I honestly believe Proof was the driving force behind the man we know today as Em... Without Proof? I really don't think there would have been an Eminem.
+iDylanTV he was initially Em had a Nas type flow he had a record out he did independent Proof more or less honed him and then the slim shady persona came in
iDylanTV true and eminem isn't the same since proof died just listen to his music for the past 9 or 10 years it's garbage compared to his older stuff proof was like his coach that gave him confidence in my opinion
+Madman antics Garbage compared to the past? The only difference is he doesnt have the same flow and accent. He is a much better rapper now. He makes his past self seem uneducated. His wordplay is insane
True shit and as Em has stated several times it was Proof's idea that each member of D12 would have a polar opposite, murderous, split personality. So there was 6 members and each member had a split personality which would equal the 12 in D12. So quite literally Proof is responsible for the "Slim Shady" character/persona that we know today...
Around 2005/06 I got to chill with Proof at a private G Unit show at the Zoo Bar in Detroit. I knew who he was obviously, but he didn't know me and outta nowhere he went outta his way to grab me and my 2 boys I was with and Proof brought us downstairs to these HUGE locker room type bathrooms and he smoked out all my boys and kicked it with us for about an hour and a half. He did this for no other reason other than #1 He was bored and obviously liked socializing with people #2 He didn't like smoking alone and #3 He liked my Ford logo tattoo he saw on my arm. He talked with us about everything under the sun, the kinda music we liked (cuz we were white and he liked rock music) so he asked for suggestions for good rock bands to listen to. He told us about growing up with Eminem, we talked about our cars, his cars, road and tour experiences cuz I was in a touring band at the time and we also talked about the state of Detroit and what we thought would bring the city back to economic prosperity. He was everything anyone has ever said about his kindness and more. He was super hyper, like me, and I remember he had a fucked up sense of humor, just like me and all my friends there that night. I remember all 4 of us went on a tangent spitting out our favorite jokes, that was a blast! When I heard of Proof's passing, I didn't believe the news story that he shot someone first. I know people get blacked out drunk and do crazy things they wouldn't normally do, I've done it myself, but the story just did not add up and did not seem like Proof's character AT ALL. Of course I only hung out with him a few times (my friend dated him after the night we chilled with him). But, everyone who speaks on Proof never has a bad thing to ever say and that's the way I knew him. RIP BIG PROOF!!!!
You can't blame Em for not being in this video, it would be nice to see him though. but let's look at it how it is, I think it's so painfull for him to talk about this and the memories he and Proof had, I understand him, put yourself in the man shoes and maybe you can understand where he's coming from, not mad at slim for not being in this clip, keep your head up guys... we love em and all of D-12
I grew with you 100% there's no way you can ever get em on camera talking about how much proof meant to him. I think whenever em does an interview his people tell the interview the number 1 thing you can't not bring up is proof... Then this & that.. But no matter what you do do not ask him about his brother proof.
Michael S. Yeah the only time I heard Em talk about proof in an interview was that with Red Bull, and who the greatest freestyler is I mean it's already so fucking hard to get Eminem on camera, and then they probably won't want to ask questions that could make Eminem just leave, and proof questions probably could
Em still hurt n over his death cant blame him it normal that was his bestfriend pretty much bros rip proof u was a grate man husband father friend rapper
I remember I met Proof at the anger management tour in San Diego. He was chilling in the outside near the beer concession stands. I went up to him and shocked his hand. I asked if he wanted a beer that I got it, he was already Drinking and gave me a promo bracelet. He was fucken cool and humble. I also me Obie Trice, cool cat as well!
Big Proof was amazing all buy himself. But he wanted and allowed and pushed everyone he cared for to shine before him. That's care, that's love, that's loyalty and that's a real friendship. ❤️
+Loquacious Laura Listen here trailer park Barbie, you mean to tell me he was playing pool with one of his longtime haters? Either way you spin it, shit was sad... Not to mention had he lived he might of been doing life, he killed the guy/hater he was playing pool with and that guys cousin pulled out his heat & put one in Proof's brain matter.
