Devil's Night

How many people have raised their voice against D12’s « Devil’s Night » song without even knowing that the song was referring to an event that is so typical to Detroit’s madness ?
People should consider the D12 as story tellers.

“It’s not really to shock. Shock-rap, to me, is just saying anything to get people’s attention. Our minds are just warped like that. We just tell how we feel, and basically the shit that we talk about is going on in real life. It’s just the type of shit you don’t talk about. It might be sick, like some Stephen King horror shit, but it’s reality. I’m just trying to be a narrator and tell a story.” (Bizarre)

The night before Halloween is usually characterized by riots, violence and burning houses.

« Detroit do a lot of dumb shit that no one else does, » Bizarre says.

The song brings you in a devilish and scary athmosphere that corresponds to Detroit’s typical context. You are invited to Devil’s Night in Detroit which is the night of canage and of all danger.
Eminem’s part is scary as hell. Satan is put into the song and his demons are here to add to the scary picture of a town full of violence, drug addiction and perversion. Swifty’s ironical answer to Eminem’s question about his name conributes to the devilish athmosphere :

« Judas
Got my nine with six sharpshooters, now let’s do this
I got niggaz that shoots to static – you don’t understand… »

Kon Artis’ words are mixed up with terrific and comical elements :

« It’s like I’m on the john, tryin to shit and get no response
Constipated bitch, tell these pigs to back off!
The mind of rapist, Denaun never changes
Beat up strangers without a reason, I’m a anus… »

Kuniva’s words are the words of a bad thug who intends to terrorize you to death and « make you feel every ounce of pain that Bugz done felt ». There is a reference to former D12 member Bugz who was shot in May 1999.

« Yo, I can concoct the nine slot, plus I run with the best
Hop on a motorcycle, bustin wheelies over your chest
Bystanders standin by, thinkin oh what a mess
Blast through every hickie that them bitches put on your neck
What the fuck do you expect, when the slugs are dealt
And make you feel every ounce of pain that Bugz done felt
A deranged team, smokin ganja greens
This car beam’ll make your fuckin head shake like tambourines
I pledge allegiance to the streets of the D
And if you think you out cold, catch a piece of this heat
And when it blast, it’ll take off every piece of your [scream]
From her barettes to her cheeks to her cute little feet… »

Bizarre’s ill character also appears in Devil’s Night :

« I’ll probably be in jail ‘fore this fuckin album comes out
I’m eighteen years old, still shit in the bed
Beaten ’til I’m red, fear nothin but war and bread
It’s me again, fuckin dirty jinn
So what if it burns, bitch when I stick it in
No medication, I’m out of perkasets
I lost my weed, plus my fuckin diaper’s wet »

This mixture of comical and scary is typical to the whole D12 album and also makes it greatness.
If you want more info about Detroit’s Devil’s Night, you can find it here :

http:/http://www.kstatecollegian.com/issues/v100/fa/n052/ap-DevilsNight-11.3.html/

www.karendecoster.com/blog/archives/000587.html

You will also find some photos of burning houses happening at Devil’s Night :

http://hvfd.com/devilsnight.html

Devils Night Lyrics

[Eminem]
I make music to make you sick of fake music
Hate music like devil worshippin Satan music
So say your prayers, your Hail Mary’s and Jesuses
Take two sticks, tape ’em together and make a crucifix
Try to stop it but you cain’t do it (ha ha)
A whole generation of kids blowin out their fuckin brains to this
Kurt Cobain music – students converted to ‘caine users
as soon as they heard it went out and murdered and maimed to it
What’s your name?

[Swifty McVay]
Judas
Got my nine with six sharpshooters, now let’s do this
I got niggaz that shoots to static – you don’t understand
how I’m all up in you niggaz TV’s like Carole Anne
I’m a poltergeist, lyrically I’m supposed to strike
Try to snatch this mic, you get cracked with Molson Ice
(Swifty get your own woman!) I want his wife
I’m the type to go to gamblin parties with trick dice
I rob casinos, slugs, eat those
You’d think it was the devil feedin you jalapenos
Now you out of the scene hoes shot at your clean clothes
My fo’-fo’, prone to make you niggaz breathe wrong

[Chorus: Eminem]
It’s Devils Night (da da dah, da-da da da dah)
It’s Devils Night (da da dah, da-da da da dah duh da)
Cause I came back to rule this time!
It’s Devils Night – cause I came back to take what’s mine!
Yes it’s Devils Night (da da dah, da-da da da dah)
It’s Devils Night (da da dah, da-da da da dah duh da)
Cause I came back to rule this time!
It’s Devils Night – cause I came back to take what’s mine!

[Kon Artis]
It’s like I’m on the john, tryin to shit and get no response
Constipated bitch, tell these pigs to back off!
The mind of rapist, Denaun never changes
Beat up strangers without a reason, I’m a anus
Walk the street in a “Beat It” jacket with a glove to match it
Drop the hat shit I put my head on opposite and step backwards
Walkin zombied it’s ornery
Pullin armed robberies on politicians without a sense of camraderie

[Kuniva]
Yo, I can concoct the nine slot, plus I run with the best
Hop on a motorcycle, bustin wheelies over your chest
Bystanders standin by, thinkin oh what a mess
Blast through every hickie that them bitches put on your neck
What the fuck do you expect, when the slugs are dealt
And make you feel every ounce of pain that Bugz done felt
A deranged team, smokin ganja greens
This car beam’ll make your fuckin head shake like tambourines
I pledge allegiance to the streets of the D
And if you think you out cold, catch a piece of this heat
And when it blast, it’ll take off every piece of your [scream]
From her barettes to her cheeks to her cute little feet

[Chorus]

[Bizarre]
STOP TAKIN DRUGS!! I’m tryin
My little boy is dyin, he losin too much iron
And if I die, it won’t be because I got shot
It’ll be because I tied my arm in a sock and smoked rock
Takin drugs is cool, that’s why I buy ’em
Shoot ’em up my ass, let your little brother try ’em
Ten years is what I’m facin
Police breakin in my house, Lil’ Bow Wow in the basement
(Jermaine!) A rapist that’ll bust in your mouth
I’ll probably be in jail ‘fore this fuckin album comes out
I’m eighteen years old, still shit in the bed
Beaten ’til I’m red, fear nothin but war and bread
It’s me again, fuckin dirty jinn
So what if it burns, bitch when I stick it in
No medication, I’m out of perkasets
I lost my weed, plus my fuckin diaper’s wet

[Chorus]

[Eminem]
It’s Devils Night!