Music
Denaun Porter
born 1978 · rapper, record producer
D12 founding member who grew up in Detroit and became one of Eminem's closest production partners and a sought-after hip-hop producer.
- Born
North Carolina
age 47- Birth name
- Denaun Montez Porter
- Also known as
- Mr. Porter · Kon Artis · Denaun
- Detroit years
- late 1980s–2000s
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Denaun Porter was born in North Carolina, lived in Mississippi and moved with his family to Detroit at about ten. As a teenager he rapped in the duo Da Brigade with Kuniva, and in 1996 both joined Proof's new collective D12, where Porter performed as Kon Artis. He also became the group's in-house beatmaker, a role that tied him closely to Eminem: he produced for him, toured with him as a hype man and appeared in his videos. When D12 signed to Shady Records, Porter co-produced parts of Devil's Night (2001) and D12 World (2004). Working as Mr. Porter, he went on to produce for 50 Cent, Royce da 5'9″, The Game, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Method Man and Pharoahe Monch, among others. In 2022 he formed the production team Read the PDF with fellow Aftermath producers Dem Jointz and Focus….
Highlights
- Founding member of D12 (1996) as Kon Artis.
- Longtime producer and touring partner of Eminem.
- Produced for 50 Cent, Royce da 5'9″, The Game, Nas and Snoop Dogg.
- Formed the production group Read the PDF in 2022.
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Performed here · mid-1990s
The Hip Hop Shop
Closed · 1993–1997
D12's members came up through the store's Saturday open mics hosted by Proof.