D12 - Devil's Night (CD)

All Music Guide

Many will be tempted to dismiss D-12's debut album as exploitative juvenilia, similar to how fellow Detroit hardcore rap acts such as ICP and Esham had been treated in the past. In fact, it's hard not to dismiss this album as shock rap because that's exactly what it is -- there's no denying it. As witty as Eminem may be -- and he's by far the most creative member of the group -- the countless forays into theatrical perversity far outnumber his more literate moments. For this reason, Devils Night should alienate a large percentage of the millions of people who purchased Eminem's Marshall Mathers a year earlier, leaving mostly a core audience of young wannabe-insane teenage boys who can appreciate this sort of juvenilia. But to dismiss the album strictly because of its themes would be unfortunate. As challenging as it may be for many to stomach the constant and incredibly explicit sex, violence, and drug references, there is a stunning album lurking beneath that deserves recognition. Fun...ctioning as the album's executive producer and as the producer for most of the album's beats, Eminem has done a wonderful job crafting this album and its foreboding feel. Immensely influenced by the style of sparse beats Dr. Dre employed on Eminem's past solo hits, the troublemaking MC's beats steal the show here, particularly on the album's standout moment, "Purple Pills." In fact, Eminem's beats often contest the few equally impressive tracks that Dre contributes. Besides the remarkable production, Eminem also showcases his blossoming genius on several of the song's hooks, bringing a pop-rap approach to hardcore lyrics. Yet no matter how accomplished this album is from a production and songwriting angle, it's impossible to look past the disturbing lyrics, especially those of Bizarre, and also Eminem's moments of unnecessary instigation. This album is obviously targeting those with a taste for perversity. If that means you, then you'll love this; if that doesn't mean you, then the album is still worth investigating, if only for Eminem's show-stealing performance as not only an MC but also as a surprisingly adept producer and songwriter. [The European release offered a bonus CD that included the three tracks that were on the American bonus CD ("Shit on You," "Words Are Weapons," and "These Drugs") as well as a dub remix of "Shit on You," video footage of the group, a picture gallery, and a weblink] - Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide Read more Less