Searching for Jerry Garcia

“Searching for Jerry Garcia” was released August 9, 2005, on Proof’s independent label, Iron Fist Records. It was recorded between 2002 and 2005.

The story

Proof named the record after Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia and timed its release to the tenth anniversary of Garcia’s death. He told Rolling Stone that Garcia “didn’t care about record sales” and wanted to make fans happy, an approach he identified with. Guests came from his wider circle, and he described recording as simply asking people and going to someone’s house to cut the songs.

Sound and production

Producers included B-Real, Fredwreck, Mr. Porter, Nick Speed, Emile, Ski, Witt & Pep and Amp Fiddler. Features include 50 Cent on “Forgive Me”, B-Real and Method Man on “High Rollers”, Nate Dogg on “Sammy Da Bull”, Obie Trice on “72nd & Central”, MC Breed on “Ali”, and D12 on “Pimplikeness”. “Slum Elementz” brings in T3 of Slum Village and Mudd of 5 Elementz. The album closes with “Kurt Kobain”.

Legacy

The album reached No. 65 on the Billboard 200, No. 8 on Independent Albums, No. 33 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 16 on Top Rap Albums. Proof was killed in Detroit less than a year later, on April 11, 2006, and the record holds his final collaboration with Eminem and D12.