Eminem,Obie, speak at Proofs funeral

[complexity]

Some 2,000 people packed into Detroit's Fellowship Chapel on Wednesday (April 19) to mourn the death of D12's Proof.

The Detroit Free Press reports that lines wrapped around the block for the service, which started 45 minutes past its



scheduled 11 a.m. start time due to the massive crowd.

Eminem, who broke down while giving a testimonial about his former hype man and close friend, wore a black suit and was seated behind the late rapper's family. "He taught me how to be a leader," the Free Press quoted Em as saying. "I'm sure everybody who has ever met him, even just once, can testify to the fact that he illuminated a room when he walked in it. I believe that Proof loved people and people loved him. ... Without Proof, there would be no Eminem, no Slim Shady, no D12."

Obie Trice, a Shady Records artist and friend of Proof, used the occasion to speak out against violence. "I want to talk to the black men in here that's coming up in the 'hood, coming up in the struggle," he reportedly said. "We're killing each other, dawg. And it's about nothing. Nothing. Nothing. We're all dying ... over nothing."

On Tuesday, the chapel hosted a viewing where more than 4,000 mourners paid their respects, many of them sporting T-shirts bearing the late rapper's likeness.

The Free Press reported that for many fans who attended the viewing, it was hard to see the popular Detroit MC lying motionless in his traditional outfit ? a track suit, Kangol cap, jeans and Timberland-style boots ? with a Detroit Pistons jersey (Chauncey Billups' number 1) signed by several players draped over his body. The casket was emblazoned with both his birth name, Deshaun D. Holton, and his rap handle in English script.