Any person or group who has been in the same industry for 25 years will confirm that it doesn’t happen by luck. Objectively, you should be successful and consistent. This standard is higher in the music business, where one-hit wonders can come and go at the drop of a penny.
That’s why groups like D12 are respected and respected inside and outside the business. Since releasing their debut album Devil’s Night in 2001, the group has been a regular and successful presence in the hip-hop scene.
There have been various incarnations of the group, but the current version is a duo consisting of Swifty McVay and Kuniva. As one of the founders of the Dirty Dozen, Kuniva admitted that much of what came out was beyond his imagination.
He said, “What I imagined as a teenager and have seen come to fruition, I never thought it would be this big.” “I never thought I’d be able to do it at such a high level. And it’s been such an amazing experience.”
D12 is best known for his performances with Eminem, including the massive hit “My Band” in the mid-2000s, but he has remained involved in the industry and has a very loyal fan following in 2026. Kuniva confirmed that prioritizing health has been one of the reasons he can enjoy the success he has today.
“I’m always trying to improve my art and help my overall health in general.”
The change he didn’t know he needed
Kuniva admits that he didn’t always think about things like working out or eating healthy. Despite being scolded by his wife from time to time, he ate a variety of food that was probably not good for him.
“Steak was one of my things. Steak, chicken, a lot of fatty foods, cheesy foods, that kind of thing,” he recalled. “So, it wasn’t healthy at all.”
This changed when a friend convinced her to adopt a vegetarian diet. Like many people who are new to the lifestyle, Kuniva thought being vegetarian and vegan were the same thing. He has since learned that vegetarians abstain from meat, while vegans avoid all ingredients and products derived from animals. Nowadays, he is telling other people about the difference and mentioned that the well-being of animals was at the forefront of his mind when it came to making a full commitment.
“I just wanted to make a conscious decision to become better as a human being and just add something healthy to my lifestyle and just do my part in taking care of animals, you know, in that sense. So that was part of my decision.”
Kuniva immediately noticed an increase in how he felt, how he looked, and even his energy. There was another benefit that he didn’t expect but he was very happy with.
“I’ve noticed that I have a lot more control over my breathing. I’m not as irritable as I used to be. I think it might be from, you know, fatty foods or whatever the case may be, but since I’ve made the switch, I have a lot more air on stage.”
maintaining a lifestyle on the road
One problem that Kuniva generally faces while on tour or travelling, is finding vegetarian food or having it prepared for him. Having a restricted nutrition plan means that food selection must be done carefully. Unfortunately, not everyone in the music industry is aware of the difference between vegan and vegetarian.
Kuniva explained, “My management doesn’t give them vegan information about a lot of things when they’re out with us. So I have to tell them some of the things I need them to do.” “And sometimes they can’t find the right things, but they still find good things for us to eat, for me to eat.”
Any athlete or entertainer who has traveled abroad will confirm that when it comes to food extra care is required due to the way it is prepared or packaged. This makes it even more difficult to find vegan-friendly food, but Kuniva has succeeded.
“I sometimes have to trust multiple parties, and it can be challenging at times but for the most part we do.”
Kuniva revealed that he is a notorious snacker, but he and his wife have also found ways to cope. In fact, he liked so many options that he had to stop snacking frequently.
“There’s vegan chips and, you know, vegan nuts and all that kind of stuff, and I love vegan jerky.”
D12 forever
Kuniva’s energy that comes from her new diet is also satisfying her hunger to thrive behind the mic. D12’s latest album, D12 Forever Vol. 1, is out now, and Kuniva is as proud of it as he is of the history-making music he has released in his more than two-decade-long career. One track from the new album is Nightmare Walking, featuring rap icons Xzibit and Ice T.
“I’m excited to hear his music. And we’ve been working on this project for, you know, a year, a little over a year, and it’s fun as far as making it and getting back in the studio and feeling that fire that I had before.”
This release is already receiving positive reviews, which may be a sign of things to come. To attest to the duo’s intentions, Kuniva concluded, “I would say buckle up because it’s going to be one hell of a ride.”
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