Benzino still feels a way about Eminem. During an appearance on REVOLT TV’s Drink Champs, the former co-owner of The Source reflected on his controversial tenure at the magazine and his feud with Slim Shady that ensnared the iconic Hip Hop publication.
In the interview with hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN, Benzino denied giving his own music generous ratings and reviews during the majority of his time at The Source. But he admitted to doing it once and gave a justification for his actions.
“The only time I gave myself the mics was the Eminem situation,” he said. “I felt like at that point — because it was me against the staff, me against everybody. At that point, I was like fuck everybody. I was in a dark place where I felt like I’m standing for something that’s right. I know deep down what I’m standing for, it’s just not rapping. But I just felt like nobody backed me.”
He added, “I had to learn this the hard way: you can’t look at the industry to be righteous. You can’t look at them to be revolution. It’s about making money. At that point, maybe because I was already making money, I just took it for granted ’cause I didn’t have to answer to nobody. I was at the top of the food chain at The Source.”
N.O.R.E. asked Benzino if he would still handle the Eminem beef the same way if given a second chance. “It’s hard to say,” he responded.
According to Benzino, he was taking a stand for Hip Hop.
“At that time, I felt deep about what I was standing for,” he stated. “My thing was Hip Hop — and I always said this and people have heard it before — Hip Hop was the only thing that made white people come to the culture, buy into the culture, spend money and also interact with the culture through Hip Hop. Nothing else has happened that brought white people to black people then that.
“So, I felt like once they get a white rapper … that white people want to buy him, then they fuck with that balance. ‘Cause now white people will just fuck with him because of his skin color. Before they had to fuck with us ’cause that’s the music. I didn’t feel that way about the Beastie Boys. I didn’t feel that way about 3rd Bass. With Eminem, I just felt like OK, Hip Hop is big now. It’s pop now and white people are buying into it. Now, we need a white person to represent the white people. And that’s just what happened. What I said happened, happened.”
Although Benzino didn’t put all of the blame on Eminem for the industry shift, he said Slim Shady changed everything.
“He came in and there’s a whole demographic of white people who just ain’t fucking with niggas, period,” he declared. “I don’t give a fuck. Those are the guys who’ll vote for Donald Trump. Fuck policies. You don’t fuck with niggas, then we fucking with you. It’s a color thing. It’s a tribe thing. That’s just what it is. And since they outnumber black people, since white people outnumber black people, they’re gonna win.”
Benzino stated, “Hip Hop is more than just rap, it’s a culture. It’s our fucking life. It isn’t just rap … So to him, I’m sure it’s rap.”
DJ EFN questioned Benzino about whether or not Eminem is in the Hip Hop culture. The former Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta star repeatedly said no and explained his reasoning.
“Eminem is not in the culture that I’m from,” Benzino answered. “That’s not a bad thing. I’m not mad at that. A lot of people ain’t. But he’s not. We’re not from the same cultures. He grew up one way, I grew up a whole different way. That’s what I mean, culture. He grew up where there was not too many black people and growing up around black people and how we live.”
Check out Benzino’s full appearance on Drink Champs above. The discussion about The Source and Eminem begins around the 36-minute mark.
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The culture, the culture, the culture. You all sound like a bunch of remedial mfers.
FUCC You.
” The Culture” sold you out. It’s ours now. Deal with it you little bitch.
Rap/hip hop is about expressing yourself and putting words together, since Eminem came and mastered rhyming and being able to hold his own on the mic as an MC, they want to add in how you live and if you ain’t from the hood you don’t count as being able to fit into rap/hip hop..that’s bs I listen to Eminem because he can rhyme and express how he feels and tell his life story of what he thinks and how he grew up, just like LL Cool J, Rakim, big daddy Kane..hip hop is not about being black
“He grew up where there was not too many black people and growing up around black people and how we live.”
Really though? Really? The only white guy in D12? Battling at the Shelter, Detroit…Fuck Benzino.
Benzino is 55 years old and dyed his hair blonde. The end
You lost …let it go already
First off, this guy is half white so fuck off with that skin color shit. Second he looks like a fucking squirrel storing nuts in his cheeks for later consumption. Third, he got ran outta Boston and that’s why he went to Atlanta. Fourth, he’s one of the top 5 wackest people ever in rap music
Yeah he’s half white and like half Puerto Rican or some shit and barely African on that side.too if any, he’s Latino. Not to mention he’s a clown and a midget
ACTUALLY He Is Blacc & Italian. Technically, Italians Are Black, Too.
He’s Not Of Puerto Rican Descent. His Father Is Italian. Technically, Italians Are Black, Too.
