Romera said:

Girl please, don't waste your energy on that. You know I-G-N-O-R-A-N-C-E is bliss and some people can't help but wallow in it! It's the ONLY way they can get some attention.

SexyBeautifulOne said:

Yeah and it's a damn shame that they are trying to get attention this way. Disgusting.

purplecam said:

Yeah, I know but commupance is very real, so don't even sweat it.

kisscamille said:

Dude was far from a gangsta rapper as some misinformed folks on the Org have stated...His tragic death came about as a result of an argument over a game of pool...Shit just got out of hand...these sort of things happen everyday...Because Proof has a little celebrity his hip-hop connections will be played up...I think some of you guys need to understand the man's music before throwing out silly statments...What happened to Proof speaks more to continuing breakdown of the black community than anything else....Not hip-hop....
[Edited 4/13/06 10:49am]

http://www.wxyz.com/wxyz/...58,00.html



http://www.dose.ca/toront...iAqQ%3D%3D
[Edited 4/13/06 11:41am]

lazycrockett said:

http://sohh.com/articles/...e.php/8747

SOHH Exclusive: "King of Detroit" Argument Sparked Shooting, Says Witness

A source exclusive to SOHH.com has revealed that the argument that resulted in the death of D12 member Proof was initiated by the other victim in the shootout over a "King of Detroit" argument.

As SOHH previously reported, Proof and Keith Bender got into a heated exchange at Triple C's nightclub early Tuesday morning (April 11) which lead to Proof pistol-whipping and shooting Bender. Proof was then gunned down by Bender's cousin as he stood over Bender.

"[Bender] started an argument with Proof, knowing who he was," the source told SOHH. "Proof told him he didn't want to hear any bullshit and that he was 'King of Detroit' and stuck his hands in [Bender's] face.

"The guy then pulled out his gun and then Proof pulled his out and shot -- hitting the guy," the source added. "The guy's cousin who is a bouncer at the club then shot Proof. They grabbed up the gun from the guy Proof shot and fled."

According to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, Proof was shot three times in the head and the chest. He was pronounced dead on arrival at St. John Conner Creek Village in Detroit. Bender is currently in St. Johns Hospital and Medical Center in critical condition.

On Wednesday afternoon (April 12), Mario Etheridge, a 28 year-old bouncer at the Triple C's nightclub, turned himself in to Detroit Police accompanied by his attorney Randall Upshaw. Upon arrest, he revealed he was Bender's cousin.

Etheridge is still in custody and authorities are continuing to investigate whether he should face charges in the shooting, which Detroit Police said, might have been in self-defense. But SOHH.com sources say Etheridge surrendered out of self-preservation.

"The guy turned himself in out of fear he was going to get got at by Proof's people," said the source. "Proof frequented the place and there is of course no way the bouncer or anyone else in the club didn't know who he was,"

Proof's untimely death continues to overwhelm his fans and peers in the music industry.

Today, Royce Da 5'9" expressed his feelings regarding the unfortunate passing of Proof in a statement.

"I am deeply saddened by the murder of someone I called a good friend. I've known Proof for over nine years and will always remember him for the joy and life that he brought into every room he entered. We first met at Detroit's Hip Hop Shop where Proof was hosting open mics and was considered by most to be Detroit's freestyle king. Even then you could tell there was something special about him."

"Some people might be familiar with a well-publicized beef that Proof and I had a couple of years ago," Royce added via the statement. "Thankfully though, we had not only resolved our conflict, but we also restored our friendship. Back in December, we went overseas together for a few spot dates in Europe where we had a chance to catch up on 'the good ole days.' We both laughed at how we sometimes forget how far we've come, until you look out of your hotel window and see London's Big Ben or Paris's EiffelTower. On that tour we had a chance to visit cities we never even knew existed. Not bad for two kids from Detroit, huh."

"His death is such a loss for the hip hop community, and especially for the city of Detroit. I hope that he will be remembered for the talented artist and great person that he was, and not the tragedy that he fell victim to. My thoughts and prayers go out to his entire family, friends, and anyone that was ever touched by him."

http://sohh.com/articles/...e.php/8747
[Edited 4/13/06 15:19pm]

dreamfactory313 said:

Emimem is white!

MikeMatronik said:

I was referring more to him not looking well as opposed to him having a tan.

K let me get this right

some rapper pulls a gun, kills someone then gets shot dead himsel??

you all care bout Emimemin's tan?

lazycrockett said:

Get the facts right:

- The dude steps to Proof with some bullshit,

- Proof tells him to fuck off and shoves his hand in his face

- the other dude pulls his gun out, so Proof pulls his gun out in self-defense and shoots him.

- In return, the other guy's cousin shoots Proof four times and kills him.

- The other guy grabs his cousin's (the one Proof shot) gun and flees the scene and later lies and tells the police Proof started it by pistol-whipping him and shooting him, so he can get off without being charged.

lazycrockett said:

One person mentions Em's looking pale as a ghost and it's 'you all'?

