Benzino

Raymond Leon Scott (born July 18, 1965), better known by his stage name Benzino, is an American urban media proprietor, television personality, rapper, and record producer. Initially a recording artist in the early 2000s, Scott became an executive in the industry through producing records (as part of the production team Hangmen 3) and co-publishing the magazine The Source. Currently, he is known for appearing on VH1 reality TV series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta and TV One original series Next :15.[2]

Not to be confused with Beenzino.

Benzino
Birth nameRaymond Leon Scott[1]
Also known as
  • Ray Benzino
  • Ray Dog
Born (1965-07-18) July 18, 1965
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Media proprietor
  • record producer
  • record executive
  • rapper
  • songwriter
  • television personality
Years active1986—present
Labels
Associated acts

Biography

Benzino was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to a Cape Verde mother and a Puerto Rican and African-American father.Benzino was a principal of the hip hop magazine The Source, which was launched in 1988 by his friend David Mays as a single-sheet newsletter out of Mays' Harvard University dorm room.

Benzino has said one of the primary inspirations to enter the genre of rap stems from his fondness of the film Wild Style.[3]

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. He has also dated Karlie Redd and Althea Heart.[4]

On March 29, 2014, Benzino was shot in the shoulder and back by his nephew Gai Scott. The shooting took place in the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, at his mother's funeral.[5]

On September 4 2020, Benzino released a new single titled "The Bigger Picture" with an accompanying music video on YouTube.[6]

Feud with Eminem

Benzino is known for being involved since 2003 in a widely publicized feud with rapper Eminem, since Benzino called him "2003 Vanilla Ice".[7] The pair have created diss tracks about each other, including Benzino's "Pull Your Skirt Up" and "Die Another Day" and Eminem's "The Sauce" and "Nail in the Coffin".[8] As a continuation of this animosity between the two, Benzino released a diss mixtape Benzino Presents: Die Another Day: Flawless Victory, disparaging Eminem.[9][10][11]

Personal life

Benzino considered Edward DeJesus to be his father figure, especially in the duration of DeJesus's incarceration. Benzino's siblings include his sister Maureen, who took up medicine to become a medical doctor. His other sister, Anita Scott-Wilson, studied veterinarian medicine at the Tuskegee Institute for a nine-year period, in order to receive her master's degree.[12]

Benzino and Althea 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.[13][14]

On June 22, 2019, Benzino was arrested for a bench warrant in DeKalb County, Georgia. Benzino was taken to police headquarters for booking and was jailed. As he was taken to jail, he launched a tirade against the Vietnamese-American police officer arresting him involving multiple racial slurs and maternal insults.[15][16]

Discography

Studio albums

Collaboration albums

Remix albums

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)

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role
2001 2001 Source Awards Himself
2003 Soul Train Himself
2005 Bloodline Store Clerk
2012 RapFix Live Himself
2012–2014 Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta Himself
2014 2014 Soul Train Music Awards Himself
2015–2016 Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars Himself
2016 The Next :15 Himself
2016 Hollywood Hearts Himself

References
  1. https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/895259671
  2. "MC Benzino Says Hip-Hop is in Critical Condition". Boston Globe. January 18, 2003. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  3. "Music Bliss Hip Hop Interviews Done Right". Music Bliss Hip Hop Interviews Done Right. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  4. "What Happened on 'Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta' Ep. 6?". Vibe. 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  5. "US rapper Benzino shot at mother's funeral". BBC. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  6. "Benzino-The Bigger Picture (Official Music Video)". Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  7. Dukes, Rahman (2002-11-22). "Benzino Ignites Beef By Calling Eminem '2003 Vanilla Ice' – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  8. Eliscu, Jenny (2003-01-03). "Benzino, Eminem Feud Heats Up | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  9. Cantor, Paul (2010-10-13). "Rapper Huddy 6 Killed In Car Accident – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  10. Adaso, Henry. The Greatest Hip-Hop Battles (...and Their Winners). About.com. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
  11. "Magazine impresario Benzino talks about his music, Hip-Hop's future & his feud with Eminem". Philadelphia Daily News. March 3, 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  12. "MARY A. (TIMAS) SCOTT's Obituary on Boston Globe". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  13. http://dallasblack.com/entertainment/former-love-hip-hop-atlanta-star-althea-heart-arrested-after-fight-benzino
  14. https://thegrio.com/2019/01/17/former-love-hip-hop-atlanta-star-benzino-pleads-guilty-in-drug-case/
  15. Real World Police (2019-07-05), Racist Tirade Against Asian Cop By Ex-"Love & Hip Hop" Star Benzino #TMZFail, retrieved 2019-07-07
  16. "Ex-'L&HH' Star Benzino's Arrest Video Shows Full Meltdown". TMZ. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.