Proof
“You don’t know where to begin when you lose somebody who’s been such a big part of your life for so long. Proof and I were brothers. He pushed me to become who I am. Without Proof’s guidance and encouragement there would have been a Marshall Mathers, but probably not an Eminem and certainly never a Slim Shady. Not a day will go by without his spirit and influence around us all. He will be missed as a friend, father and both the heart and ambassador of Detroit hip-hop.
Right now, there’s a lot of people focusing on the way he died. I want to remember the way he lived. Proof was funny, he was smart, he was charming. He inspired everyone around him. He can never, ever be replaced. He was, and always will be, my best friend.” – Eminem “”
24 thoughts on “Marshall Mathers speaks about his best friend”
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its deep… I’m so sorry about Em, losin da person u hav grown up with is very difficult. I hope he is alright…
Remember this sentence of Proof:
“Sometimes I wish for my demise, so I can kick it with Bugz” (Kurt Kobain song)
His wish came true… He is at a better place now…
-peace
Marshall you gotta stay strong homie. keep puttin out good music. my personal opinion is that you should make a song on this shit. Make sure you let that motherfucker who shoot PROOF hear it. R.I.P PROOF we still love you.
First I’d like to say, I know Marshall must be a wreck right now. I think it’s best for him to think of the good times like he said. I know it’s hard to do because everytime you turn around you’re hearing people talking about how he died & even blaming it on him. This must be truely hard for the family. I hope they make it through this ok. I don’t wanna just say Em ’cause all of them, especially his wife is hurtin’. I’ll just keep them in my prayers. I just hope all of them get through this. My grandmother died on Dec. 6 & that was my daughters first b-day. Em’s Curtain Call came out that day & it brought a smile to my face. I just hope that something helps Em. For his wife I hope the same thing too because I have a husband & I can’t imagine this happening to him. I’m only 20 years old & that would be hard.
To Isa, you are on your grind with your Em information because everytime I stumble across new Eminem news I come here & you have it too. I like that. Keep up the good work.
like every body said try to keep your head up em. i know its hard for you. i had some people die in my family. my mom’s dad’s dad died to days b4 my b-day. that didn’t feel good. i lost 2 or 3 of my best friends and that was very hard. but hopfully you get through every thing alright.
peace to eminem
P.I.P Bigg Proof! Got mad love for u brother! u will alwayz b in our heartz!
EMINEM’S FRIENDS FEAR HE IS SUICIDAL
Also see:
EMINEM
Close friends of EMINEM are worried the hip-hop star is considering suicide after suffering a heart-breaking series of tragic events. The rapper recently announced earlier this month (05APR06) he was divorcing wife KIM, just 81 days after the couple married for a second time. And the LOSE IT star was left stunned by the murder of his best friend, rapper PROOF, earlier this week (11APR06). A friend of the STAN singer tells mediatakeout.com, “I’m not sure that (Eminem) can handle all this… I’m worried that he may try to hurt himself.” Along with the trauma of his impending divorce and the death of his best friend, he checked himself into a substance abuse clinic last year (05) to recover from a sleeping pill addiction. Shortly after announcing he was divorcing, his estranged wife Kim suggested on a Detroit, Michigan, radio station that he is still addicted to the pills. The rapper attempted suicide in 1997, after Kim left him and barred him from visiting his daughter, HAILIE.
14/04/2006 19:04
please…i’d rather not see those tabloid news…they better keep their mouth shut…it is hard enough for Deshaun’s family, Em and his other D12 fellows:(
This is the worst thing that could happen but dont let it hurt you. all of your best music is based on the things that happen or have happened in your life.
This shows that violence has lead to the death of 2 members of d12 that were loved and respected by the whole detriot rap community.
R.I.P. DeShaun Holton a.k.a. PROOF
Funeral arrangements for Proof have been solidified. The
viewing will be held 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday at Swanson Funeral Home, 806 E Grand Blvd Detroit. The funeral is at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Fellowship Chapel, 7707 W. Outer Drive, Detroit.
This is horrible for eminem and the group and proofs loved ones and family… the tabloids and press need not worry and should shut the hell up about how he died and give respect to the loved ones of proof. em hang in there know you’ve been thru alot!!!! luv u you are a great artist father and man. Unfortunatly life throws us shitt and we don’t know why??? I lost my nephew at 6yrs old tragically he was my godson i questioned why?? My daughter is in remission of bone cancer that she got when she was 12yrs old she’s now 15 again why?? We don’t get the answer.. We just have to be greatful for the memeories and happy times that our loved ones gave us. Stay strong luv ya hang in there and i’m praying for you and your family and proofs family. Your friend,tracey
James, What other D12 member has been murdered???
His name was Bugz
I’m from Poland, and I don’t know engish very well , but eminem is my idol. R.I.P. Proof
Isa:
I was just reading the D12 thread on rapbasement and there is a message posted from a guy who said Proof was recording with his friend in Arizona at the end of March. He posted a link to what may be one of the last recordings Proof made. What’s scary is the song Proof is singing is Dead of Alive. “Either dead or alive I’ll be a legend…”
http://www.icp4ever.com/FinalSite/NewsAll.php
I feel so bad for you Marshall right now. To go through divorce a 2nd time and then to lose your best friend on top of it. It might seem like the worst time in your life right now but it will get better. I am praying for you. Stay strong for Hailie, Laney, and Nathan. They need you. I have been through divorcing the same person twice and it is very, very hard, but deep in your heart you know that you tried a second time and it didn’t work, so you can talk to your daughter about that when she is older in good conscience. Try and get past the anger about Proofs death even though I know you probably would really like to do something about it. Sometimes that hate inside can eat you up and it can make you miserable.
I hope you have a Happy Easter.
