Proof (rapper)

Proof
Proof in August 2005
Background information
Birth name	DeShaun Dupree Holton
Also known as	Big Proof, Derty Harry, Maximum, Doody
Born	October 2, 1973(1973-10-02) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Origin	Detroit, Michigan
Died	April 11, 2006(2006-04-11) (aged 32) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper, songwriter
Years active	1992–2006
Labels	Shady, Iron Fist
Associated acts	D12, Eminem, Royce da 5'9", Obie Trice, 50 Cent, J Dilla, B-Real, Jay-Z, Game, Dr. Dre

DeShaun Dupree Holton (October 2, 1973 – April 11, 2006), better known by his stage name Proof, was a Detroit rapper of African American and Haitian descent. During his career he was a member of the hip hop groups Goon Sqwad, 5 Elementz, Promatic, and most notably D12. He was a very close childhood friend of hip hop superstar Eminem. In 2006, Proof was shot and killed during an altercation at a nightclub.

Contents 1 Early career 2 Solo work 3 Death 4 Dedicated Songs 5 Discography 6 Filmography 7 References 8 External links

Early career

Proof first rose to national prominence as a part of the rap group D12, which he was instrumental in forming, although he had achieved a degree of success prior. He was featured in The Source's "Unsigned Hype" column in 1999 and came close to winning the 1998 Blaze Battle. His first television appearance was in the Aaliyah music video for "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number". In 2000, Proof toured along with Eminem, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg in the Up In Smoke Tour as a hype man rapper for Eminem. He rose to prominence in 2001 with the release of Devil's Night, D12's debut album on Interscope Records. The following year, Proof collaborated with Dogmatic on Promatic and joined Eminem's "Anger Management" tour in support of the release.^[1] He appeared in the film 8 Mile along with Eminem and Xzibit; although in the film the character based on him, Future, was portrayed by Mekhi Phifer, he played Lil' Tic, a freestyle rapper who trounces the lead character with his battle verse.^[2] To capitalize on the publicity from the film, Proof released a six-song EP called Electric CoolAid: Acid Testing.^[3] Proof also had a cameo alongside the rest of D12 in The Longest Yard appearing as "Basketball Convicts" in the credits.

Solo work

Proof released a solo album featuring collaborations with rappers, 50 cent, Method Man, Nate Dogg, B-Real of Cypress Hill, T3 of Slum Village, Obie Trice, and D12 on his own Iron Fist Records label in conjunction with Alliance Entertainment's IDN Distribution. Proof said that he did not produce the record with Shady Records or Aftermath because he wanted to "build his own thing". Called Searching for Jerry Garcia, the album was released on August 9, 2005 on his own Iron Fist Records label 10 years to the day following Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia's death. It contained the prophetic song Kurt Kobain in which he wrote of his own death and 'passing the sign' to Eminem as his protege once he was gone.^[4][5] This release did not make a significant impact on the charts despite its list of guest appearances.

Originally, every song title on the album was to be named after a celebrity. "Jump Biatch" was originally titled "Eric Clapton Jr." (Proof changed the title when he realized that Eric Clapton's son fell to his death from a 53rd-story window.^[6]) Another song possibly meant for the album was "Neil Armstrong", which can be found on Proof's mixtape I Miss The Hip Hop Shop.

Proof has said that he considered Jerry Garcia to be a "genius" who suffered from common character flaws. Proof has stated his admiration for Garcia's eclectic style, saying that Garcia "went against the grain".^[7] The album received favorable reviews, which commented on its "eclectic" and "introspective" nature.^[8]

Proof stated how he wanted to be remembered in an interview with SOHH.com shortly after his album release: "I want people to say that I was a true artist", "That I did it best and stayed true to Hip Hop roots" and "I'd want people to understand I did it for the love not for the charts."^[9]

Proof also recorded a track with Twiztid for their album Independence Day shortly before his death. The song is entitled "How I Live" and features Jamie Madrox, Monoxide Child and Proof. The Album was released July 3, 2007.^[10]

Death

On April 11, 2006, Proof was killed by a gunshot wound to the head at the CCC Club by club bouncer Mario Etheridge on 8 Mile Road in Detroit, Michigan after fatally shooting U.S. military veteran Keith Bender, Jr.

