Music
Kuniva
born 1976 · rapper
Detroit rapper and founding member of D12, one of the few members who stayed with the group from its 1996 start to its 2026 comeback album.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan
age 49- Birth name
- Von Carlisle
- Also known as
- Hanz G. Rondell Beene
- Detroit years
- 1976–present
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Kuniva was born in Detroit and first rapped with the local duo Da Brigade alongside Denaun Porter. In 1996 Proof pulled the two into his new collective D12, together with Bizarre and Bugz, and the group released The Underground EP in 1997 before Eminem, already Proof's longtime partner, replaced the slain Bugz in 1999. Like his bandmates, Kuniva took on an alter ego, Hanz G. Rondell Beene, to reach the group's “dirty dozen” of personas. With Eminem's backing D12 signed to Shady Records and released Devil's Night (2001) and D12 World (2004), both double platinum, touring the world on hits such as “Purple Pills” and “My Band”. After Proof's death in 2006 he remained part of the core trio with Bizarre and Swifty McVay, recorded the track “Murder” with Bizarre for Eminem Presents: The Re-Up, and in 2026 co-released D12 Forever, Volume 1 with Swifty on the 25th anniversary of Devil's Night.
Highlights
- Founding member of D12 in 1996, recruited by Proof from the duo Da Brigade.
- Devil's Night (2001) and D12 World (2004) were certified double platinum.
- Featured with Bizarre on “Murder” from Eminem Presents: The Re-Up (2006).
- Released D12 Forever, Volume 1 with Swifty McVay in June 2026.
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 members were among the MCs who battled at the store's Saturday open mics hosted by Proof.