Italian artists GRADONER GRAPHICS put together a compilation of photos in remembrance of some of hip-hop’s fallen kings. The set, published in 2011, is a collection of photographs all edited into a similar graphic style. You can check out a selection below, book-ended by Biggie and 2Pac and visit here to see more.

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Here’s a throwback: Tim Westwood dug up this 2001 video of Eminem, Proof, and the rest of D12. Watch as Em comes off the top, which is rare nowadays for a radio show–shouts out to Lupe Fiasco, Los, and Asher Roth for keeping that alive. The late Proof brings the nicest writtens, trading back and forth with Marshall before Swifty, Kuniva, and Mr. Porter take over (the clip cuts before Bizarre has a chance to get his disgusting on.) Check out this vintage video of the Detroit boys below, take a moment to remember the underrated and dearly missed Proof, and be on the lookout for Eminem’s upcoming project, dropping later this year.

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Six years ago today, D12 member Deshaun Holton, a.k.a. Proof, was shot and killed outside the CCC Club on East Eight Mile Road in Detroit. He was 32 years old. Proof was an influential person in Eminem’s life. He was portrayed by Mekhi Phifer as “Future” in 8 Mile. In the days following Proof’s death, Eminem released a statement revealing the loss he felt:

“He pushed me to become who I am. Without Proof’s guidance and encouragement there would have been a Marshall Mathers, but probably not an Eminem and certainly never a Slim Shady. Not a day will go by without his spirit and influence around us all. He will be missed as a friend, father and both the heart and ambassador of Detroit hip-hop.”

As Eminem mentioned in the statement, Proof was widely considered as the ambassador of Detroit when it came to music. Royce da 5’9″ paid tribute to the fallen MC on his album Success is Certain.

On the song “Security,” Royce raps “The truth is, I was at Proof’s funeral, cryin’ like a baby.” Listen to the record below.

Eminem also remembered his friend on his 2010 album Recovery in the song “You’re Never Over.”

Proof released his debut album, Searching for Jerry Garcia, in 2005. Below, you can watch part 1 of the bonus dvd that came with the special edition of the album. R.I.P. Big Proof, October 2, 1973 – April 11, 2006.

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