Ravishing Slick No, Proof wouldn't be doing time...he didn't even have a gun on him, he grabbed it from a friend to defend himself AFTER the security guard fired shots in the club. I've spent years talking to friends that were there with Proof, his mom, our friends trying to wrap my head around what happened to my brother. Your calling a professional business woman "trailer park barbie" smh A pseudointellectual and classless.
I find it unlikely that a professional business woman would actually care about a rapper from the D... My apologies Ms Laura. I'm sure that's what was told to you however I couldn't imagine being in my early 30's getting killed in a club by a lowlife and one of my closest friends at the time is Marshall Mathers... Please make a pseudo intellectual like myself understand those facts respectively?
+Ravishing Slick Proof was a professional business man not just a rapper and not just Eminem's best friend. The actual inspiration for my becoming a professional business woman. Dispite what you heard he was also rarely ever around Em unless they were touring, or in studio, never hung out as friends...not in years...thats not to say they weren't forever family. Proof wasn't a typical celebrity, he was always out at clubs, enjoying other artist's shows, bowling, movies, out shooting pool. He was very reachable...by anyone. He would have fans hang out after a show and let them crash in his room...he'd sleep on the floor and give them the bed. He didn't see himself as or pump his head up because he was "Eminem's best friend". In fact everyone in Detroit including Em thought Proof was gonna make it big before anyone else.
I have visited proofs grave, he was one of the most talented rappers to have ever lived and he was truly the shit man. Standing in front of his grave was a true honor for myself, not everyone will have the chance to get to visit where he rests at and again it was a true honor just to be in the presence of one of the greatest to ever do it. Rip big proof💯‼️
bizarre, kuniva, swift and kon artis seem really humble and decent guys. rest in peace, proof. i never met him, but i really love him, imagine how great it would be to have known him personally, imagine love you'd get towards him.
Sleep in peace BIG PROOF without Proof we wont have Slim Shady.. i was 10 years old when he had passed but watching these interviews with D12 about Proof it brings tears to my eyes.. anybody else feeling the same?? Here 2024
Very dope video. Great insight. He was a wild, free, passionate spirit. It makes sense that he could die over a pool game. He's a contagious spirit... never met him, but just hearing them speak... I know exactly what kinda person he was. People like him are always the most vulnerable... danger can find him because he's so open and ready to connect / interact with people. And he's a truth spitter... people aren't always prepared to face the truth. People die about their truth.
Eminem has had the biggest impact of all the rappers to ever be, hes surpassed even Biggie and Pac in that category but lets never forget that without Proof, Eminem would never have existed to begin with, sure Dr Dre saved Em from giving up into failure but Proof MADE Marshall into Eminem
Listen to Proof - Life (Prod. by J Dilla) and you'll hear a classic that you'll have on repeat that just showcases his amazing heart D12's speaking about
I have so much respect for D12, not bc of Em but bc of Proof. From what I've seen in vids, he was heart of the group. Rest in Peace, Proof. We miss you
Love what Kuniva said about how his respect had to be earned with Proof...REAL talk.....respect is earned not given....word of the wise...a dying breed. Finally got his respect when he battled Em....shit I'd say so!! Damn that's a good feeling when that shit finally comes full circle. When ya earn it ya work that much harder to keep it. That alone tells me how how deep of an impact he really had in others lives . The good ones always go too soon.
yeah I agree, but if you watch 8Mile, that is basically EM and D12... with Chedder Bob being Em's uncle Ronnie, who had the same age and killed himself. Future in 8Mile is proof and the rest speak for themselves
Proof could have shined more then he did if he really got represented more if Proof did a joint venture with Aftermath And Shady then he would move a heck load of units
Man quit bitchin about Em they're all for the most part displaced. Em is between Michigan and Cali and has a ton of parallel sht he does. Bizarre is in GA, Swift and Kon are in Michigan and Denaun is mainly in Cali but travels all over the place and tours with Em. They even said when they did the last mixtape that Em is moving around allot and it's hard to get him to work on projects but they understand
Respect... I wanna hear emibem and what he had to say no. Fuckery. Love all these guys.. grew up on all of them I dont thi k these guys know there influence on my life.. so thanks.. d12 got me through alot of shit..love all of you... stepping stone made me cry and as a man I'm not ashamed I love all of u seriously be proud of that shit..
