Benzino

Raymond Scott (born July 18, 1965), better known by his stage name Benzino or Ray Benzino, is an American urban media proprietor, television personality, rapper and record producer. Benzino produced records (as part of the production team Hangmen 3) and co-owned The Source magazine.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

Benzino has said one of the primary inspirations to enter the genre of rap stems from his fondness of the film Wild Style.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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")<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and "Die Another Day", while Eminem released "The Sauce" and "Nail in the Coffin".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> As a continuation of this animosity between the two, Benzino released the diss mixtape Benzino Presents: Die Another Day: Flawless Victory, further disparaging Eminem.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Adaso, Henry. The Greatest Hip-Hop Battles (...and Their Winners) Template:Webarchive. About.com. Retrieved June 27, 2010.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On September 4, 2020, Benzino released a new single titled "The Bigger Picture" with an accompanying music video on YouTube.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On March 27, 2024 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-based rapper Natalac wearing a white mink coat. The video features Benzino sampling and discarding the spaghetti even taking the sign from the restaurant. To date Eminem hasn't responded. YouTube.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, the rapper fell out with his daughter, Coi Leray, after she dissed Benzino in her song "No More Parties". <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Benzino has dated Karlie Redd and Althea Heart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Benzino and Heart had a son together in November 2015, but they broke off their engagement shortly thereafter. They appeared together on Season 6 of the television show Marriage Boot Camp chronicling their broken relationship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On March 29, 2014, Benzino was shot after attending his mother's funeral in Duxbury, Massachusetts.<ref name="BBC-shot" /> He was shot in the shoulder and back by his 36-year-old nephew Gai Scott, who was later arrested for shooting him.<ref name="BBC-shot">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On February 3, 2022, Benzino was arrested and charged with one count of second degree criminal damage to property, a felony.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist

Title	Year	Album
"Run Tell That" Template:Small	2021	Love & Pimp-Hop
"Trending Topic" Template:Small	2024	"The Return of Goldie"

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2000	Da Hip Hop Witch	Himself
2005	Bloodline	Kilo
2011	Baghdad	Himself
2016	Hollywood Hearts	Himself	TV movie
2020	Turnt	Meko
	Indictment: Who Is Jonathan Carter?	James	TV movie
	False Advertisement	-
2023	On Da Run	Matteo
	I Want Her	Mike

Television

Year	Legacy	Role	Notes
2003	Soul Train	Himself	Episode: "Marques Houston/Solange Knowles/Benzino"
2014	Town Bizzness	Himself	Episode: "T-Pain in Seattle"
2012-14	Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta	Himself	Main Cast: Season 1-3
2015-16	Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars	Himself	Main Cast: Season 4
2016	The Next :15	Himself	Main Cast
2017	Tamar & Vince	Himself	Episode: "Love and War"

Music Videos

Year	Song	Artist
1993	"Hey Mr. D.J."	Zhané
1995	"Craziest"	Naughty by Nature
2003	"Clap Back"	Ja Rule

External links

• Hip Hop Weekly magazine official website Template:Webarchive