D12 World

On D12 World, Eminem and his hip-hop bandmates attempt to step out of their superstar frontman's all-engulfing shadow, but as on its predecessor Devil's Night, the results are pretty mixed. There's no doubting the pedigree and talent of D12's Kon Artis or Proof, but the reality is that most of the best stuff here is on the tracks where their most famous face shines through. Hit single "My Band" features Eminem's now-trademark self-deprecating wit in both words and production, while "6 in the Morning" and "How Come" both display the urgent beats that worked so well on his stronger solo work. Elsewhere though, songs such as "Just Like U" and "U R the One" all seem to be trying too hard, with overblown posturing that seems designed for shock value. Too often, the story is lost behind all the self-indulgent swearing. Still, on "Get My Gun" they get the balance right, telling the tale with a cleverness that Tarantino would envy; "40 Oz." has an amusingly shouty chorus and a great groove. Unfortunately, these high spots don't happen as often as they should and too much of D12 World seems contrived to annoy rather than entertain. --Robert Burrow

Label: Unknown
Studio: Universal
Released: 2004-04-26
Format: Audio CD