To you people saying were is em on this tribute the man went through hell when proof died to the point he overdosed and nearly died his self the man lost his best friend and struggles with that em never forgets proof you here his name in his verses all the time he don't wanna filmed shit neither would I rip proof
Everything everyone says about him and more, he was an amazing person. He could see a persons potential and guide them towards it. In places where no one recognized him as Proof of D12 or Eminem's hype man he seemed to light up the room when he walked in, like he had a spotlight on him all the time. He wanted so much for Detroit Hip Hop and was always out in Detroit going to clubs, and shows...he never really acted like a celebrity, aside from having security around. He would stop and talk, bring fans "dirty heads" on the payroll to help him out and, he would put them high on a pedestal. When he came to their city, he treated them like they were the celebrity. He even had fans crash in his room and he slept on the floor and have them the bed. Security and Tour managers were so annoyed with him for it. He was caught climbing off the balcony a few times. Lol There are so many artists that Proof was friends with and supporting etc. You should look them up, check them out. Moe Dirdee, Woof Pac, Supremacee, 5 ELA, Dogmatic, Mu, Miz Korona, Salam Wreck was his DJ, DJ Head, MarvOne, DJ Butter, Valid, Drummer B, Silent Riot Studios, Hush, Redbone (swifty's sister), Hashous, KidVisious, King Gordy, First Born pres of proofs record label that is now Iron Fist Global, Pep and Witt, DJ vicious vic, Obie Trice, Trick Trick, good lord so many more but off the top. Worth checking them out, I've seen them all on stage, met or friends with lots of these artists, just so much talent. If you like their music, they all always need help with marketing and booking in other areas besides Detroit, so hit them up on Facebook or twitter and ask if you can help. That's kinda Proofs thing, fans getting involved in helping with marketing, he knew it made them feel like they were part of something big, and Detroit Hip Hop is Proof's legacy. RIP Proof
+Loquacious Laura what was he like to you personally? I've done a lot of research on him and I think it's so awesome how he was always looking out for everybody. One group I'm trying to get into from the D is Slum Village. J Dilla has an album out on Itunes.
+dlafaive1989 If you haven't already I suggest you find the 24 hour mixtape that he done with DJ Jewels Baby not that long before he passed. There was footage of the recording process on YT years ago which was brilliant to watch, especially the part in some store before going to Jewels basement to do the album.
Think about it, when proof died it ripped em apart, fuck being addicted to sleeping pills, proofs death is what sent em over the edge. Now imagine how hard it would be to reminisce about his best memories with proof, they were like blood brothers
Actually they rarely even seen each other apart from recording and touring. I met Proof in 2000 stayed at his studio for weeks at a time and Em never showed up. There was evidence that Em was at the studio once, "Marshall was Here" and A neon paint butt print on the wall of the studio. My guess that it was done the first and only time he was there. I only ever seen them together on stage or in old pictures. Even at hotels, Em's room was across the hall & Proof would be hanging with us. It seemed more like a "forever family" love and respect type of deal between them but they weren't hanging out with each other much at all in the last 6 yrs of Proofs life. He should feel shitty for being so distant.
If you notice in this vid none of the guys are actually standing beside each other. My impression of that is that the interview was able to get the guys for only a few mins to ask them a few questions. Everyone probably was caught up with other things to be able to come together @ once & do the vid. The interviewer did a great job here & in editing the vid to make it longer viewing time. You have to imagine that it would of been impossible for him to get a hold of em for even 5mins to speak a few words about what proof meant to him & the city of Detroit. As for not being on songs with them.. May be its just to difficult emotionally for em to come together with them without Proof there.
Ya but Em put together Shady XV and they were on it. He's busy as hell. And as far as spitting words, he has his own songs out there mentioning proof and You're Never Over from Recovery is one of my favorite songs of his and he goes in emotionally about proof
+Loquacious Laura they got older and had different things going on. Then on top of it proof dies and that separated them even more even for Em in his early career, they started off kinda old. Late 20s/early 30s you're not gonna be crashing on your boys couch all the time, or seeing each other all the damn time. Especially with kids and being a damn international star. So much shit going on all the time - making music, beats, business deals, movie related shit, interviews, etc. there's so much going on then when he gets home I bet he wants to chill with his family. N that's just him, other members had their family's n own shit going on
