Author: Isabelle

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.
………………………………………………………………………………
Interview was done in May 2008
Questions Asked By: Jonathan Hay
Excerpts from the Swifty McVay Interview. Listen Here
………………………………………………………………………………
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

Global rating of the product: 3.75 stars
Russian Rap’s my space account.
Eddie aka Russian Rap, a cyber friend of mine, released a brand new mixtape. Welcome to a killa agenda of an emcee with creative, story-telly murderous rhymes. What makes Eddie stand out in the numerous crowd of underground emcees? Eddie is a Russian born guy who relocated to California. His music has the subtle taste of his obvious Russian influences mixed up with a good dose of West Coast hip hop sounds. Like Eminem, Eddie has this story telling gift that makes his music interesting for the listener’s attentive ear.
Blood On My Mind softly introduces the listener into the drama that splits Eddie’s mind into two different personalities. The attentive ear will certainly appreciate the soft oboe notes and the rhythmic instrumental background. Rapid drum beats resemble crazy heartbeats pumping inside of a ruthless criminal’s chest.
Xylophone and keyboards reinforce the “disruptive harmony” generated in Me And I. Eddie works on two different voice registers- which makes the song particularly interesting. “Me” and “I” appear to be total different entities.
Conquerror harpsichord notes in the background mark the artist’s will to make a difference in the world of rap with his Rap And You track. Violins, drumbeats and oboe assemble the elements that will reveal Russian Rap’s perverted mind.
Hard To Find exposes the artist’s personal drama. But he begs to differ from Eminem: his personal drama has nothing to do with karma. Based on a piano background, the song reveals all the lies a man went through in his love life.
I Do What I Do is motivated by a hustler spirit. The song is embued with an euphoric spirit. Here is somebody who is determined to succeed in the rap game, period.
Breathe is a rhythmic track. Symbolically, it offers a huge encouragement to anybody who struggles in the game. I loved the rhythmic wordplays.
From a constructive critical point of view, Eddie needs to work on his vocal chords in order to improve his vocal power. Russian Rap’s assets, however, lie in the originality of his instrumental use and his inventivity, which allows him to offer a unique composition of his own to his listeners.
Globally speaking the Murder On My Mind mixtape is definitely worth your attention. Check it out!
Copyrightby Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

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.

After several years of using henna, I have become quite an expert in preparing my henna paste at home. People who are telling you that they had disastrous result with henna are either people who didn’t mix the paste properly (no, henna will never ever dry out your hair if you follow my advices), either they used chemical dyes and added a henna composition that didn’t fit with the former chemical composition, thus the horrible hair color that followed!
First and foremost, I’d like to do away with loads of classical misconceptions regarding henna powder:
– the greatest misconception about henna is that your only options are the red and black hair shades. You’d be amazed at the wonderful and various shades that exist. I usually use Marigold blonde (lighter and darker blond “marigold” shades actually do exist, I just tried the yellow gold shade out a few days ago). You can go light blond (Persian blond is actually the rarest but also the lightest existing shade in henna), golden, medium blond, dark blond, light brown, medium brown, red, dark red, dark brown, black etc.
– there are very few chances henna will give you some allergies, unless you are using it with some added chemicals (please, and for your own sake avoid those so called hennas!)
The most astute tip I can give you after you know how to mix the powder properly, is to create your own shade, either by adding some neutral henna to your existing shade, or by mixing two different shades together.
Now let me reveal you the recipe that will allow you a proper mixing of your henna powder:
First of all, remember never to use any metallic component (all of your spoons should be wooden spoons), you can use any kind of bowl, as long as it doesn’t contain any metal.
Add 10 or 12 tablespoons of henna powder (depending on your hair length)…take another little recipient, put some argan oil into it, that you will mix up with a good quality honey, add some salt into it.
In the meantime, boil some water with your kettle and prepare some green tea (for the blond and red to light brown shades; for the other shades, I’d advice you to use some black tea.)
Remember always to use tea in grains for optimal results.
Go back to your henna bowl, dig a dwell into it, squeeze the juice of half of a lemon, slowly mix your tea into it. Then you will be ready to add the content of your second recipient, always mix it slowly into your paste, until you obtain a smooth paste that should resemble hair balm.
Leave it for at least 2 hours before using it.
Another point now requires your attention: the longer you will leave the paste on your hair, the better the results, the thicker and silkier your hair!
With an exception for the yellow gold shade (because of its original, very golden, intense shade, it requires less time), I’d suggest you to leave the paste on your hair for at least 4 hours.
Happy henna time!
Copyrightby Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

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.

A good dose of well placed ghetto rage, a hardcore electric guitar background, a well handled keyboard, hammering drums: welcome to 7 Mile Mob’s artistry.
Discover some dedicated emcees with a determined mobbing spirit.
Buttons Up is astutely constructed on rhythmic a piano-keyboard background. It unveils the doors to the 7 Mile MOB crew that takes over with lyrical confidence.
Haters And Bustas must be ready to get lyrically and instrumentally by a talented crew.
As the repetitive chorus “We don’t fuck with you haters”, the menace grows like a dark cloud in the sky. 7 Mile Mob are ready to pour out their rage on very rhythmic, well handled lyrics.
I recommend the song to Detroit hip hop lovers, because it truly represents the Detroit hood.
Black J’s slowly starts on claps, dark and deep rooted keyboard sounds. 7 Mile Mob’s flow amazing flow delivery needs to be underlined in any case.
I enjoyed the raw reps, the harsch attitude and the scurrilous atmosphere of the song.
Although Cutie Pie is a softer song, I think it is worth listening to, because of its swinging accents.
It has a beautiful funky flavor. Again, you will be amazed by the nice flow delivery provided by the talented 7 Mile Mob emcees.
Check them 7 Mile hip hop representatives here.
Copyright by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Watch them here.

