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Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n Trending<\/strong><\/p>\n Eminem marked the 20th anniversary of Proof\u2019s death with a personal Instagram message calling him his \u201cbest friend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n The rapper credited Proof with believing in him early on and helping build his confidence in Detroit\u2019s Hip Hop scene.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Two decades later, Proof\u2019s influence continues through D12, upcoming music and the impact he left on those closest to him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Eminem<\/a> is honoring one of the most important people in his life \u2014 not just as an artist, but as a friend who helped shape everything that came after.<\/p>\n On Saturday (April 11), the Detroit rapper marked the 20th anniversary of DeShaun \u201cProof\u201d Holton\u2019s death with a message that felt as personal as it was reflective, offering fans a rare look into the bond that existed long before the fame.<\/p>\n Proof wasn\u2019t just in Eminem\u2019s circle \u2014 he helped shape it. As Em\u2019s right-hand man in the Hip Hop scene, he co-signed him early and stood by his side, even as a hype man. In his Instagram tribute<\/a>, the \u201cLove the Way You Lie” hitmaker made it clear that their connection ran deeper than music. He opened by writing, \u201cDoody, can\u2019t believe it\u2019s been 20 years since you\u2019ve been gone!\u201d before admitting that \u201cNot a day goes by that I don\u2019t think about you in some way, shape or form.\u201d<\/p>\n He also made it clear just how much that friendship<\/a> meant, stating, \u201cYou were and are still truly one of the greatest friends I ever had in my entire life and I thank God every day that he put us in each other\u2019s lives. I feel like that happened for a reason.\u201d The 53-year-old went on to credit Proof for helping build his confidence during a time when he was still finding his voice. Reflecting on their early days, he recalled, \u201cEver since the day I met you sitting on the steps of Osborne when I was handing out flyers and we rapped for each other and instantly bonded that day and never looked back!!\u201d That moment, according to Eminem, changed everything.<\/p>\n More than anything, he emphasized how Proof\u2019s belief in him carried weight. \u201cYour credibility was enough to open people\u2019s minds to not judge me until they heard me,\u201d he shared. He closed the message with a line that summed up their lifelong connection: \u201cI love you, doody. You will always be my best friend, no matter how much time passes and I will never forget you as long as I live!!! Until we meet again, my friend. I love you, doody!!! Love, doody.\u201d<\/p>\n Proof was a key figure in Detroit<\/a> rap and a core member of D12 alongside Eminem, Bizarre, Kon Artis, Swifty McVay and Kuniva. Beyond the group, he built a reputation through collectives like 5 Elementz and Promatic.<\/p>\n According to reports<\/a>, his life was cut short on April 11, 2006, after an altercation at the C.C.C. nightclub on Detroit\u2019s east side. The situation allegedly escalated from a dispute during a game of pool into gunfire, leaving Proof dead at 32. The loss shook the Hip Hop community. Nearly 2,000 people reportedly<\/a> attended his funeral days later, including 50 Cent and Dr. Dre.<\/p>\n Two decades later, that impact is still being felt. Eminem\u2019s longtime manager, Paul Rosenberg, also shared a message on Instagram<\/a>, calling this time of year \u201cdefinitely not my favorite\u201d and noting how \u201cdifficult\u201d it remains. D12 is continuing to keep Proof\u2019s voice alive as well. The group recently confirmed that their upcoming project, D12 Forever, will include previously unheard material from the late rapper. In a post, they wrote, \u201cProof’s spirit, his words, and his impact will remain eternal.\u201d<\/p>\n For Eminem, though, the legacy isn\u2019t just about music \u2014 it\u2019s about the friend who helped him believe in himself when it mattered most.<\/p>\n You Might Also Like<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
Remembering Proof\u2019s legacy and impact<\/h2>\n