Proof

Posted on 04.12.2006

Proof
aka Dirty Harry
Real name: DeShaun Holton
(October 2, 1975 - April 11, 2006)
Rap group D12

DeShaun Holton, better known as Proof, was a member of the rap group D12. Proof also doubled as Eminem’s hypeman and was a long time friend of his. He also went by the nicknames Big Proof, P, Derty Harry, and Oil Can Harry. Proof began his career in Detroits Hip Hop Shop, where he organized freestyle tournaments. It was there that he met Eminem and proposed forming a clique with several other members, in what would later become the group D12.

Although Proof first rose to national prominence as a part of the rap group, D12, he had been quite successful on his own prior to D12 being signed to a major label owned by group member Eminem. Most notably, he was featured in The Source’s Unsigned Hype column in 1999 and came close to winning the 1998 Blaze Battle. He rose to prominence in 2001 with the release of Devil’s Night, D12’s debut album with Interscope Records, and the album’s heavily aired radio hit, Purple Pills. The following year, Proof collaborated with Dogmatic on Promatic and joined Eminem’s "Anger Management" tour in support of the release. He also appeared in the movie 8 Mile as Lil’ Tic, a freestyler who trounces the lead character with his battle verse. To capitalise on the publicitiy from the film, Proof released a six-song EP called Electric Koolaid-Acid Testing.

Proof released a solo effort featuring collaborations with Eminem, 50 Cent, Method Man, Nate Dogg, Obie Trice and other members of D12 on his own Iron Fist imprint. Called Searching for Jerry Garcia, the album was released on August 9, 2005, 10 years to the day following Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia’s death.

Proof has said that he considered Jerry Garcia to be a "genius" who suffered from character flaws that are indicitive of all people. Proof has stated his admiration for Garcia’s eclectic style, saying that Garcia "went against the grain". The album received favourable reviews, which commented on the "eclectic" and "introspective" nature of the album.

On April 11, 2006, Proof suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head at approximately 4:30am CDT (09:30 UTC) following an argument at the CCC Club - where Proof had begun his career years earlier - on 8 Mile Road in Detroit, Michigan. He was then taken by private vehicle to St. John Conner Creek, an outpatient treatment site, and was pronounced dead on arrival shortly thereafter. According to reports, Holton died instantly. Another man, Kevin McLaughlin, who was shot along with Proof, is in critical condition at the same hospital. Police have no suspects in the shooting, but McLaughlin’s family members claim that Proof was the one who shot him before being shot himself. Official police reports state that Proof fired the first bullet at Keith Bender, 35, another person at the club.