Purple Pills

"Purple Pills", also known as "Purple Hills" in the radio edit, is a song by American hip hop group D12, taken as the second cut from their debut studio album, Devil's Night. It achieved notable success, reaching number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, number two in United Kingdom, Ireland, and Norway, and the top 10 in Australia, Finland, Flanders, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

This article is about the song. For the medication advertised by AstraZeneca as "the purple pill", see Esomeprazole.

"Purple Pills"
Single by D12
from the album Devil's Night
B-side
ReleasedJune 5, 2001 (2001-06-05)
Studio
GenreComedy hip hop
Length
  • 5:04 ("Purple Pills")
  • 4:19 ("Purple Hills")
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Eminem
D12 singles chronology
"Shit on You"
(2000)		 "Purple Pills"
(2001)		 "Ain't Nuttin' But Music"
(2001)
Music video
"Purple Hills" on YouTube
Audio
"Purple Pills" on YouTube

Background

The track features verses rapped by Eminem, Bizarre, Proof, Swifty and a joint verse between Kuniva and Kon Artis. The album version of the song contains many references to drug use, with "purple pills", "golden seals", and "Mushroom Mountain" being examples of recreational drug use.

When it was announced that the group intended to release the track as a single, due to the drug and sex references, it was deemed inappropriate for play on many radio stations, and as such, a censored version of the song, "Purple Hills", was made.

This version removes most of the drug and sex references and replaces them with comical lyrics. Such changes include the line "I've been to mushroom mountain" altered to say "I've climbed the highest mountain"; and the line "I take a couple uppers, I down a couple downers" changed to "I've been so many places, I've seen so many faces." Most of Bizarre's verse is entirely changed, due to the strong amount of sexual and drug content in it.

Music videos were made for both "Purple Pills" and "Purple Hills" respectively. The accompanying music videos were directed by Joseph Kahn.[1]

Release

In the United States and United Kingdom, radio play was limited to "Purple Hills", as "Purple Pills" was deemed not suitable for radio. However, a number of underground radio stations in the United States played "Purple Pills".

Music channels were also restricted to playing the video for "Purple Hills". When physically released, two versions of the single were made available in the United Kingdom — one for "Purple Pills", with the "Purple Pills" audio track and music video, and one for "Purple Hills", with the "Purple Hills" audio track and music video.

In Europe and Australia, one version of the single was available—this contained "Purple Pills" as an audio track but the music video for "Purple Hills". In America, one version of the single was available — this contained "Purple Hills" as an audio track with no enhanced section.

Track listings
US CD single[2]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Purple Hills" (video version)
5:09
2."Purple Hills" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
5:09
UK CD1[3]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Purple Hills"
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
5:03
2."Shit on You"
5:27
3."That's How..."
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
  • Porter
  • Eminem[b]
5:12
4."Purple Hills" (video)
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
 
UK CD2[4]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Purple Pills"
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
5:04
2."Shit on You"
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Bell
  • Eminem
  • DJ Head[b]
5:27
3."That's How..."
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
  • Porter
  • Eminem[b]
4:48
4."Purple Pills" (Director's Cut video)
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
 
UK cassette single[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Purple Pills"
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
5:04
2."Shit on You"
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Bell
  • Eminem
  • DJ Head[b]
5:27
European CD single[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Purple Pills"
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
 
2."That's How..."
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
  • Porter
  • Eminem[b]
 
European maxi-CD single[7]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Purple Hills"
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
 
2."Shit on You" (clean version)
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Bell
  • Eminem
  • DJ Head[b]
 
3."Purple Hills" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
  • Porter
  • Eminem[b]
 
4."Purple Hills" (video)
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Ondre Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
 
Australian CD single[8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Purple Pills"
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
5:03
2."Shit on You"
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Bell
  • Eminem
  • DJ Head[b]
5:27
3."That's How..." (explicit)
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
  • Porter
  • Eminem[b]
5:12
4."Purple Hills" (video)
  • Mathers
  • Porter
  • Carlisle
  • Moore
  • Johnson
  • Holton
  • Bass
 

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
  • ^[b] signifies a co-producer.

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[41] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Platinum 600,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States June 5, 2001 12-inch vinyl
[43]
Australia July 9, 2001 CD [44]
United Kingdom
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 [45]

References
  1. "D12 - "Purple Hills"". Universal Music Group. MTV Networks. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
  2. Purple Hills (US CD single liner notes). D12. Shady Records, Interscope Records. 2001. 0694975832.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. Purple Hills (UK CD1 liner notes). D12. Shady Records, Interscope Records. 2001. 497 587-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. Purple Pills (UK CD2 liner notes). D12. Shady Records, Interscope Records. 2001. 497 569-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. Purple Pills (UK cassette single sleeve). D12. Shady Records, Interscope Records. 2001. 497 565 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. Purple Hills (European CD single liner notes). D12. Shady Records, Interscope Records. 2001. 497 565-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. Purple Hills (European maxi-CD single liner notes). D12. Shady Records, Interscope Records. 2001. 497 585-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Purple Pills (Australian CD single liner notes). D12. Shady Records, Interscope Records. 2001. 497 566-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. "D12 – Purple Pills". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  10. "Issue 605" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  11. "D12 – Purple Pills" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  12. "D12 – Purple Pills" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  13. "D12 – Purple Pills" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  14. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 32. August 4, 2001. p. 7. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  15. "D12: Purple Pills" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  16. "D12 – Purple Pills" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Purple Pills". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  18. "D12 – Purple Pills". Top Digital Download.
  19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 30, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  20. "D12 – Purple Pills" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  21. "D12 – Purple Pills". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  22. "D12 – Purple Pills". VG-lista. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  24. "D12 – Purple Pills". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  25. "D12 – Purple Pills". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  27. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  28. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  29. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. August 4, 2001. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  30. "Hot Rap Songs". Billboard. July 28, 2001. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  31. "Pop Airplay". Billboard. August 25, 2001. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  32. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. July 28, 2001. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  33. "Rhythmic Airplay". Billboard. July 15, 2001. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  34. "Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 32. August 11, 2001. p. 79.
  35. "2001 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  36. "Jaaroverzichten 2001" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  37. "Ireland – Top Singles for 2001". Allcharts. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  38. "Jaaroverzichten - Single 2001" (in Dutch). Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  39. "Årslista Singlar, 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  40. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  41. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  42. "British single certifications – D12 – Purple Pills". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  43. "Purple Pills [Vinyl]". Amazon. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  44. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 9th July 2001" (PDF). ARIA. July 9, 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  45. "New Releases – For Week Starting July 9, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 7, 2001. p. 25. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
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