Proof didn't kill the guy he shot.

Sooner than later, the whole truth will come out about this story.

A question for any of the crew here who've grown up in some hard places.

Most of these confrontations begin simply enough over some stupid sh*t. Stepping on someone's sneaker, bumping into someone on a dance floor, a look, a comment, and then it all escalates to hurt pride, bruised ego, and gunshots.

Has anyone here got some strategies for squashing a beef before it gets to a fatal stage? Anyone here walk out of the club and decide not to come back that night? Anyone here ignore an insult so that others don't get hurt? Anyone here intercede in a friend's beef to keep the peace?

Just curious. I've seen more guys instigate a small conflict into a major war, and I think we gotta keep our people focussed on real sh*t rather than insignificant, temporary, bullshit.

Alasseon said:

Speaking for myself, I've personally squashed more beefs involving other people and their stupid bullshit than mad cow disease but stuff like that doesn't make the headlines.

Everybody's so quick to blame rappers for glorifying violence but what about the News Media and Hollywood, when are they gonna have to accept their responsibility in some of this foolishness? They're pumping in glorified violence especially in the hard places like water and air.

You want a strategy...make them ALL stop poisoning our minds!!!
[Edited 4/14/06 3:39am]

Alasseon said:

lovely ideas. i have always wondered why small things come to this kind of stuff. life happens- feelings are hurt, shoe are stepped on. why are those things considered so insulting. jeez what if someone loses their balance and bumps into another person? do you have to cuss each other and pull guns bcos of that too? it's madness and completely unecessary. such a waste of life. some one is dead, someone will likely spend a long time in prison and who knows about the guy who mothed off- will he live, is he brain damaged etc?

and all because of some stupid comment that could have easily gone ignored. damn shame.

SexyBeautifulOne said:

I know an older man from the south side of Chicago that tried to stop a fight. Basically saying brothers have to stick together and was shot and killed. Tension is way high these days, I think things are getting worst in some ways.

Meloh9 said:

That's terribly sad!

SexyBeautifulOne said:

Yeah it is sad. In a way I don't feel comfortable talking about it on the org. So many people have shown a lack of empathy, and that they are ready to point fingers and look down on the situation. A situation that is bigger than just Hip Hop and Rap music.

It's so maddening to me when people who start criticizing this culture of violence point to rappers and say, this guy is promoting violence, and look at him toting around his guns. Meanwhile, there is an army of white businessmen behind him who are selling this. That one rapper wouldn't begin to have the power to promote violence throughout the society; it takes a whole lot of businesspeople to do that. It's interesting how when people do start pointing fingers, it only goes so far. It rarely seems to hit the actual power structure behind it all.

- Ani Difranco

lovin' ani! co-sign

Meloh9 said:

My thoughts exactly. Who owns all the record companies? Who owns all the television networks? Certainly not bruthas from the hood.

"Ain't no guns manufactured in South Central..."

It's ironic about the peacemakers. Sometimes bringing the peace gets you crucified.

a little positivity.....

http://rapcoalition.blogspot.com/
Proof That He Was Alive
by Wendy Day
The headline on AOL’s main screen read “Eminem’s Close Friend Killed.” As I clicked on it I said to myself please don’t let it be Proof.
Proof was so much more than a close friend of Eminem’s that was killed.

Proof was one of the first artists in this industry that I befriended. I met him through some friends who worked at Tommy Boy. It was around 1994. They wanted to sign him because of his charisma, but they were afraid to take a chance on a rapper from Detroit, in my opinion. I liked Proof very much as a person. I can’t say that about many rappers.

Proof was energetic, outgoing, and spoke his mind. He reminded me of a little Muppet character. Always happy, always entertaining, always moving -- especially when everyone else around him was tired. He was always so alive and energetic.

With the success of Eminem, I lost touch with Proof. Tommy Boy never did sign him, but he had a better gig as Em’s right hand man. He was down for Em -- stayed true, even when there were rumblings in D-12 about this or about that. Proof was always by Marshall’s side, through the good and through the bad. I imagine Marshall’s feeling it the most because it’s impossible to replace loyalty and years in. Especially when you are a household name. He was Marshall’s best friend.

Proof and I spoke by Blackberry, a few lines here and a few lines there. We spoke often when he put out his CD independently. It didn’t do as well as he had hoped, or maybe it didn’t do as well as I had hoped for him.

I saw Proof in July in Atlanta. I was backstage at the Anger Management Tour meeting with his cousin Trick-Trick. Everyone was sitting on the tour bus, tired as hell. Proof was the energetic Muppet running around entertaining all of us, clowning for the Shade 45 interviewers. He was having a good time, but I think that everywhere he went he had a good time. I wondered if he would have any energy left for the stage. He did.

