Em's indie-release Infinite. Meanwhile, word about “the ill white boy” was getting around to another of Detroit's most notorious emcees, MC Proof. The two squared off and instantly gained respect for each other. “I remember we both said the same obscure punch-line to each other,” remembers Proof.

“That when I knew he did his homework as an emcee.”

Most members of D12 had already established themselves throughout hip-hop's underground segment with their respective solo careers. Bizarre independently released his debut EP, Attack of the Weirdos in 1997. Swifty was earnin' his stripes as one half of the BMG/Mecca Don Records recording artist, Rabeez, while Proof released an indie single, “Searchin” b/w “Anywhere,” in 1995.

“We were all these little stragglers,” says Proof, “so we thought that we would form together in a group and be the illest.” Instantly finding a common bond with their outrageous subject matter, the assembled forces honed their skills under the alias D12 (six members x two personalities = D12).

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