It’s your Detroit boy D Weez’e from the West 7 Mile area who will take you by surprise with his explosive, hardcore musical backgrounds. He is full of that raw energy, keeping up the grind in the darkness of the zone.
Getting Money is built on a noisy background. Although the theme is quite recurrent in hip hop, D Weez’e ‘s gritty voice and determined spirit manage to offer the listener some new perpectives on the cadenced musical background.
Risk Hold 18 takes you deeper into the Detroit slums; its dark musical environment makes you feel the numerous, surrounding dangers. Follow D Weeze’e into his crazy ride. The repetitive musical background emerges from a cloudy chaos that creates mental dizziness. Here comes the trouble: be prepared for it. D Weez’e handles the track with the mind of a ghetto fighter.
Ice N A Watch will allow the listener to fully appreciate D Weeze’s lyrical style. His stormy flow delivery totally matches with his musical inventivity.
If you like real life stories, the typical 7 Mile wickedness, D Weeze’e s music will be delight to your ears.
Listen to the Iced Out Entertainment artist here.
Copyright by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Read the original article here.
Beer & Boom Bap: Mention Detroit hip-hop, and Eminem, Slum Village, D12 and Guilty Simpson come to mind. But on Friday, several other artists will show that there’s a lot of lesser-known talent in the D.
“You can consider me true school,” says Tasherre D’Enajetic, one of the acts taking the stage at Tailgators in Dearborn Heights. “It’s not the crap you hear on the radio. I try to make stuff that people can actually relate to.”
The Detroit-born 33-year-old says he’s been rapping since he was 8 years old and makes what he calls “true school hip-hop.”
Other artists brought on by Boombox Entertainment include Ajax, Old Dave, Da Bash Brotherz, RTKUL8, DJ Gruv on the 1s and 2s and Rising Sunz.
“It’s a lot of up-and-coming metro Detroit artists,” says Robert Dunn, aka Robb, of Boombox Entertainment. “This is our first time trying Tailgators. We heard some good things about the place and wanted to try it out. If it goes well, it’ll be an annual event.”
D’Enajetic says events like this mean a lot because “there’s plenty of cats here that are doing really good music, but it gets drowned out” by both the really bad acts and the really successful artists like Guilty Simpson and Eminem.
“I’m a real fan and supporter of Michigan hip-hop, and this is definitely an event to see some real good Michigan hip-hop,” D’Enajetic says.
9:30 p.m. Friday, Tailgators, 25380 Van Born, Dearborn Heights. 313-299-7767. $6. 21 and older.
So long Shaun: Shaun Rogers has left the Detroit Lions for the Cleveland Browns, but the 6-foot-4 defensive tackle is going out with style Friday with a farewell party at the Rhino.
“The event is going to be really classy,” says TaNesha Ahmed of promotions group Ladny Angels. “It’s a black carpet event. We have two really hot DJs spinning that night, go-go dancers, a massage therapist, a sushi girl and a tattoo artist.”
DJs Blaze and Mark will keep the sounds coming. Expected guests include Tatum Bell, Travis Fisher and Devale Ellis of the Lions and Clifton Ryan of the St. Louis Rams.
“Shaun visits the Rhino from time to time,” Ahmed says. “He’s very excited about this event. He is very thankful for his time in Detroit, and he’s celebrating with his family, friends and fans at his farewell party.”
Wayne, a tattoo artist from Detroit’s Body Candy Tattoo Studio who has worked on some of the Lions, the Detroit Shock and the Pistons as well as several Detroit rappers, will be slinging ink. Ladies get in free before 10 p.m.
9 p.m. Friday, the Rhino, 1407 Randolph St., Detroit. 313-963-6244. $20.
Beats at Bleu: Tribal, techno, house, electronica and progressive — or, simply put, party music. With Yos and Dabura opening Saturday at Bleu for Matthew Dekay, the beats are sure to keep you pulsating from dusk to dawn.
“My sound is all about groove,” says Dekay, who lives in Amsterdam, which is known for its classical music and opera. The 30-year-old, who began playing piano when he was old enough to tie his own shoes, later broke free of the traditional music mold and began exploring the world of beats.
“Don’t expect to hear defected vocal house, but deeper kind of sounds,” Dekay says. “I’ve been inspired by the early ’90s house music that was about to explode in Amsterdam. I like to keep the dance floor (energized).”
Sip $3 wells and domestics while you enjoy Dekay’s sounds, which can likely be found in the bags of Deep Dish, Danny Tenaglia, John Digweed, Sasha, Danny Howells, Tiesto, Armin van Buuren and Carl Cox.
“If people are up for a good night of grooves combined with some magical anthem moments, they should come and dance with me,” Dekay says. “I always try to connect with the crowd, and my vision is creating the vibe of a night together.”
10 p.m. Saturday, Bleu, 1540 Woodward, Detroit. 313-222-1900. $5. 18 and older.

If you’d like to get some real insight about the Detroit hip hop scene, you better trust Omar’s judgment!
Check out his highly interesting blog.