I will never forget you: Eminem breaks the silence for the 20th anniversary of Proof's death.
Summary
"Without him, there would never have been Slim Shady." Twenty years to the day after the tragic passing of Proof, his best friend and pillar of Detroit, Eminem broke the silence with a message that moved the whole world.
Eminem & Proof: A friendship born in Detroit open-mics that changed rap history.
"You were the first to believe in me when no one else did. You taught me to never back down. 20 years without you, Doody, but you never left my shoulder."
— Marshall Mathers (Eminem)
"Doody": Marshall Mathers' poignant message
April 11, 2026 marked a painful date for the city of Detroit. On his social media, Eminem shared a series of never-before-seen photos from the Hip Hop Shop era. Using their private nickname, "Doody", Eminem recalled how much Proof was his barometer of confidence, the one who forced him to get on stage when no one believed in him.
Did you know?
The nickname "Doody" comes from a teenage joke. Eminem has often explained that Proof was the only person able to make him laugh even in the darkest moments of his life.
Proof (1973-2006): Detroit's unshakable pillar
Born DeShaun Holton, Proof was nicknamed "The Mayor of Detroit." Founder of the D12 collective, he established the rule of alter-egos, giving birth to the character Slim Shady. His tragic death in 2006 on 8 Mile Road left a huge void in global Hip-Hop.
The musical legacy: "You're Never Over"
Marshall never stopped writing for his brother-in-arms. Tracks like "Difficult" or the anthem "You're Never Over" testify to this impossible grief. Even today, the flame of Big Proof burns through D12's classics.
Vibe check: Eminem's powerful tribute to Proof.
REST IN PEACE PROOF
20 years later, the legend of Big Proof lives on through every rhyme of Eminem.
#EMINEM #PROOF #DETROIT #RADARPXP