Eminem remembers his childhood friend and very first fan Proof on his 20th death anniversary.
On Saturday, April 11, the rap legend took to Instagram to post a heartbreaking tribute to the person who helped launch his career.
“Doody, I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since you left! Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you in one way or another,” wrote Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III. “You were and still are truly one of the greatest friends I’ve ever had in my entire life and I thank God every day for putting us in each other’s lives…I feel like this happened for a reason.”
THE rap god The hitmaker reflected on the day he first met Proof at Osborne, and the two immediately hit it off after rapping for each other.
Born DeShaun Dupree Holton, Proof had already made a name for himself in the Detroit hip-hop scene. In 1996, he founded the supergroup D12 aka The Dirty Dozen with Eminem, Bizarre, Mr. Porter and Eye-Kyu. He also played a small role in Eminem’s project, 8 miles.
“My life would never have taken the trajectory it did if I hadn’t met you,” Eminem continued in his tribute, thanking his late friend for always believing in him. “We had such an amazing adventure together and I will never forget you or what you did for me, my self-esteem and my confidence every time you co-signed for me at every club and open mic we went to!! Your credibility was enough to open people’s minds to not judge me until they heard me and you were one of the first to get people to listen before passing judgment!!”
Concluding the tribute, Eminem wrote: “I 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.”
Proof tragically died on April 11, 2006, at the age of 33, after being shot at a Detroit nightclub on Eight Mile following an altercation.
