do Dat Shit, a repetitive and richly musically structured anthem.

The Goon Sqwad track projects the listener into a surrealistic atmosphere.

Gurp On is made of amplified techno sounds. Sharp voices intensify the electronic chaos, giving an overall let loose impression. Get lost into a troubled world.If you like Detroit hip hop’s absolute darkness and sharp dimension of the rough, you are going to love the From Death CD.

If you like Detroit hip hop’s absolute darkness and sharp dimension of the rough, you are going to love the From Death CD.

Copyright© by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

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