When Proof first saw me he gave me shit for not returning a call to him months earlier. He had an old phone number for me so I never got his message, but that didn’t stop him. After he was done scolding me, he hugged me for what seemed like hours. We had a good time, but everywhere he went he had a good time.

Except maybe last night. He was gunned down in an afterhours club on Eight Mile in Detroit. Yes, that 8 Mile -- the one his best friend made world famous in a film by the same name. More senseless violence. More Detroit shit. Apparently they caught the dude who shot him. That’s a first.

I remember a story Trick-Trick told me in September while we were in NY shopping his deal. He dropped Proof off at home early one morning after they had been recording at the studio all night. Proof got out of the car and without Trick knowing, he ran across the yard, jumped a fence, through another neighbor’s yard and ran along side of Trick’s car and banged on the window shocking the hell out of him. When Trick pulled over and asked him “What the hell are you doing man?!,” Proof just laughed and ran off through some bushes and across another yard. All Trick could do was pull off laughing thinking about how crazy Proof was.

We lose too many rappers to violence. We lose too many young Black males to violence. And now we’ve lost a Muppet to senseless violence.

I know that wherever he is, he’s in a better place. I want to say “rest in peace, dear friend,” but I know that’s not possible. I know he’s running around with incredible energy, entertaining everyone. That’s just Proof.
=====
Wendy Day is the founder of the not-for-profit Rap Coalition and has been at the leading edge of making change in the way the music industry conducts business. This piece originally appeared on her blog,http://rapcoalition.blogspot.com/

Meloh9 said:

Alasseon said:

You really want to know? Check this out: Scary Truth

SexyBeautifulOne said:

Scary to see it laid out there in black and white...so to speak. Damn.

Alasseon said:

Yeah, scared the hell out me too! Makes you wonder about your life doesn't it? I mean, if we are all products of our environments but our environments have been cleverly manipulated by 90% of what we see, hear and read. Are the lives we lead really of our own free will?

Moonwalkbjrain said:

Thanks for sharing that.

purplecam said:

Yeah. That was a cool read. Proof was a really well liked guy.

This thread has me torn, because I see it from both sides:

I totally think it's unfair to limit complicity in the perpetuation of genocidal music to the artists. They're encouraged, as has been stated already, through the significant monetary rewards offered by industry fat cats. Not just record deals -- movie deals, product endorsements, clothing lines... Given the chance to get out of the ghetto by rhyming, how many brothers would turn that down on philosophical issues? There's a breakdown in the perpetuation of morality here, and I blame the church for that one. (But that's another rant...)

Today, at my job, we were joking about a gag written by a colleague. He said something was "better than crack," prompting another coworker to say: "Hey, why don't you go down to (the black part of) Nashville and sell it on the corner?" She thought she was being funny, but her comment exposed how she associated drug selling and drug use with black people. I told her such a deal could be done in downtown (white, professional) Nashville and would be worth a whole lot more. I've had to correct other coworkers before who equated drug life with black people. So, I hate to see people jump to conclusions about rappers and black people in general.

HOWEVER, it's time for us to stop hurting, enslaving, betraying, offending, victimizing and killing each other. It's hard as all get-out to argue points about black responsibly when we seem to love dysfunction and irresponsibility so much that we rap and sing about them. Our movies and pop culture glorify them. We perpetuate the stereotypes of subhumanity, irresponsibility and artifice whenever we sell dope to each other, steal from each other or murder one another. And, we grow more callous about it, with each pointless death.

We debate rap's image to the point of detachment. Victims are no longer people. Gun-wielding brothers are "thugs" instead of the over-grown children caught in a trap that they really are. From childhood, they are steered toward self-hatred, crime, murder, genocide.

And a larger society pays more attention to the beats and bling that come out of that world, than to the horrific cadence of brothers' blood striking the pavement. When Cain killed Abel, God said the boy's blood cried out to Him. Imagine the deafening roar caused by this genocide. I suspect it would take an almighty God to be able to withstand it.

So, I find myself simultaneously repulsed and arrested by this hip-hop identified culture of violence. It is macabre, a celebration of death, a perpetuation of "never back down, never punk out, blast him before he blasts you." It's a lie from the pit of hell. Music and culture that minimize and exploit death, in truth, are really about the denial of humanity. Are really about denying the value intrinsic in every life. Tragedies such as Proof's are both the byproducts and perpetuators of hopelessness.

We. Must. End. This. Cycle.

We must take responsibility.

And we must begin to reward (monetarily, socially, communally) folks who create art that celebrates life, humanity, progress and decency.

We're gifted enough to create it. Brilliant enough to market it. In many cases, we're rich enough to support it. Are we compassionate and faithful enough to try?

If not, shame on us, the next time our society's art contributes to the abuse or murder of another human (regardless of their perceived race).

Peace unto us all.

ThreadBare said:

Now that's the most thought provoking post I've read this year! Thank you!

ThreadBare said: