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Music

Rapper killed in club shooting

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published April 12, 2006

DETROIT - Proof, a member of rap group D12 and a close friend of Eminem, was shot to death early Tuesday at a nightclub along Eight Mile, the road made famous by the 2002 film that starred Eminem and in which Proof had a bit part.

The death of Proof - real name Deshaun Holton - was confirmed by Dennis Dennehy, publicist for D12's label, Interscope Records, and by Detroit police spokesman James Tate.

Service arrangements were still being made, Dennehy said in a statement.

Eminem and Proof, 32, seldom were seen without each other. Proof was the best man at Eminem's wedding in January. The video for the Eminem song Like Toy Soldiers shows Eminem pacing a hospital hallway as doctors try to revive Proof, who has been shot. Later, Eminem attends Proof's funeral as the song's lyrics lament the escalation in violence between rappers.

It was Proof's idea to form D12, a six-member rap group that counts Eminem among its members. D12's albums include Devil's Night and D12 World. Proof also made a solo album called Searching for Jerry Garcia.

Proof's Web site was updated Tuesday to include a picture of the tattooed rapper with the words "RIP Proof."

A second shooting victim - a 35-year-old man - was in critical condition, Tate said.

[Last modified April 12, 2006, 09:34:12]