Personal rule No. 3: Keep an open mind. This is not a review of how Devil’s Night will affect children. It’s a review of how this thing sounds. How well is it put together? Curse me for having a conscience.
Personal rule No. 2: Suspend your allegiances and be honest. Any Detroit MC who remembers the Rhythm Kitchen knows at least one member of D12. Doesn’t matter. The point is, is it worth your money or not?
Personal rule No. 1: Pray for these cats. ’Cause if it’s true that we reap what we sow, they takin’ the express to hell.
D12 knows the value in shock lyrics. And while the group’s audience is young, impressionable and captive, it leaves any sense of responsibility to parents and delivers an album that is well-produced, cleverly written and has arguably the vilest content of any rap record released this year.
Devil’s Night holds true to its concept and is a group record, not D12 featuring Eminem. The highly anticipated release will sell because of Em’s name, but it will go on to gain merit of its own. “That’s How,” one of the cleverest tracks, explains how people get into situations that get them — I just don’t feel like cursing anymore after listening for an hour — messed up. “Purple Pills” brings back a sliding rhythm with a tempo reminiscent of LL Cool J’s “Going Back to Cali,” as the crew chants, “That’s why our baby mothers love us, but they hate each other. Some’n, some’n, some’n, some’n, some’n, some’n, some’n.” It’s as close to cute as they get.
Some of the beats get monotonous, and they run the risk of desensitizing the listener by the end of the album. But overall, Devil’s Night is well done. You’ll know all six members when it’s over.
E-mail Khary Kimani Turner at [email protected].
