Eminem Accused of Racism

[TexasStooge]

By Sarah Hall (E! Online)

Did the real Slim Shady finally stand up?

Raymond "Benzino" Scott and David Mays, founders of music magazine The Source would have you believe that he did--and that he's a bigot.

The duo held a press conference Tuesday at which they revealed a recorded clip of Eminem freestyling an offensive lyric in the early 1990s.

"The tape contains what is clearly identifiable as Eminem's voice, reciting racial slurs targeted against black women," read a statement released by The Source, "and it proves Benzino right after a year of being vilified by the media for bringing such questions surrounding Eminem to the fore.

"Bringing this tape to the public is the latest chapter in The Source magazine's ongoing effort to expose influences corrupting hip-hop, including racism."

Though Eminem expressed regret over the clip's undeniably inflammatory language, he made clear that he considered its release to be a direct consequence of the longstanding beef between Benzino and himself.

"Ray Benzino, Dave Mays and The Source have had a vendetta against me, Shady Records and our artists for a long time," Eminem said in response to the press conference. "The tape they played today was something I made out of anger, stupidity and frustration when I was a teenager. I'd just broken up with my girlfriend, who was African-American, and I reacted like the angry, stupid kid I was. I hope people will take it for the foolishness that it was, not for what somebody is trying to make it into today."

Benzino is credited with beginning the rift between the two rappers after he referred to Em as a "2003 Vanilla Ice" in his song "Pull Your Skirt Up," and the "rap Hitler" in "Die Another Day." He also called Slim Shady a "culture stealer," and indicated that his success is due solely to the color of his skin.

"You think I could grab my crotch and put my a** in people's faces the way he does?" Benzino asked in a 2002 interview with MTV News. "No way. But as long as the color of his skin and his eyes fits what America wants...it's all right."

Eminem rebounded from Benzino's zings with two hard-hitting response tracks of his own, "The Sauce," and "Nail in the Coffin." In the second, he references an infamous rumor that Benzino uses his position at The Source to wheedle guest performances on his albums--offering coverage in the mag in exchange.

The disses continue to fly back and forth between the two and various members of their respective camps in street freestyles and recorded mixtapes.

Benzino has also used the pages of The Source to attack his rival, creating full page posters and cartoon depictions of Em as Elvis and of himself crushing M&M candies. Numerous articles have appeared in the magazine aimed at discrediting Shady Records artists such as 50 Cent.

Hip-hop insiders believe that Benzino is attacking Eminem in a desperate attempt to increase his own fame--a mind-boggling strategy from his rival's point of view.

"I never would think I would see the day when I seen the worst rapper in the world going against one of the best," Eminem said in a radio interview last January.

Eminem has sensational record sales behind him to back his side of the battle--he's sold over 20 million albums, making him the top-selling rapper ever--while Benzino's solo projects have sold poorly.

Last year, Eminem publicly referred to his enemy as "Hasbenzino", adding "I don't know about that, I don't know if he was ever even on."

Apart from his hectic feuding schedule, Em now has the added responsibility of fulltime fatherhood.

The rapper was recently awarded temporary full custody of his 7-year-old daughter with ex-wife Kim Mathers, after Mathers disappeared for several weeks, missing a series of court appearances tied to various drug-related arrests.

Police caught up with Mathers Tuesday and arrested her on a bench warrant. She was arraigned in a Macomb County court and posted $50,000 bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for December 18.

[Lindaloo]

So what else is new?

[j]

I think they are both about as worthless as the gum stuck to the bottom of my shoes

[StormCrazyIowan]

LOL, well I think Mr. Benzino is one hell of a hypocrite!! He tries to nail Em for racism, which yeah, he used racist words....13 years ago , and yet one paragraph later he says Em only has success cuz he's a white boy?? Give me a break! He's just mad cuz' his record ain't sellin!

[Lindaloo]

Is Mr. Benzino a Democrat? Or is he kin to Al Sharpton? LOL!!!

[StormCrazyIowan]

I think you're onto something!

[Lindaloo]

:lol: I think you're onto something!

LMAO!!!

[TexasStooge]

:lol: I think you're onto something!

LMAO!!!

LOL!