Anyone that talks shit about a group of people because of the color of their skin is flucking gross ….. You are no better than the race you hate … and for all the Eminem pop talk from this loser … that pop star killed your music career and the career of other artists … with his ridiculous skill in a culture he was told he wasn’t allowed to be in … no one owns culture you clowns … this is America … it’s called a melting pot for a reason
This, how does white people buying em’s music affect him? If anything, em gave this bum a career. Most people only know who he is because of em.
Sorry fam, we do own this culture though. America is built on race and making sure white pwoplw stay on top so I don’t where you getting this melting pit shit from.
White people stay on top? Get your ass out in the real world and there are many, many wealthy black people that worked for their money just like white people. And what about a black President? So sthu with built on race and white people stay on top. Stop dividing the races and embrace all people. Isn’t that what everyone wants? Or do they want excuses for their own failures, probably like you. This country is the biggest melting pot of a country. Do you even know what melting pot means?
Man, FUCC OFF. There Is STILL Alot Of Racism Going On!
Say That To That BITCH Donald Trump. This Ain’t No Melting Pot! Stop Dreaming! This IS OUR CULTURE.
I agree with Benzino. The only thing that keeps Eminem in the spotlight is the fact that white people love him. Black people are not riding down the street listening to him. I have not listened to an Eminem album in 10 years and even then I was one of the few Africans in America listening. The irony is if an old Ja Rule song comes on I can still listen to it. Eminem’s music is not timeless and its not relatable… Just a black man’s opinion who’s listened to hip hop his whole life….
I’m black and ride down the street listening to eminem XD
Lol, yeah, and if what black people driving down the street listening to mattered for hiphop culture, then Migos, future, and all that other whack ass shit would be “the culture”. I’m not an Eminem fan myself, but he clearly is in hiphop culture big time and solidified himself in your favorite rappers favorite rapper list.
Come bro. His skill is what put him on and kept him there. When he came in white rappers were made fun of and abused. Thanks Vanilla Ice. His skill is what made him what he is. Plenty of wack white rappers have come and gone.
The opinion of a black nobody thats been listening to hip hop his whole life must be more valid than the opinion of legendary black rappers that have been DOING hip hop music for decades. Amirite? Gtfoh, ever since nobody Jamar made that claim all of you suburban black kids started riding with it as well.
Such lies. If you don’t think Till I Collapse is a timeless song I’d really like to hear what you’re opinion of a timeless song is.
So you mean to tell me, if a black rapper had the same talent, he wouldn’t be as famous? Maybe to some degree yes, but that is a small degree. Em’s talent is way beyond being white. He is one of the, if not the, most skilled rapper alive. No one can touch him, and no one can even compare to him as a rapper. Once you said Ja Rule…gtfo with that garbage. I have heard repeatedly that black people listen to, bump in their car, and name Em as the goat. So just stop with that crap.
I Agree, Brother. I Love Murder Inc., Still To This Day. I Can Still Listen To The Murder Inc. Roster. I Don’t Listen To Eminem Either. No One In My Neighborhood Listens To Him. I Come From The South Bronx, NY.
“the culture” is about being a great emcee, it has nothing to do with being black, living in the ghetto, being a thug, drug dealing, fucking hoes, ect…
Relax your panties sis, I never heard Future or Migos rap about murdering and raping their baby mama… Let’s be objective here, the guy shared his opinion and you Stan’s lose it haha.
Well one, maybe Future or Migos should cause their shit sucks. Two, you’re an idiot if that’s what you get out of Eminem’s discography.
BULLSHIT. Eminem Did Call His Mother A Bitch. He Rapped About Raping A Killing His Baby Mother.
Exactly Correct! ?
I Mean, You’re Exactly Correct!
Who care if white people k my fuck with em? What’s the difference? I don’t understand why it matter if people like a certain type of music. How does this affect him?
Eminem is like a Justin Beiber type character in hip hop. People know he’s really not a part of the culture and gets his streams from little girls who’s mommy and daddy wear MAGA hats. Black artists will simply work with him just to get access to his white fan base.
To say he’s not part of the culture is just retarded. I completely understand blacks wanting to claim hip-hop as their own, but the thing is, hip hop is not just black culture, it’s American culture. I’m white and I’ve been listening to hip hop since I was 15. I used to write graffiti and break dance too. Am I not hip hop because I’m not black? That’s a pretty ridiculous argument to make.
That’s like saying your apart of the culture because you wear Jordan’s ?. The culture is a lifestyle… I’ve been listening to hip hop since I was in second grade and now I’m in my 40’s… my kids grew up listening. I expose them to my old stuff.. they take me through the new. I still attend underground events in Harlem and Brooklyn… it’s not a phase for me. My friends all still listen to the music and we try to do as much as we can for the communities that the music comes from. I love being a part of this culture and the people who are truly in it.
Black people: White people racist and separatist.
Also black people: This is OUR culture! White people can’t be in it!
That’s True, Because Eminem Started As A Pop Artist — Thanks To Dr. Dre.
