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Bizarre (rapper)

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"Rufus Johnson" redirects here. For the football player, see Rufus Johnson (American football).
Bizarre
Bizarre in 2008
Bizarre in 2008
Background information
Birth nameRufus Johnson
Born (1976-07-05) July 5, 1976 (age 48)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
Years active1995–present
Labels
Member ofL.A.R.S.
Formerly of

Rufus Johnson (born July 5, 1976),[1] better known by his stage name Bizarre, formerly Bizarre Kid, is an American rapper and producer, best known for his work with the Detroit-based hip hop group D12.

Early life

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Bizarre was born Rufus Johnson on July 5, 1976, in Detroit. Bizarre grew up living with his single mother. He started rapping when he was in fifth grade. His teacher thought he was talking to himself, and began calling him 'Bizarre Kid', which eventually led to the stage name 'Bizarre'.[2] In 1995, he joined the rap group D12 with neighborhood friends DeShaun "Proof" Holton, Karnail "Bugz" Pitts, Carlos "Fuzz Scoota" Rabb, Willie "Eye Kyu" Drake, and Von "Kuniva" Carlisle. He also met Marshall "Eminem" Mathers through Proof. Bizarre used to attend a club on Friday nights called 'The Shelter' in Saint Andrew's Hall, where rap battles were held.

Career

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1990s and 2000s

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He was then featured on D12's first EP in 1997 titled The Underground EP. On the EP Bizarre recorded songs with D12 members Proof, Eye Kyu, Bugz, Eminem, Kuniva, & Mr Porter, before going on to release his debut solo EP titled Attack of the Weirdos in 1997. In 2001, D12 released their debut album, Devil's Night. In 2004, he was a part of the second studio album of D12 titled D12 World. Bizarre then released his first official studio album in 2005 titled Hannicap Circus through his own label Redhead Records, which received mixed reviews. He also appeared on the 2006 Shady Records compilation album Eminem Presents: The Re-Up, on the track "Murder" along with D12 member, Kuniva. Following the death of rapper Proof in April 2006, he and the rest of D12 became inactive for some time.

In 2007, Bizarre released his second studio album called Blue Cheese & Coney Island.[3] This included the some of his most famous hits, such as ‘Fat Boy’. In 2008, Bizarre and D12 recorded their first official mixtape titled Return of the Dozen. A sequel titled Return of the Dozen Vol. 2 followed in 2011.

2010-present

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In 2010, Bizarre released his third studio album on Average Joes Entertainment, titled Friday Night at St. Andrews.[4] The album is more reality-based on actual situations throughout Bizarre's early life and career, thus the album is more conscious than his previous releases. The album features guest appearances from Seven the General, Royce da 5'9", Tech N9ne, Yelawolf, Kuniva, and more.

The first single released was "Believer" with Tech N9ne & Nate Walker.[5] The second official single for the album was "Rap's Finest" featuring Kuniva, Seven the General, Royce da 5'9" & Redman.[6] However, for unexplained reasons, Redman would not appear on the album version of the single or the video.[7]

Bizarre, along with King Gordy, formed a hip hop duo called The Davidians. The Davidians were featured on Esham's mixtape, The Butcher Shop. The duo is currently signed to Majik Ninja Entertainment under the name Last American Rock Stars.[8] Bizarre was featured in Snowgoons's music video with Swifty McVay, King Gordy, Sean Strange and Meth Mouth.

In 2010, Bizarre was featured on the single "Be a Legend" with Russian hip-hop group Red Family MC'z. In 2011, Bizarre was featured on the track "Shock Em" with underground rap group Bankrupt Records for the album Double Vision. In 2012, Bizarre released his fourth mixtape, titled This Guy's a Weirdo.

In 2014, he released a song called "Pray for Me" for his upcoming album. His Lace Blunts 2 mixtape was released in March 2014, with nineteen tracks featuring guest artists such as Fuzz Scoota of their group D12, Rittz, Young Zee, King Gordy, and Big T.[9]

Bizarre was featured on an international collaboration track called "Fuck the DJ" by UK rapper Blacklisted MC also featuring Coolio, Adil Omar (from Pakistan) and Uzimon (from Bermuda) the song was premiered on music website Noisey from ''Vice'' magazine in October 2014.

