Proof:
Searching For Jerry Garcia
Release Date: 8 August 2005
Reviewed By: Nick Blair
1. Knice
2. Clap Wit Me - King Gordy
3. Biboa's Theme
5. Forgive Me
7. Nat Morris - Rude Jude
8. Gurls Wit da Boom - J-Hill
9. High Rollers
11. Pimplikeness
12. Ali - Proof
13. No. T. Lose - D12
14. Jump Biatch
15. M.A.D.
17. Sammy da Bull - MC Breed
20. Kurt Kobain
Beanie
Sigel - The B Coming
Read
Review
Eminem’s right hand man, co-founder of D12 and the winner of The Source's 1999 Unsigned Hype award; Proof, a.k.a Derty Harry, certainly had a lot of expectation riding on his shoulders prior to this highly anticipated debut ‘Searching for Jerry Garcia’. Proof has lived as Em's hype man for so long, but the question on everyone’s lips was ‘can he live up to the hype?’
The title is a reference to the late Jerry Garcia, the guitarist from Grateful Dead whose commitment and positivity has greatly inspired the Detroit rapper, born Deshaun Holton.
The album kicks off in style with ‘Clap Wit Me’ with an infectious sample and instrumentation in which Big Proof promulgates his urge to be recognised as an individual: “The world been sleep long enough/ They better wake up,” he says.
One of the strongest songs on ‘...Jerry Garcia’ is the deeply introspective masterpiece, ‘Forgive Me’, featuring 50 Cent. Proof tackles a lot of issues such as his self-confessed “Quick-tempered, short-fused” personality. He also muses on his thorny upbringing and how he is eternally grateful to Marshall Mathers. “I love Em, cause he gave me something/ A positive anything is better than a negative nothing.”
First single, ‘Gurls Wit Da Boom’ is a respectable endeavour at a tune to get any club bouncing. The dirty beat and melody mingle perfectly with the dirty lyrics. From one sturdy song to another, ‘High Rollers’, features B-Real and the ever-inspiring Method Man who wryly demonstrates his wit: “Okay, let's (Be-Real), here's the (Proof)” - a seasoned rapper who proves he’s got plenty more to offer.
‘Pimplikeness’ features the lyrical talents of D12 members, Eminem, Kuniva, Swifty McVay and Bizzare and outlines their notorious pimp lifestyles. “I'm somethin like a pimp” is the infectious chorus sung by Proof and Em.
There is extensive proof (sorry, couldn’t help it!) that Deshaun Holton has an acute ability to deliver powerfully melancholic tracks as well as uplifting gangsta anthems. The pensive ‘72nd & Central’ featuring Obie Trice and J-Hill demonstrates this, as well as ‘Kurt Kobain’, arguably one of the strongest tracks on the album, during which Proof tries to rap through the eyes of the singer of 90’s grunge band Nirvana, who infamously committed suicide. Proof also refers to John Lennon and shouts out to all the other musicians who “kept it real”.
Other appearances on the album include T-3 from Slum Village, Nate Dogg, Rude Jude, MC Breed and King Gordy. Don’t let the mammoth 20 tracks put you off. Infact, four of the tracks are interludes. This is an educated album in which Big Proof has shown maturity beyond his years and successfully teamed up with a plethora of A-List clientele to produce what will stand alongside the likes of Tony Yayo as one of 2005’s big releases. Did he live up to the hype? Unquestionably, he has. The album is not flawless, and had a few of the weaker tracks been removed, I would find myself adding another star to this impressive debut.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Top Three Tracks:
5) Forgive Me
20) Kurt Kobain
17) Sammy Da Bull
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