Benzino

Career

Benzino has said one of the primary inspirations to enter the genre of rap stems from his fondness of the film Wild Style. Benzino was a founding member of rap groups the Almighty RSO and Made Men. He has appeared on the reality television show Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta since 2012.

Feud with Eminem

Benzino is known for being involved since 2002 in a widely publicized feud with rapper Eminem; the feud began after his The Source magazine rated The Eminem Show as four mics out of five. Eminem blamed the magazine and its co-founder Benzino for what he considered an unfair rating. Benzino later released diss tracks towards Eminem, titled "Pull Your Skirt Up" (calling him "2003 Vanilla Ice") and "Die Another Day", while Eminem released "The Sauce" and "Nail in the Coffin". As a continuation of this animosity between the two, Benzino released the diss mixtape Benzino Presents: Die Another Day: Flawless Victory, further disparaging Eminem.{{cite web | last = Cantor | first = Paul | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649935/rapper-huddy-6-killed-car-accident.jhtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110126014320/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649935/rapper-huddy-6-killed-car-accident.jhtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 26, 2011 | title = Rapper Huddy 6 Killed In Car Accident – Music, Celebrity, Artist News

"Doomsday Pt. 2" is the sequel to "Doomsday", and features Eminem. Eminem's verse is a diss at Benzino, whom he has been involved in a highly publicized feud with since 2003. He also mentions Benzino's daughter Coi Leray.

Rap Elvis with Natalac

In response to Eminem's verse, Benzino released the diss track "Rap Elvis" within 2 days of the "Doomsday Pt. 2" release. The song was allegedly ghostwritten. Rapper Ness Lee claimed he was the original writer. Benzino released Rap Elvis music video [Eminem Diss] filmed in different locations throughout Detroit, including Eminem's restaurant Mom's Spaghetti with a feature from Jacksonville rapper Natalac wearing a white mink coat. The video features Benzino sampling and discarding the spaghetti even taking the sign from the restaurant.

Personal life

Benzino's father Edward DeJesus was Puerto Rican and his mother Mary Scott was Black American and Cape Verdean. His sisters are Anita Scott-Wilson and Maureen Scott. In 2021, the rapper fell out with his daughter, Coi Leray, after she dissed Benzino in her song "No More Parties".

Benzino has dated Karlie Redd and Althea Heart.{{cite magazine | url = http://www.vibe.com/article/what-happened-love-and-hip-hop-atlanta-ep-6 | title = What Happened on 'Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta' Ep. 6?

On March 29, 2014, Benzino was shot after attending his mother's funeral in Duxbury, Massachusetts. He was shot in the shoulder and back by his 36-year-old nephew Gai Scott, who was later arrested for shooting him.{{cite news | title = US rapper Benzino shot at mother's funeral | work = BBC News | date = March 31, 2014

Legal issues

On April 16, 2019, Benzino was stopped in Brookhaven, Georgia and cited for driving an uninsured vehicle. He was not the policy holder responsible for insuring the vehicle. On June 22, 2019, Benzino was arrested for a bench warrant in DeKalb County, Georgia, and was taken to police headquarters for booking and was later jailed. As he was being transported there, he launched a racist tirade against a police officer arresting him, who was of Vietnamese descent. The tirade involved multiple racial slurs and maternal insults. On July 31, 2020, Benzino was arrested and charged with criminal damage to property. He was accused of damaging the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck of a man who was in the company of Benzino's ex-fiancée Althea Heart. On February 3, 2022, Benzino was arrested and charged with one count of second degree criminal damage to property, a felony.

Discography

Studio albums

• The Benzino Project (2001)
• Redemption (2003)
• Arch Nemesis (2005)
• The Antidote (2007)

Collaboration albums

• In Tha Company of Killaz with Wiseguys (1996)
• Doomsday: Forever RSO with the Almighty RSO (1996)
• Classic Limited Edition with Made Men (1999)
• No Skits Vol. 1 with Hangmen 3 (2000)

Remix albums

• The Benzino Remix Project (2002)

Mixtapes

• Die Another Day: Flawless Victory (2003)
• When the Heavens Fall with 1st 48 (2010)
• Caezar (2011)
• Blue Bag with 1st 48 (2011)
• The Magnificent 757's with Stevie J (2012)
• Crushed Ice (2013)
• Welcome to Texaco City with OJ da Juiceman (2015)

Charted singles

• "Rock the Party" (2002, US No. 82)

As featured artist

Filmography

Film

Television

Music Videos

References

References

1. "ACE Repertory".
2. "Music Bliss Hip Hop Interviews Done Right".
3. (October 22, 2019). "A Breakdown of Benzino and Eminem's Heated Feud".
4. Dukes, Rahman. (November 22, 2002). "Benzino Ignites Beef By Calling Eminem '2003 Vanilla Ice' – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com.
5. Eliscu, Jenny. (January 3, 2003). "Benzino, Eminem Feud Heats Up | Music News".
6. Adaso, Henry. [http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/10BestHipHopBattles.htm The Greatest Hip-Hop Battles (...and Their Winners)] {{Webarchive. link. (July 7, 2011 . [[About.com]]. Retrieved June 27, 2010.)
7. (March 3, 2005). "Magazine impresario Benzino talks about his music, Hip-Hop's future & his feud with Eminem". [[Philadelphia Daily News]].
8. Fitzgerald, Trent. (2024-01-26). "Eminem Disses Benzino and Coi Leray on New Song 'Doomsday Pt. 2'".
9. II, C. Vernon Coleman IIC Vernon Coleman. (2024-01-31). "Benzino Drops Second Eminem Diss Track 'Rap Elvis'".
10. (2024-01-31). "Benzino Continues Eminem Tirade On 'Rap Elvis' Diss Song, Gives Him 48 Hours To Respond".
11. Blake, Cole. (2024-05-01). "Benzino's Alleged Ghostwriter Speaks Out After “Rap Elvis” Controversy".
12. (27 March 2024). "Benzino-Rap Elvis (Music Video) [Eminem Diss]".
13. "MARY A. (TIMAS) SCOTT's Obituary on Boston Globe".
14. (May 7, 2021). "Coi Leray & Benzino's Family History & Beef, Explained".
15. "Pains Us to share this about Benzino & Althea Heart". Dallasblack.com.
16. (January 17, 2019). "REPORTS: Former 'Love & Hip Hop Atlanta' star Benzino pleads guilty in drug case".
17. (July 23, 2021). "Caught driving uninsured car, Benzino claims "I don't even drive this car"".
18. (June 28, 2019). "Ex-'L&HH' Star Benzino's Arrest Video Shows Full Meltdown.".
19. "NEW DETAILS: Ex-'Love & Hip Hop' star Benzino arrested in Chateau Elan". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
20. (August 4, 2020). "Ex-'L&HH' Star Benzino Busted for Alleged Property Damage After Jealous Rage".
21. (April 12, 2022). "Benzino and LAHH's Althea Heart have 'altercation' years after split". Reality Titbit.
22. "Benzino Chart History: Hot 100".