Later in the year he wrote a verse alongside Detroit artists Mastamind and Jeremiah Ferguson for their song "Whats Right".[10][11]

In 2014, he was featured on the single "Open Heart Surgery" by rapper Lazarus.[12][13] It was released under All Def Digital and it won the award for "Song of the Year" at the 12th Underground Music Awards in New York City.[14][15]

He has also made an appearance on a track titled "In Yo Behind" by Struggle Da Preacher which was released on Struggle's album Ups'n'Downs on June 30, 2014.[16] In July 2015 they shot a video for it in Moscow, Russia.[17][18] Mike ADHD "Frag Out" featuring Young Dirty Bastard, Baby Eazy E and Bizarre.

In August 2017, The Keepaz of the Krypt (One Man Kru & Kapital Z) single "Diaries of the Whack Emcees" feat. Bizarre of D12 was released on all digital media outlets as well as One Man Kru's bandcamp page. The song garnered over 1 million plays on SoundCloud in its first week of release. The track was released just two weeks before it was announced that Bizarre had signed to Majik Ninja Entertainment.[19]

In May 2018, Bizarre released music video "Cocaine In Miami"[20] directed by Abeni Nazeer. He was also a feature guest on the Song Sadistentreff 2 by German rapper Crystal f, along with Timi Hendrix and King Gordy.

On July 9, 2018, Bizarre announced that he was reviving Redhead Records with Danny Mellz being his first act other than himself[21]

In September 2018, Bizarre featured in the single "Weirdo (feat. Bizarre)" by No Concept on Drumsound and Bassline Smith's label, Technique Recordings.[22][23]

Also in September 2018, Bizarre made headlines again with Eminem by releasing his own diss track aimed towards Machine Gun Kelly, Jay Electronica and Joe Budden during the MGK and Joe Budden vs. Eminem beef of 2018. Bizarre's diss track titled "Love Tap" was released as a single everywhere on September 18, 2018.[24]

Bizarre also signed a deal for his podcast “The Bizarre World Podcast” with The Digital Soapbox Network/CBS/Entercom[25]

On October 10, 2019, Bizarre released his second Extended Play Rufus. The day after the release of his second extended play, he announced the release of a duo mixtape “Leatherface Mixtape” with Hopsin on October 31, 2019.[26]

Bizarre performs an intro and adlibs on Eminem & Ed Sheeran’s “Those Kinda Nights” released in January 31, 2020.

On May 31, 2020, Bizarre appeared on an album “Tabu“ of a Czech rapper named Schyzo on the song “Lubrikant“.

Bizarre is featured on "Fat Man Swag" by Pacific Northwest rapper Jawbo, released on July 22, 2021.

Bizarre is featured on "Limitless" by Canadian rapper Brax, from album "Leave it to Cleaver" released in late 2021.

On October 31, 2021, Bizarre shared his fifth album "Dumpster Juice" with features from Kidd Kidd, Merkules, and Giggs, among others.

In July 2024, Bizarre made a surprise guest feature on Eminem’s “Antichrist” off his twelfth album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), to general shock and fan acclaim.

Personal life

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Bizarre currently lives in Detroit, Michigan, where he continues to produce music and social media content to this day. While his net worth isn't officially known, it is estimated to be about 3 million dollars.[citation needed] Bizarre lives with his wife who is Detroit rapper Sindy Syringe, the lead singer of a band by the same name.[27]

Discography

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Main article: Bizarre discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
Collaborative albums
See also: D12 discography
  • Devil's Night (with D12) (2001)
  • D12 World (with D12) (2004)
  • Taking Lives (with Fury as Something Awful) (2010)
  • Last American Rock Stars (with King Gordy as L.A.R.S.) (2018)
  • All in My Head (with Wack Rac) (2020)[28]
  • HGG2 (with Foul Mouth) (2023)
  • Killah Kombo EP (with Dheezy) (2023)
  • Ratt Poison (with Foul Mouth) (2024)
  • Trigger Treat (with Dope D.O.D.) (2024)
  • Fat & Skinny (with Young Zee & Foul Mouth) (2024)
  • HGG3: Art Peace (with Foul Mouth) (2024)
  • H.G.G.4 (with Foul Mouth) (2024)
Mixtapes
  • Bizarre's World (2007)
  • Hate Music (2008)
  • Liquor, Weed & Food Stamps (2008)
  • This Guy's a Weirdo (2012)
  • Lace Blunts (2013)
  • Lace Blunts 2 (2014)
  • Dab Life (2015)
  • Tweek Sity (2015)
  • Tweek Sity 2 (2017)
  • Foul World (with King Gordy as L.A.R.S.) (2017)
  • Pill God (2018)[29]
  • The Leatherface Mixtape (2019)
Collaboration singles
  • Where da Hoes At? (with King Killumbia & Project Pat) (2019)
  • All Night (with King Killumbia & MET G) (2019)
  • Detroit 2 Memphis (with Kingpin Skinny Pimp & Mexiveli) (2019)

