Benzino
| Benzino | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Raymond Scott |
| Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | producer, record executive, Rapper |
| Years active | 1983—Present |
| Labels | 7th Floor Music, Murder Inc., ZNO Records |
| Associated acts | The Almighty RSO, Karlie Redd, Made Men |
Raymond Scott, better known by his stage name Benzino, is an American hip hop media executive and record producer. He was known for appearing on VH1 reality TV series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta and TV One original series The Next :15.[1]
History
Benzino was born in Boston, Massachusetts to a Cape Verdean mother and a Puerto Rican father. Along with his longtime friend, David Mays, Benzino is known for being a principal of the hip hop magazine The Source, which was launched in 1988 as a single-sheet newsletter out of Mays' Harvard University dorm room.
Benzino was a founding member of rap groups The Almighty RSO and Made Men, before finally becoming a solo artist. He has appeared on the reality television show Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, since 2012. He has also dated Karlie Redd and Althea Heart.[2]
Benzino was shot in the shoulder and back on March 29, 2014 by his nephew Gai Scott; the shooting took place in the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, at his mother's funeral.[3] The wounds were not fatal.[4]
Feud with Eminem
Benzino is known for being involved, since 2003, in a widely publicized feud with rapper Eminem as Benzino called him "2003 Vanilla Ice".[5] Since then the pair have been creating diss tracks about each other, including Benzino's "Pull Your Skirt Up" and "Die Another Day" or Eminem's "The Sauce" and "Nail in the Coffin".[6] As a continuation of this animosity between the two, Benzino released a diss mixtape Benzino Presents: Die Another Day: Flawless Victory, disparaging Eminem and his record label.[7][8][9]
Discography
| 1994 | Revenge of da Badd Boyz (with The Almighty RSO)
|
| 1996 | Doomsday: Forever RSO (with The Almighty RSO) |
| 1999 | Classic Limited Edition (with Made Men)
|
| 2001 | The Benzino Project
|
| 2002 | The Benzino Remix Project
|
| 2003 | Redemption
|
Die Another Day: Flawless Victory
| |
| 2005 | Arch Nemesis
|
| 2007 | The Antidote
|
| 2011 | Caezar
|
Blue Bag feat. 1st 48
| |
| 2012 | The Magnificent 757's with Stevie J
|
| 2013 | Crushed Ice (as Zino Grigio)
|
| 2015 | Welcome to Texaco City with OJ da Juiceman
|
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–present | The Next :15 | Himself |
| 2016 | Hollywood Hearts | Himself |
References
- ↑ "MC Benzino Says Hip-Hop is in Critical Condition". Boston Globe. January 18, 2003. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ↑ "What Happened on 'Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta' Ep. 6?". Vibe. 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
- ↑ "US rapper Benzino shot at mother's funeral". BBC. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ↑ "Nephew gunned down uncle Benzino at funeral out of self-defense". The Daily Mail. 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2014-06-13.
- ↑ Dukes, Rahman (2002-11-22). "Benzino Ignites Beef By Calling Eminem '2003 Vanilla Ice' - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
- ↑ Eliscu, Jenny (2003-01-03). "Benzino, Eminem Feud Heats Up | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
- ↑ Cantor, Paul (2010-10-13). "Rapper Huddy 6 Killed In Car Accident - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
- ↑ Adaso, Henry. The Greatest Hip-Hop Battles (...and Their Winners). About.com. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
- ↑ "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.