Let us reiterate… Nobody Cares
Em did live in the city of Detroit for some time. Detroit is the blackest big city in the U.S! It’s over 80% black. It’s far blacker that racist ass Boston. Warren, on the other hand was predominantly white when Eminem lived there. If Benzino believes Detroit is a white city, he’s an idiot. In comparison Boston ( where Benzino is from) is whiteboyville.
You’ve never been to Boston lol
I have. And It’s not 80% black. I went for vacation. Detroit is too fucked up for anyone to come here for vacation. Detroit is blacker than Oakland and Atlanta.
Ok on a serious note wtf is going on with this guys head?? Looks deformed or some shit.
For real, looks like a disfigured pear
I dig benzino. The early Eminem stuff was more gangster and it was so good, which is the reason why we still about him today. he lost me by the time the Eminem show dropped. he got me back with 8mile and the 50 cent stuff. Eminem never grew up around black people? have you seen d12? devils night is a classic album. after that its all trash. but hes forever a legend and folks need 2 check out the songs nuttin to do with Royce & 3hree 6ixty 5ive with skam.
Benizo looking like a melting California Raisin
Benzino is fucken beige, who is he to talk about the culture? Ghtfoh.
Thats that light skin shit !
Black is a color, i didnt know its a nationality! Smh #dumbniggas
This guy is so corny.. same thing with Lord Jamal… if you ain’t done shit in the past 20 years and the only thing people are checking for is your opinion of Eminem 20 years later, you really need to evaluate where you stand in this hip-hop shit. Benzino is the worst though.. he’s worst than a one hit wonder.. he’s a no hit wonder. I started listening to hip-hop in the 90’s and I can’t even name you one of this guys songs.. and there were plenty of 1 hit wonders around that time.. Mic Geronimo, Rampage, Lord Tarik & Peter Gunz.. Hell, all three of those acts are way relevant than this fool but we haven’t heard them since the 90’s.. they should’ve talked shit about Eminem back then. Might still be getting interviews today.
The Guys You Just Mentioned Were Not One Hit Wonders. You Want A True One Hit Wonder — Checc Out M.I.M.S.
Wrong! I Still Listen To Lord Jamar. I Listen To Almighty RSO Also (Benzino’s Original Group).
He grew up one way, I grew up a whole different way. That’s what I mean, culture.
Dre, Royce and Lupe countless other names grew up a different to Benzino… You think Dave Mayes was in it for the culture.
Dunno why people hate rappers with white fan bases considering pretty much every commercially successful hip hop artist has a majority white fan base. The Source magazine subscribers were probably mostly white I’m guessing as well !
I was ?
No. The Source Was Read By Mostly BLACK Folks, Like Myself.
“when I say old I mean like you and Lord Jamar son, You both have a whole catalog no one can spit one bar from”
Benzino is a fool!
I really people would stop jumping on Eminem. It’s starting to get old . I was never a big fan but I know a great rapper when I hear one. And it’s clear he puts a lot of time and effort into his craft. The kamikaze album was tight. But the constant bitching is starting to sound like jealousy. Benzino clearly still feels a way after how many years. Move on already.
What’s that Benzino??? what? I’m sorry, I can’t hear you from that coffin you irrelevant ass.
Without googling I dare ANYONE in these comments to spit a bar from Benzino’s catalog?
The culture doesn’t belong to anyone that’s the whole point dummy. Hip Hop was made to free the people now you out here trying to draw lines in the sand FOH.
So wait a min, I grew up around black people and I don’t rap, don’t listen to rap, I’m a product of the American melting pot. My skin is Caucasian, but I have Portuguese, Puerto Rican, Serbian, Indian, German and Irish blood. So tell me, what makes me part of the culture. I listen to metal, you don’t see white people bitching about Jimmy, or Lejon from Sevendust, or fuck any black person in the metal scene, you know why, cuz we don’t care, music is our fucking bond and it’s so sad that none of the other so called cultures could not follow that precedent. Who cares, you’re a no body and yet Em a fucking white boy is hands down the GOAT. Respect
Eminem really isn’t the greatest of all time though pal. Far from it…
Actually, Jimmy Hendrix Was Not A Heavy Metal Rocker. He Actually Is Classic Rock. He Was Regular Rock Artist. Jimmy Was Wonderful! The Greatest Rapper Of All Time Belongs To LL Cool J, Not Eminem.
First off Benzino has failed to maintain relevance so, he doesn’t even have a right to say Em isn’t in the culture. It’s sad to see that well over a decade later he’s still salty at about the whole thing. Eminem is a legend. Undisputed FACT. Not only did he body the Mainstream he was also a beast underground. He’s put in the time, pain, lyrics and dedication. When history remembers this beef Benzino will only be a smudge on one of the pages. Eminem will be the fucking Book. “Rap God” is a title earned, not freely given. It’s sad to see a grown ass man take the bitch route.
