Detroit rapper Proof, a member of the rap group D12 and Eminem's right-hand man was shot and killed at a club on Eight Mile Road early this morning.
A St. John Hospital spokeswoman confirmed this morning that Proof, 32, whose birth name is Deshaun Holton, was pronounced dead after police said he was rushed to Holy Cross Hospital in a private vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head.
A second man, 35, also was shot in the head at Club CCC on east Eight Mile, said police spokeswoman Yvette Walker. He was in critical condition at St. John Hospital, said Walker.
"They have no suspects in custody," Walker said. "There was an altercation and shots rang out."
Proof acted as Eminem"s hype man during his concert performances on stages worldwide. He also stood up as Eminem's best man when he remarried Kim Mathers at Meadowbrook Hall in January.
Proof known as Big Proof or P to friends and fans was the glue of Detroit"s hip-hop scene, a rapper who enjoyed multi-platinum riches but stayed accessible and visible in the community.
The shooting death marks the second significant loss in Detroit's hip-hop community this year. Influential producer and Slum Village founding member Jay Dee died in February due to kidney problems stemming from his bout with lupus.
It also marks the latest incident of violence involving Detroit rappers, following an incident on New Year"s Eve when Obie Trice was shot in the head while driving on the Lodge Freeway.
In an eerie coincidence, Proof is shot and killed in Eminems music video for "Like Toy Soldiers, a song which acts as a warning against hip-hop wars escalating into real life violence. The video shows a bloodied Proof lying in a hospital bed while doctors try to revive him, and also depicts the rappers funeral, attended by Eminem and the other members of D12.
D12's label, Interscope Records, released a statement early Tuesday saying memorial service arrangements were incomplete and his family was requesting privacy. The company also said another member of the group was not involved in the shooting.
"Contrary to earlier rumors and reports, D-12 member Bizarre was not involved in the incident in Detroit last night," Interscope said. "He was at home in Atlanta, Georgia."
Proof appeared in the film "8 Mile" as Lil ic, a rapper who causes Eminems character, B. Rabbit, to choke in an early battle scene. David "Future" Porter, Mekhi Phifers character in the semi-rooted-in-truth film, was based on Proof, who used to host rap battles at Detroits famed Hip Hop Shop.
Proofs long-in-the-works full length solo debut "Searching for Jerry Garcia" was released in August 2005. He released the album on his own Iron Fist Records.
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I'm sure there are not many HIp-Hop fans here but Proof was class. I haven't been into rap for years but I always liked Proof. He was my fav member of D12.
This is sucky news.
R.I.P Proof.