Love,
Dawn
Dear Marshall,
Im sure that its easy to forget that youre fans are here through all this shit. but we are. you have given alot to us through you using evry bit of energy and talent you have. we all wish we could do more. But all we can do is tell you that we are here. We will always be.
Keep youre head up. Thank you for helping this Aussie boy grow up and making life a better one. You are not alone through this.
You just have to close youre eyes and trust that all will come together…..
peace. Sam
Dear Em,
As a huge fan of all your work, like all of your fans, I would like to see you continue to work. That said, right now f-music and f-all of your fans. Get right and handle this the way you need to without worrying about anybody but those close to you. If you never work again we will have your classic music to cherish and listen to, just as we will always have Big Proof’s music to cherish and listen to. My prayers are with Proof’s family and friends. Stay up.
TBones
It is a shame to have a brilliant and influential career come to such a sudden end. Hopefully the death of Proof does not have as much influence on the Detroit Hip hop scene as his life did.
My best wishes to his familly and friends in this their time of mourning. The black clouds will pass and the sun will shine again on happier times. Be strong!
Em look how many people love you, it speaks for itself.
Hang on in there.
my condolences,
R.I.P Proof
EM ur the best rapper, goose
…Damn…
I WANNA CRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so sad.
Free Press wrote:
A capacity crowd of about 2,000 people filled Fellowship Chapel on Wednesday to mourn Detroit hip-hop star Proof.
People waited in lines that wrapped around the church to get into the scheduled 11 a.m. service, which started about 45 minutes late to accommodate the crowd’s entry.
The funeral began with the church’s pastor, Rev. Wendell Anthony, reading passages from scripture while family members and close friends paid their last respects in front of the gold-toned casket.
Proof, who was 32, was dressed in athletic wear and Kangol cap. His rap name and birth name, Deshaun D. Holton, were etched at the bottom of the casket in English script. He was surrounded by a huge display of flowers, blankets and other adornments.
Ushers helped several people who were overcome with grief, and some mourners screamed in anguish as the casket was closed.
Among those in attendance were Eminem, 50 Cent, Obie Trice, D12 members Bizarre, Kuniva, Kon Artis and Swift, and Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg.
Eminem sat in a pew behind Proof’s family, wearing a black suit. When attendees started giving testimonials, he went to the lectern and said he had nothing planned, but that “I can’t just let my friend go without me saying my peace.”
Eminem told a story from when he was 16 years old and living on the east side. He said Proof approached him and threw a pair of shoes at his feet, saying: “Put those on.”
When Eminem asked why, he said Proof told him: “Cuz I’m tired of you wearing those dirty-ass shoes.”
Eminem added: “I apologize for cussing in church.”
Visibly worn out, Eminem broke down in tears when speaking.
“He taught me how to be a leader,” Eminem said. “I’m sure everybody who has ever met him, even just once, can testify to the fact that he illuminated a room when he walked in it. I believe that Proof loved people and people loved him. He was a magnet. He lured you in. You wanted to learn about him, follow his swagger. Without Proof, there would be no Eminem, no Slim Shady, no D12. ”
Proof’s family presented Eminem with a framed picture of Eminem and Proof together.
Later, Detroit rapper Obie Trice, a labelmate of Eminem and Proof’s group D12, spoke and called for an end to violence. Trice was shot in the head in a New Year’s Eve incident, and a bullet remains lodged in his skull.
“I want to talk to the black men in here that’s coming up in the hood, coming up in the struggle,” Trice said, overcome with tears. “We’re killing each other, dawg. And it’s about nothing. Nothing. Nothing. We’re all dying. And we’re leaving our kids. Our mommas. Our grandmas. Over nothing.”
“Proof is the one. He is the pioneer of Detroit music,” Trice continued. “You feel me? We’ve got to stand up, man. I love all y’all. We black people. White people, too. I love y’all, too. We got to stand up. Rest in peace.”
Rev. Anthony continued with Trice’s theme. In a long, thundering eulogy, Anthony denounced violence as “the madness that is infecting” Detroit. “Violence is the weed that is choking the life out of our community,” he said.
Mourners were handed a full-color 14-page program, which included numerous testimonials and photos, including a nearly full page shot of Proof with his arm around Eminem. Among the notations: “Proof was the funniest cat I ever knew in my life,” signed by Duane (Legwork).
Sixteen names were listed as pallbearers, mostly family and friends, including Mark Hicks, Proof’s longtime manager. Several others were listed as honorary pallbearers, including Eminem, the members of D12 and Detroit rapper Trick Trick.
People had begun arriving at the church at about 8 a.m. The first two people in line were cousins from Detroit, Ebony Johnson, 18, and Dvonne Johnson, 14.
“We’re here to pay our respects to Proof. He was from Detroit and he was a good rapper,” said Ebony Johnson.
“Everybody thought he was a good man. He was repping his city,” added Dvonne.
Cars were parked all along Outer Drive and nearby side streets. The law enforcement presence was heavy, including members of the Detroit Police Department, Wayne County Sheriff’s Department and Michigan State Police.
An antique carriage drawn by white horses was waiting to transport the casket from the church at Southfield and Outer Drive to the burial site, Woodlawn Cemetery on Woodward Avenue near 8 Mile.
Proof died in a gun battle last week in a club on 8 Mile Road in Detroit that was operating illegally after-hours. Authorities say Proof shot 35-year-old Keith Bender Jr. in the head at the C.C.C. Club early on April 11 after a fight. Another man — a relative of Bender — then shot Proof three times in the head and chest. Proof died almost immediately. Bender died Tuesday at St. John Hospital and Medical Center.
This still doesn’t feel real to me. It hurts just reading about it.
rest in peace ODB
Give it up! This man has changed the game! All BS ASIDE and yes he’s been thru what life offers ” we r only human” but he’s a badas$ mofo!