While playing a game of pool, Proof and Bender got into a heated argument. After a physical altercation, Etheridge fired his gun into the air to try and stop the situation, but Proof shot Bender in the head. Etheridge, who was Bender's cousin, then shot Proof three times in the head and chest. Proof was killed, and Bender died a week later. Proof's blood alcohol content at the time of his death was 0.32 percent, four times the level that qualifies someone for a drunken driving conviction; he had no other drugs in his system. Bender's family began a wrongful death suit against Proof's estate. Etheridge was held by authorities to have been acting in lawful defense of another man; however, he was found guilty of carrying a concealed weapon and discharging a firearm inside a building.^{[11][12][13][14][15]}

Several months later, hip-hop magazine XXL published an alternative account of the evening in a feature article interviewing Proof's friend, Mudd (Reginald Moorer), who accompanied Proof on the night of the shooting and claimed to have brought the gun that was used to murder Bender.^[16] Mudd claimed that his group went to the CCC Club after going to a strip club, began drinking and that Proof played pool against Bender. He observed Proof and Bender begin arguing, noting that it was "ordinary for Proof to get drunk and fight", and stated that he saw the two getting into an argument. After they were separated, Mudd claimed Bender hit Proof and a fight between the two broke out. Shortly afterward, Mudd saw Etheridge shoot his gun straight up into the air to break up the fight. Proof then demanded Mudd's gun, and after he refused, pulled the weapon from Mudd's pants and also fired into the air. Mudd claimed that Bender charged Proof, and that in the scuffle shots were fired that hit both Bender and Proof.^[16]

Dedicated Songs

On Eminem's album Recovery, the song "You're Never Over" is dedicated to Proof: "So, Homie, this is your song; I dedicate this to you. I love you, Doody." In the liner notes of his previous album, Relapse, Eminem wrote "Proof, No matter how much time passes, not a day goes by that I don’t think of you. If it weren’t for you, I would not be where I am today and we both know it. I tried to write a song for you but nothing was good enough, so I’m dedicating them all to you- and you’d be happy to know that I spazzed out on ‘em again! I know you wouldn’t have it any other way! Fuck ‘em all -- let’s get ‘em! P.S. I’m sober now, I know you’d be proud. I love you Doody, I’ll never forget you. Love, Doody"

Eminem's album Recovery the song "Going Through Changes" is about Proof and how Eminem has struggled with his death.

In addition to this, another tribute was made to Proof by fellow D12 member Kuniva on his mixtape Midwest Marauder called "Light It Up." The song also mentions fallen D12 member Bugz.

Discography

Studio albums

• I Miss The Hip Hop Shop (2004)
• Searching for Jerry Garcia (2005)

Mixtapes

• Grown Man Shit (2005)
• Time A Tell (2010)

Filmography

• Age Ain't Nothing But a Number (music video, 1995), Extra
• 8 Mile (2002), Lil Tic
• The Longest Yard (2005), Basketball Convict
• Like Toy Soldiers (music video, 2005), Extra

References

External links

• Proof at the Internet Movie Database
• Detailed account of Proof's death, funeral and exact time of death
• Official Proof/Iron Fist Records Site
• Proof Profile at D12World.com
• Proof with DJ
• Proof at XXL Magazine
• Rapper Proof Shot, Killed At Detroit Club

Proof Albums W.E.G.O. • Anywhere • Electric Coolaid Acid Testing EP  • I Miss The Hip Hop Shop • Searching for Jerry Garcia Mixtapes 23 Days Of Hell (I Killed Spiderman) • DJ Exclusive Presents ... Luthaism (Hosted By Proof) • Grown Man Shit • Hand 2 Hand • Mayor of Detroit Unreleased Time A Tell • Back Again (With Promatic) With 5 Elementz Yester Years EP • The Album That Time Forgot • 5 Ela Pt. 3 With Promatic Promatic LP • Promatic Sampler (2003) With D12 Devil's Night • Limited Edition Mixtape: Please Bootleg This Album  • D12 World Related Articles Discography • Shady Records • D12 • Eminem

D12 Bizarre  • Eminem  • Kon Artis • Kuniva  • Swifty Bugz †  • Proof †  • Eye-Kyu Albums Devil's Night  • D12 World  • TBA Extended Plays The Underground EP Compilations Eminem Presents: The Re-Up Mixtapes Return of the Dozen, Vol. 1  • Return of the Dozen, Vol. 2 Singles "Shit on You" • "Purple Pills" • "Fight Music" • "My Band" • "How Come" Featured singles "911" Related articles Discography

Persondata
Name	Proof
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 2, 1973
Place of birth
Date of death	April 11, 2006
Place of death