Benzino, you still don’t get it. NO ONE cares about your opinion. No ONE has appointed you the gate keeper of hip hop. No one cares that you co-owned the source, that doesn’t make you the arbiter of whos apart of the culture and whos not. get that through your thick ass skull, you delusional motherfucka!
People like eminem because he’s made music people like. It’s got nothing to do with him being white. Benzino is a joke. Only sold about 5 records in his career
Haha Eminem is more in the culture than benzino and the only time he’s relevant is when he disses Eminem
Man he saw Lord Jamar, Nick Cannon, Budden all getting clout and just had to jump on the bandwagon…
My god man move on! You’re making an ass out of yourself and reminding everyone that Em kicked your butt right out of hip hop. These articles have got to be running out of clout chasing old unimportant news. What’s next? Ja Rule explains why he’s so butt hurt??
Benzino been smuggling gobstoppers since day
When this man’s arms gonna finally grow
No one cares about Em anymore except hardcore stans…
And Benzino….
Considering he was number 1 in pure sales last year and broke records on YouTube there must be a whole lot of “hardcore Stan’s”… The man still packs stadiums for fucks sake and every tweet he does goes viral and every major outlet talks about it… Despite what you think in your bubble Em is still relevant…
Fucking punk pussy fuck you chump gimmie one on one see if I don’t fuck you up remember motherfucker you go doss once don’t it make it twice dumb piece of shit you are shit to hip hop you are nothing if you died I would be okay with it your career ended long time ago
Diss
I hate you benzino keep your mouth shut
This guy is such a loser still getting arrested at 50. Pay your speeding tickets you biased bum
“Let it go dawg it’s over.”
“he didn’t grow up around black people” lol. Benzino, I think yo ass is dawning signs of early dementia.
Benzino Is Telling The Truth. Even Though Eminem Claims Detroit, MI, He Was Actually Born In Missouri, in 1972. Look Up Eminem. Trust Me.
Racist prick!
Who? I Hope You Mean Eminem.
I agree MM is not part of hip hop anymore. He sold out to the pop crowd which is mostly white. SOME BLACK ARTISTS HAVE DONE THE SAME. Pop fans are not hip hop fans. They like corny shit like MM. We cop classic material. This is not a black or white issue. The beastie boys were dope and didn’t sell out the music. The hip hop fans weren’t good enough for MM. He can never do a straight hip hop again. Pop fans wouldn’t buy it. Hip hop fans don’t respect MM, in my opinion. We hate wack shit. Pop fans love watered down trash, in my opinion. MM go back to 8 mile and stay there. This time learn how to be white instead of acting black. MM Must really hate white people. I guess he is a wigger lover.
I,ll disagree with you on that one because eminem lost his edge a little while ago but still he is part of hip-hop and you can agree pop and along with rock has mixed before.And by the way benzino sucked ass anyway.
Your Right. I Wish I Knew Who You Were, Though.
Unknown just like everybody else!
O well. Look at you white ppl mad. Listen y’all can keep that trash ass pop artist. For real. We do not accept him. No matter how many times MTV say he great. Let us remember MTV didn’t fuck with rap now they do cus they are vultures. O well
You corny as fuck just like this ass clown Benzino salty Eminem buried his bitch ass and The Source
Bro look at him he aint white and we dont want him either , keep your fuckin trash off our lawn
Fucc You.
Your Absolutely Correct, Hood Life. I’m From The South Bronx, Myself, And I Don’t Fucc With Eminem Either. You Said EVERYTHING Correctly! Almost The Entire Bronx, Doesn’t Listen To Eminem At All!
Benzino you sound mad dog
Let it go, you been defeated years ago and got shit on
LMAO. Who made Benzino a hip hop ambassador. FOH. You single handedly ruin the hip hop bible and gave ur bullshit ass group 5 mics. LoL now ur still on this Em shit?!? Grow up my dude. No one wants to hear your shit.
He mad mad huh fuckin bozo ?
What the fuck is a fuckin benzino
Damn Dummy. Look Up “The Almighty RSO”. YOU’LL Find Benzino.
He is the worst. He says nothing but this all the time. Only way he hits the headlines. Gotta invoke the whiteboy. BTW he’s the nicest. All the best now pay homage. Its 20 years later can we forgive him for being white now?!
Bozo kinda spitting facts here, except for this ^ and I’m white. He’s the white money tree of Hip-Hop.
Benzino is a bitch. Wack ass songs he put out was never in the culture. Bitch
BULLSHIT. You Just Don’t Know About Underground Rap.
Benzino is dumb as fuck. The music is color blind bubba. It isn’t white against black
Em has the top selling hip hop album of all time…nuf said.
Benzino doesn’t belong in our species. Talking about culture . Old whale head.