Sitting in a Gold Coast hotel room on a humid Monday afternoon taking advantage of some much-needed downtime in between shows, I am treated to a session with longstanding members Swifty and Kuniva, passing a phone between them as I nervously introduce myself. No need for trepidation, as it turns out – despite the intimidating reputations, the two are wonderfully forthright, laidback guys more than happy to joke at each other’s expense and have a laugh with me. Asked about Heatwave, the two are pleased with their time so far. “We had fun, yeah – Australian crowds are dope!” says Kuniva. “Everyone was really appreciative and there was a real good vibe, so we left feeling good.”
We begin by discussing life growing up in Detroit – a hotbed for musical culture, home to everything from Motown to Detroit techno, and of course a thriving hip hop scene. Swifty’s first to answer. “Well, we grew up on Seven Mile – obviously, a mile away from Eight Mile!” The boys laugh, and he continues. “So many different experiences – I can say personally I had more good times than bad times, growing up. It was alright, just like every other ghetto! But we made the best of what we had, and we had fun. The best part of it I remember was the music – I can always remember music being played out in the house or down the block, in someone’s backyard, and having that real fun vibe, growing up and listening to all of these kinds of music.”
Kuniva agrees, referring to the rich musical culture of Detroit which inspired them from their youth. “I was always able to go to different talent shows – there were lots of them, lots of different places to go growing up and there were always these open mics we could go to, to show our skills and let the people know we’re here, we got skills, which allowed us to get better and better. And if it wasn’t for that, we wouldn’t know where we would be right now if it weren’t for these spots – especially spots like the Hip-Hop Shop.”
I begin to raise the issue of their frequently-controversial subject matter, and Kuniva interrupts. “Naw, we write about dandelions and butterflies! Who did you think this was?” We share a laugh, before I finish my question. The censorship of their music has certainly stirred up furious debate in the past, with everybody from conservative politicians and parents to other rap luminaries weighing in on the debate, but their take on the issue is refreshingly mature. “The whole thing with the censoring thing – I guess it’s necessary to a certain degree,” Swifty muses. “We write what comes to our heads,” Swifty explains. “Whatever the music tells us to write, we write, we never aim for any particular audience. We’re just D12, and I think what separates us is that we show a more vulnerable side. You don’t have to be angry or mad all the time, we show these different sides to our personalities all the time and put it all in one big pot. But I don’t want my kids to listen to Purple Pills and be all, ‘Oh hey, purple pills’ and be singing this shit when they don’t know what they’re talking about, so I think it’s necessary to a certain point and sometimes that’s what you have to do to be heard by the masses. It’ll always be here, so we have to learn how to live with it.”
With such a long-standing place in the ever-changing hip hop scene, the group have seen the scene undergo many changes throughout their time in it, and Kuniva is philosophical about it. “Hip hop goes through a lot of phases and we just think that it will always change and surprise you. You got some that’s not good, but there’s always some that is, and I can appreciate that transition because I love hip hop.”
Swifty’s answer provides more food for thought, pointing out the way that online culture has changed the way listeners are introduced to and consume music. “Record companies, and putting out music – you don’t sell as many records as you used to, because of the way technology’s changed. Everything’s so viral now. There was a time you could stop a release from happening, and watch everything so you don’t get bootlegs – the most we had to worry about was a bootleg on a corner selling CDs or tapes, so that’s one thing. But another thing is just this internet period, how independent artists with no money or hardly any budget can constantly keep making material and putting it out for the masses to hear it. You can be heard just rapping in your basement, saying funny shit, and suddenly you’re a star. That’s pretty dope, and it’s a crazy way to get your music out.”
Fans of D12 have been gagging for new material from the crew since all the way back in 2004, so the obligatory request for more information regarding a new record must be asked, and the answer will hopefully provide some hope for listeners. “We’re working on it, definitely. We’re always working on it – we’re just hitting on it on and off when we have time,” Kuniva explains. “As soon as we get it all together, Em is stepping in to add his touches to it – we’re all gonna get back in the studio and record more as a group ‘cause we’ve been performing so much and doing so many different things that it’s been hard. We have to buckle down and knock this out, this is what the fans want and have been asking for, so we gotta get the people what they want!”
BY MIKI MCLAY