References

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  1. ^ Di Bella, Michael. "Bizarre biography - Allmusic". Allmusic Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  2. ^ "Hip Hop News, Rumors, Rap & Music Videos | Allhiphop »Return of the Weirdo: An AHH Exclusive Video Interview with Bizarre of D12 - Hip Hop News, Rumors, Rap & Music Videos". Allhiphop .com. 2014-03-12. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  3. ^ Bizarre Detnews.com - D12's Bizarre celebrates new album with a release party - 25 October 2007
  4. ^ Paine, Jake (2010-04-02). "D12's Bizarre Talks About "Friday Nights At St. Andrews," Drake | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  5. ^ "Blogs | Detroit Metro Times". Metrotimes.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  6. ^ "Bizarre f. Kuniva, Seven the General, Royce da 5′9 & Redman - Rap's Finest | HipHopDX Mobile". Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  7. ^ "Bizarre f. Kuniva, Royce Da 5'9" & Seven The General - Rap's Finest". HipHopDX.com. 2010-04-06. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  8. ^ "The Davidians". Wearedavidians.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  9. ^ Hardy, Jasmine (March 6, 2014). "Bizarre "Lace Blunts 2" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist, Download & Mixtape Stream". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  10. ^ "Jeremiah Ferguson – "Whats Right" [Official Video". Faygoluvers.net. 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  11. ^ "Whats Right Ft. Bizarre of D12, Mastamind of Natas". YouTube. 2014-05-27. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  12. ^ "Russell Simmons Breaks New Ground in Hip-Hop with "Open Heart Surgery"". All Hip Hop. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  13. ^ Pologod (29 December 2014). "RUSSELL SIMMONS AND RAPPER LAZARUS USE HIP HOP TO FIGHT HEART DISEASE". The Source. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  14. ^ "The Nominees for The 12th Annual Underground Music Awards 2015". MyMusicMyLife.com. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  15. ^ Raf, DJ (27 October 2015). "Lazarus Wins 'Song Of The Year' at the Underground Music Awards in NYC". desihiphop.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Bizarre D12 to Struggle da Preacher". Dai.ly. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  17. ^ "Adventures of D 12 in Russia with Struggle da Preacher [Life News Report". YouTube. 2015-08-14. Archived from the original on 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  18. ^ "Struggle da Preacher - In Yo Behind (ft. Bizarre D12, Blaze Stack Up) [Official Teaser". YouTube. 2015-07-13. Archived from the original on 2015-07-17. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  19. ^ "Qom Qazamah - On My Own (Ft. Bizarre of D12)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  20. ^ Twiztid Official (2018-05-17), LARS - Cocaine In Miami (Last American Rock Stars - Bizarre of D12 - King Gordy - MNE), archived from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2018-07-07
  21. ^ "Bizarre on Instagram: "Update to all my fans"". Instagram.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-23. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  22. ^ "No Concept - Weirdo Feat. Bizarre from Technique Recordings on Beatport". Beatport.com. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  23. ^ Dave Jenkins (2018-09-03). "Is D12 rapper Bizarre becoming a drum & bass MC?". Ukf.com. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  24. ^ "Love Tap [Explicit] by Bizarre on Amazon Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  25. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  26. ^ "Bizarre - October 31 the leather face mixtape drops". Facebook.com. 2019-10-11. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  27. ^ https://www.theeminemblog.com/2006/05/28/bizarres-wife-shot/
  28. ^ "All in My Head by Wack Rac & Bizarre". 30 October 2020.
  29. ^ "Pill God Mixtape by Bizarre". Datpiff.com. Retrieved 2020-04-05.

Further reading

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