April the 11th marked the end of an era with the tragic shooting of Deshaun Holton better known as D12’s Proof at the CCC club in 7 Mile. A true ambassador of hip hop’s life had been taken in Detroit. For those who knew the man and his music, Proof proudly represented his city and was promoting it on an international scale. He was Detroit hip hop, regardless of what haters might say.
Biased journalists with no real knowledge of hip hop culture were keen on drawing the picture of a merciless thug when they talked about the emcee.
Proof’s wife, Sharonda Holton is here to testify that Proof wasn’t the bad guy the media want people to believe he actually was:
“I didn’t believe the story of Deshaun shooting someone. I’m going to still say that, because I knew The DeShaun I married. He had entirely too much to lose. Now, I will say he was a fighter. He will scrap. But cold blooded murder? I don’t think so”
(Sharonda Holton)
His family and his friends never believed the press’ fabricated stories about Proof. Neither do the people who have been in depth into the artist’s music. Proof appeared to be sensitive artist, who was real in his words.
After the drama had happened, I sensed a lot of hostility from the Bender clan who even created a demeaning my space account to make fun of Proof’s horrible death. The Bender family was trying to sue Proof’s estate. I find it particularly hypocritical when Mario Etheridge’s aunt dares to claim that Proof was a trouble maker. Moreover, who is she to state that « Proof deserved that bullet in his brain »? :
“ I think it’s all lies. This is the biggest load of crap I’ve heard in a long time. My nephew is not a violent man. He was trying to protect his cousin from that violent thug, and look what happened. This rapper has a history of violence throughout the entire police department and has a reputation of starting trouble. He deserved that bullet in his brain. If anyone looks at his criminal record and you made a comparison to my nephew’s, with sense, you can only come to one conclusion.”
As a matter of fact, Proof had some criminal records. The talented emcee was known for his quick temper too. However, it doesn’t make a cruel person nor a murderer of him. This early morning of April the 11th (which is also close to the version of an anonymous witness that appeared in XXL July issue), somebody was obviously trying to get rid of Proof, supposedly out of jealousy, if we consider that the main argument revolved around the « king of Detroit title ».
Calling Proof a murderer is surrealistic when we perfectly know that nobody was able to find any trace of gunpowder on him at his autopsy.
Of course, we don’t know exactly what happened, except that two men, Deshaun Holton and Keith Bender lost their lives. According to a witness’ statement, it looks like Keith started it all:
“I was talking to a chick and then, all of a sudden here comes keith bender bumping into proof, and all I hear is Dadadadadada..!” (from an anonymous witness »
I am happy to know that Mario Etheridge had been found guilty of weapon charges recently.
I sincerely hope that he will be trialed severely for using a firearm. You don’t stop violence by violence. Mario Etheridge should have called 911 instead of pulling out a gun.
There are still so many dark zones regarding the CCC club drama of April the 11 th. Hopefully the justice will make further steps to make light on the whole affair for Proof’s name to be definitely cleared.
Deshaun Holton inspired and still inspires numerous people through his music. He will never be forgotten.
None of us, whether family, friends or simply fans will ever accept the « evil monster » image some biased media wanted RIP Proof to endorse.
Living Proof of Detroit hip hop, you will never be forgotten.
Copyright©2006 by Isabelle Esling
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