D12 Thank Eminem Following New Album
June 19, 2026
Following the release of ’s new album, D12 Forever: Volume 1, the group’s remaining members shared a lengthy statement thanking Eminem for his support throughout the project’s creation.
The duo thanked Eminem for believing they could complete the album independently and revealed that he carried an early copy of the project with him as it progressed. They also addressed his widely anticipated absence from the album, saying that despite his “incredibly busy schedule,” he still attempted to meet the recording deadline.
They also thanked Eminem’s longtime manager, Paul Rosenberg, for his “support, motivation, and encouragement.”
The message was accompanied by a snippet video for the song “What If?” — a tribute to D12 co-founder , who is featured on the album through archival recordings.
In the clip, and perform alongside Eminem’s former production partner and his son Jeff, who handled much of the album’s production. The video also incorporates archival footage of Proof.
Although Eminem’s absence was expected, not everyone has accepted the explanation provided. One example is underground rapper and YouTuber Darin BARS, who said, “I just don’t understand how rappers be too busy to rap [...] We’re talking sixteen bars. You don’t just have that laying around? It’s gotta be deeper than rap, that’s all I’m saying.”
BARS, who previously hired for a guest verse, also speculates that Bizarre’s absence from the project extends beyond scheduling. While he believes Eminem remains on good terms with all surviving members of the group, he suspects there could be tensions between Bizarre and current members Kuniva and Swifty McVay, given Bizarre’s willingness to work with underground rappers like BARS himself, but not with D12.
Whether that’s the case remains unknown. Eminem hasn’t released a guest verse for some time, and with nearly two years having passed since The Death of Slim Shady, it’s likely he’s focused heavily on his next project. As one of the world’s biggest rappers, even a sixteen-bar guest verse can be too much to ask — not because of its length, but because of its timing. Eminem’s release schedule is carefully planned, and fitting in a feature isn’t always as straightforward as it may seem.
As for Bizarre, it remains unclear. Perhaps he simply no longer wants to be part of a D12 project now that the group is missing half of its original core members. But who knows?
D12 Forever: Volume 1 is available now on streaming services and can also be purchased on CD, vinyl, and cassette through All Things D12.