Bugz
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Karnail Paul Pitts (1978 – May 21, 1999), also known by stage names Bugz and Robert Beck, was an up-and-coming rap artist, murdered at the age of 21. He was a member of the newly formed rap group D-12 and was instrumental in their early formation. He was gunned down at a picnic party on Detroit’s Belle Isle Park, taking three bullets. Today, Karnail Pitts is remembered and honored by D-12, whose very foundation and success have been self-accredited to their late friend in the years to come.
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Career
Karnail was well known throughout Detroit as a highly successful freestyle rap battler. He even battled against future D-12 member, Bizarre, and the two formed a friendship. Eminem was impressed with Karnail’s skills, and he and Bizarre felt he would make a great addition to the new group. Emimen recalled that, during the early days of D-12, the group had struggled with members, but when Karnail joined the group, things seemed to click. Under Eminem’s newly created Shady Records, D-12 was signed under him, and the group was set to make their way successfully into the business.
Death
Two days after Eminem signed on D-12, Karnail was murdered. At a picnic on Belle Isle, Karnail got involved in a violent fist fight with a group of people that escalated from a joyous water gun fight. One of the people, who was upset by being “shown-up” by Karnail, ran to his truck and got a shotgun. Karnail was shot three times in the chest and neck. Then as the shooter fled, he ran over his body and fled the scene. It was caught on videotape and shown later that night on the local news.
“When Bugz died, it was such a shock,” Eminem somberly said, “It just came out of nowhere.” At that time, D-12 was forever changed. Eminem decided to take the place of Bugz within the group, thus becoming the sixth member. The story of Bugz was little known when the group first emerged, because they tried to suppress what they considered a “dark chapter in a book that was supposed to be lighthearted and fun,” which was the original attitude before Bugz was tragically killed.
Legacy
Although his career was cut short before he had a chance to become recognized on his own, D-12 has continued to honor their fallen member and friend. Each of the current members of D-12, including Eminem, boast a tattoo of Bugz on their wrist in his honor. In their album D12 World, two songs, “Good Die Young” and “Bugz 97” are in his memory. The latter actually features Bugz in a recording done before his death. References to Bugz have also appeared in several other songs.
“That tore me up,” admits Swift solemnly. “Me and Bugz rapped together, laughed together, and got drunk together. He’s still with us, though. Before we go on stage, we pray, and he’s right there, watching over us.”
