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About Bugz:

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 an early member of the rap group D12 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 D12, whose very foundation and success have been self-accredited to their late friend in the years to come.

Career:

Karnail was well known throughout Detroit as a highly successful freestyle rap battler. He even battled against future D12 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. Eminem recalled that, during the early days of D12, the group had struggled with members, but when Karnail joined the group, things seemed to click. Under Eminem’s newly created Shady Records, D12 was signed under him, and the group was set to make their way successfully into the business.


Death:
Two days after Eminem signed on D12, Karnail was murdered. He was expected to perform at a show in Grand Rapids, Michigan as part of the Eminem tour that day, May 21 1999. At a picnic on Belle Isle, Karnail got involved in a violent fist fight with a group of people that escalated from a playful 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. The shooter ran over Bugz's body as he 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, D12 was forever changed. The group decided to allow Swift 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.

His final resting place is in Detroit Memorial Park East. He is survived by his mother, Carolyn, stepdad, Jimmie, brother, Ken, and sisters, Nicole and Angie.


Legacy
Although his career was cut short before he had a chance to become recognized on his own, D12 has continued to honor their fallen member and friend. Each of the current members of D12, 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