Purple Pills
by D12

Album: Devil's Night (2001)
Charted: 2 19
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about drug use. The censored version is called "Purple Hills," with many of the lyrics changed. For example, in the chorus:

    I take a couple uppers
    I down a couple downers
    But nothing compares to these blue and yellow, purple pills.
    I've been to mushroom mountain
    Once or twice but who's countin'
    But nothing compares to these blue and yellow, purple pills


    is changed to:

    I've been so many places
    I've seen so many faces
    But nothing compares to these blue and yellow, purple hills
    I've climbed the highest mountain
    Once or twice but who's countin'
    But nothing compares to these blue and yellow, purple hills
    >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Thomas - Double Springs, AL
  • D12's most prominent member is Eminem, who performs on this track. His solo success thrust D12 into the spotlight and gave this song a big boost. Other hits for the group were "My Band," which reached #6 in the US and #2 in the UK in 2004, and "How Come," which was also a transatlantic hit for D12.
  • The music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, follows Eminem cruising through literal "blue and yellow purple hills," a nod to the censored version's lyrics, before meeting up with the rest of D12. Proof, disguised as a clown, is shown terrorizing kids at a birthday party.
  • Nelly was another big-name rapper whose group got its own release in 2001. He had a group called St. Lunatics, which released their album Free City that year. It sold over a million copies and spun off a minor hit called "Midwest Swing."
  • The purple pills became a major problem for Eminem when he got addicted to Vicodin and Valium a few years later. It was most acute after his D12 bandmate Proof was shot and killed in 2006. "My addiction went through the f--kin' roof," he told XXL. "I had f--kin' 10 drug dealers at one time that I'm getting my s--t from. Seventy-five to 80 Valiums a night."

Comments: 1

  • Peter from Carmel, InThis was definitely not their only hit.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Annie Haslam of Renaissance

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

Zac Hanson

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.