Eminem‘s lawyers have announced that they’re not here for GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy’s “shady” shenanigans.
In a letter on BMI letterhead dated August 23, lawyer Pamela Williams ordered Ramaswamy to stop freestyling to “Lose Yourself” while on the campaign trail.
“BMI has received communications from Marshall B. Mathers, III, professionally known as Eminem, objecting to the Vivek Ramaswamy campaign’s use of Eminem’s musical compositions (the ‘Eminem Works’) and requesting that BMI remove all Eminem Works from the Agreement,” read the letter.
It continues: “This letter serves as notice that the Eminem Works are excluded from the Agreement effective immediately. BMI will consider any performance of the Eminem Works by the Vivek 2024 campaign from this date forward to be a material breach of the Agreement for which BMI reserves all rights and remedies with respect thereto.”
Check out the full letter below:
Eminem is just the latest musician whose music is being used by out-of-touch politicians trying to get “cool points” with Gen Z in an attempt to gain their votes.
GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy tried to convince the crowd of his viability as a candidate during a campaign stop in Iowa earlier this month and that he was fit for the job of the highest office in the land.
Ramaswamy attempted to prove he was fit to be president by spitting a few bars from Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” the classic song from 8 Mile that won the Detroit rapper an Oscar.
Apparently, Eminem caught wind of the performance, and immediately put the kibosh on any future freestyles by Ramaswamy or any other potential POTUS.
Pitiful performances from presidential hopefuls aside, Eminem still knows how to smoke the competition behind the mic, as he proved with his recent roasting of Hip Hop legend Melle Mel in his special guest appearance on an Ez Mil track.
Though officially released on August 4, the track leaked a few hours early on Reddit — much to the delight of Slim Shady’s fanbase, as well as those wanting to hear what his new Shady/Aftermath/Interscope signee had cooked up.
“Hip Hop has been good to me, huh/ But when they say that I’m only Top 5 ’cause I’m white, why would I be stunned?” Eminem spits. “My skin color’s still working against me/ ‘Cause second, I should be, to none/ Bein’ white being why they put me at five (Nope)/ That’s why they can’t put me at one.”
Continuing to stare down his critics, he adds: “And that is the only retort, is I’m not played in the clubs/ Muthafucka, put a cork in it/ Only reason they still play your shit in the clubs is because you still perform in ’em/ I am a guest in this house, but I turned this bitch into a mansion.”
Then turning his attention to Melle Mel, Em raps: “Shoutout to Furious Five and Grandmaster Flash, but boy/ There’s someone who really is furious/ Stay out his path, his wrath avoid/ I’ll be the last to toy with a juice head whose brain is half destroyed, like a meteor hit it/ Now with Melle Mel, he lost his ass to ‘roids.”
Melle Mel issued a response that received mixed reviews and has since apologized for the initial comments made on a podcast which prompted Eminem’s scathing reply.
So is he gonna sue Obama for putting his songs on his “playlists” ? I bet not. The politicans are only considered “out of touch” when they are in the party you dont like. If Biden sings the same song they will consider him the coolest president ever.
Why would he sue Obama? He voted for him. Like no sh*t that’s the reason he’s suing, he doesn’t want to be seen as endorsing the GOP. It’s not unusual or unreasonable.
its a playlist fool, spotify, apple, amazon etc, have agreements in place that they can distribute music where you can make your own playlist, the fact that needs to be explained in this day an age is crazy…..its not the same thing as a politician using your music, its misleads the public into thinking that artist being played has endorsed that person.
@Govenator uh, you’re really freaking stupid. Any politician can play anyone’s music at their events. You’re idiotic argument would be like saying a rapper could say “my music isn’t allowed to be played in your club, or I’ll sue you”. That’s not how shit works. Maybe make sure you know your shit before posting such retarded crap.
Not as stupid as idiots like Donald walking out to CCR’s “Fortunate Son”…
Oblivious to the fact the song is about people like him..cadet bone spurs.
Magats getting sent in 2024
More of these dotards will be getting their wings like old girl on J6, Guy in Cincy and the moron in Utah a cpl weeks ago
@magats wtf are you going on about Trump for? Dude, that guy seriously broke so many people mentally. This article, and discussion had nothing to do with him. Do you talk about Harry Potter and then talk about how Voldemort is like Trump, and go on a tirade if you watch it with someone? Seek help.
@Jay Ramaswamy is trumps new boy toy. He’s literally groveling to his fanbase for a job. It’s actually a very smart move on his part, as the other candidates have zero chance. But let’s not pretend that he’s not groveling for a position
Nope, politicians do not own artists songs. Many musicians have successfully stopped politicians from using their songs. Google it, there’s dozens of examples
I don’t understand though… I’m pretty sure nobody can win a lawsuit against someone for doing karaoke of their song. It’s not illegal, copyright (since not for profit), not theft. It’s like being a cover band. No band can legally stop you from covering their songs.
It’s not a lawsuit. It’s a cease and desist letter, informing them to not use his music anymore. It’s not complicated to understand. And Ramaswamy won’t use em’s music now, which was the purpose of the cease and desist
This all depends on how politicians use the music. Legally, if he’s singing Em, nothing can be done. But if he tries using the video of him singing Em in a commercial, then there are copywrite laws in place that would prevent that. Usually when artists do this, it’s more of “I don’t want anything to do with you or your politics or swaying anyone to vote for you” so the public is aware you don’t like said politician.
Artists have been doing this forever. You can google it to see some other artists who stopped politicians from using their song (Dr. Dre, House of Pain, Pearl Jam, etc, etc.. nobody gave a shit when they did it. But when Em does it, it sends the Magats into a frenzy lol. Buncha emotional clowns 😂