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Jon Zemke / Special to detnews.com
Detroit Police Department officers stand in front of the CCC club while investigators work inside.
Rapper Proof killed at Eight Mile club
Early morning shooting leaves Eminem's best man dead and another man in critical condition
Adam Graham / The Detroit News Alessandra Tarantino / Associated Press Donna Terek / The Detroit News
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 Eminem's 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 rapper's 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' Tic, a rapper who causes Eminem's character, B. Rabbit, to choke in an early battle scene. David "Future" Porter, Mekhi Phifer's character in the semi-rooted-in-truth film, was based on Proof, who used to host rap battles at Detroit's famed Hip Hop Shop.
Proof's 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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Related links
Proof's profile at Wikipedia.org <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_%28rapper%29> Proof / Iron Fist Records official site <http://www.ironfistrecords.com/> Lyrics to Proof songs - Warning: May contain explicit language <http://www.azlyrics.com/p/proof.html> Hip hop music -- Wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_music> PhotosPhoto Gallery <Javascript:getnewsgallery('Proof')>
Songs play using Windows Media Player. Warning: Samples may contain explicit lyrics AudioKnice <http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/clipserve/B000A2H6KA001001/0/ref=mu_sam_wma_ 001_001/002-5963969-4601611> AudioWhen God Calls... <http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/clipserve/B000A2H6KA001004/0/ref=mu_sam_wma_ 001_004/002-5963969-4601611> AudioForgive Me <http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/clipserve/B000A2H6KA001005/0/ref=mu_sam_wma_ 001_005/002-5963969-4601611> AudioPurple Gang <http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/clipserve/B000A2H6KA001006/0/ref=mu_sam_wma_ 001_006/002-5963969-4601611> AudioHigh Rollers <http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/clipserve/B000A2H6KA001009/0/ref=mu_sam_wma_ 001_009/002-5963969-4601611> Source: Amazon.com <http://amazon.com/> Eminem's video images <http://info.detnews.com/pix/2006/proofvideoshots.gif> Eminemworld.comIronically, Proof guest-starred in Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" video depicting a friend who is killed in a shooting.
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