The hip-hop world was sent into shock when news first broke that Takeoff, the Georgia-based rapper who was a part of the group Migos, had been shot and killed in Houston, Texas. The death of the 28-year-old, who was apparently killed over a game of dice gone sour, reminds one of the murder of DeShaun Holton, popularly known as Proof.
In 2006, Proof, 32 years of age, was killed in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, by an individual called Mario Etheridge. Dispute erupted between Proof and Keith Bender over a game of billiards, which allegedly led to Proof shooting the latter in the head. In response, Etheridge shot the D12 member one in his head and twice in his chest.
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Proof’s funeral was attended by notable figures from the hip-hop community like Eminem, 50 Cent, and Royce Da 5’9. Eminem has gone on to mention Proof and the latter’s influence on his life in a number of songs since then.
Eminem received a significant boost in his career in the initial days due to his friendship with Proof. The Marshall Mathers LP star was introduced to a shop called the HipHop Shop by Proof, a place where rappers gathered for rap battles. Eminem eased into the predominantly black hip-hop community thanks to his talents on the microphone and his friendship with Proof, who was the organiser of such rap battles.
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After Eminem became a renowned figure in the hip-hop community and the United States at large post the release of The Slim Shady LP, he continued his collaboration with Proof, who was then working as his hype-man during his shows. The duo also continued working together as parts of the rap group D12.
Such untimely deaths of talents like Proof and Takeoff have deprived the world of more music. The drive-by shootings of rappers like Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls are also fresh in the minds of music lovers all over the world.
