Deshaun Holton, better known as Proof from Eminem's Detroit-based group D12, was shot and killed early Tuesday morning at the CCC Club in Detroit, Michigan. Proof was a founding member of D12 (as well as many other groups with Detroit MCs), Eminem's best friend, and a father of five.
Proof was one of the driving forces behind Detroit becoming a hotbed for hip-hop innovation, as he grew up performing at all manner of venues, welcomed artists of all kinds into his studio, and was on a never-ending quest to find the next big thing. He hosted and participated in countless rap battles, including at the famous Hip-Hop Shop, and was known as one of the most thoughtful and clever improvisational rappers to come out of Detroit.
Proof was always my favorite member of D12, mostly because I liked his low voice and laid back rhyming style. He heavily influenced Eminem's raps, was a frequent consultant for his concerts, and was always the first member of D12 to be picked to go on tour with Eminem. He released one solo album on his label Iron Fist Records, the introspective Searching for Jerry Garcia, and was featured on D12 albums Devil's Night and D12 World.
I'm sure that Proof fans are sad and angry over yet another needless tragedy, especially as D12 was trying to bury feuds with other Detroit rappers. It's an eerie coincidence that Proof was shot and killed in Eminem's recent video, called Like Toy Soldiers, which was about ending this kind of violence. I hope that this will lead to other artists speaking out against violence for the sake of violence, but I'm not terribly optimistic.
Proof was 32 years old.
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