Music
Proof
1973–2006 · rapper
D12 co-founder and Eminem's closest friend, who ran the famous open-mic battles at the Hip Hop Shop on Seven Mile and was a pillar of Detroit hip-hop.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Detroit, Michigan
aged 32- Birth name
- DeShaun Dupree Holton
- Also known as
- Big Proof
- Detroit years
- 1973–2006
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
DeShaun “Proof” Holton was born and raised in Detroit and became one of the central figures of the city's 1990s hip-hop underground. On Saturday afternoons he hosted the open-mic battles at the Hip Hop Shop, the clothing store on West Seven Mile Road where a generation of Detroit rappers, including his childhood friend Eminem, sharpened their skills. He co-founded the group D12 in the mid-1990s, recruiting local rappers such as Bizarre, and toured the world as Eminem's hype man. He also appeared as the battle rapper Lil' Tic in the film 8 Mile (2002) and released his solo album Searching for Jerry Garcia in 2005. He was shot and killed in April 2006 after a fight at an after-hours club on Eight Mile Road. Thousands filled Fellowship Chapel for his funeral, and he was entombed at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Highlights
- Co-founded D12; No. 1 album Devil's Night (2001)
- Hosted the Hip Hop Shop open-mic battles in the 1990s
- Played Lil' Tic in 8 Mile (2002)
- Solo album Searching for Jerry Garcia (2005)
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 3
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Performed here · 1990s
The Hip Hop Shop
Closed
Maurice Malone's clothing store where Proof hosted the Saturday open-mic battles that launched Detroit rappers, including Eminem.
Related place · 2006
Fellowship Chapel
His funeral on April 19, 2006, drew a full house of 2,660 people, including Eminem and D12.
Buried here · 2006
Woodlawn Cemetery
He is entombed in the cemetery's Rosa L. Parks Freedom Chapel mausoleum.