View source for Benzino

{{Short description|American media proprietor, television personality}}
{{Distinguish|Beenzino}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Benzino
| image            = Benzino Sister Circle 2018.png
| caption          = Benzino in 2018
| birth_name       = Raymond Leon Scott<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/895259671|title=ACE Repertory}}</ref>
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1965|07|18}}
| alias            = {{hlist|Ray Benzino|Ray Dog}}
| birth_place      = [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
| occupation       = {{hlist|Media proprietor|record producer|songwriter}}
| years_active     = 1986–present
| genre           = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| label           = {{hlist|ZNO|7th Floor|[[Elektra Records|Elektra]]|[[Motown]]}}
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
*[[The Almighty RSO]]
*[[Made Men]]}}
{{Infobox person
| child = yes
| children = 4, including [[Coi Leray]]
}}
}}
'''Raymond Scott''' (born July 18, 1965), better known by his stage name '''Benzino''' or '''Ray Benzino''', is an American [[urban contemporary|urban]] [[media proprietor]], television personality, rapper and record producer. Benzino produced records (as part of the production team Hangmen 3) and co-owned ''[[The Source]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news
| title      = MC Benzino Says Hip-Hop is in Critical Condition
| url        = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BG&p_theme=bg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F8A90EB4C50A029&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
| work       = [[Boston Globe]]
| date       = January 18, 2003
| access-date = January 21, 2009
}}</ref>
== Career ==
Benzino has said one of the primary inspirations to enter the genre of rap stems from his fondness of the film ''[[Wild Style]]''.<ref>{{Cite news | url = http://musicblissinterviews.wixsite.com/music-bliss/benzino | title = Music Bliss Hip Hop Interviews Done Right |access-date=January 10, 2018 | language = en}}</ref> 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.
=== Feud with Eminem ===
Benzino is known for being involved since 2002 in a widely publicized feud with rapper [[Eminem]]; the feud began after his ''The Source'' magazine rated ''[[The Eminem Show]]'' as four mics out of five. Eminem blamed the magazine and its co-founder Benzino for what he considered an unfair rating. Benzino later released [[diss track]]s towards Eminem, titled "Pull Your Skirt Up" (calling him "2003 [[Vanilla Ice]]")<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/benzino-eminem-beef|title = A Breakdown of Benzino and Eminem's Heated Feud|date = October 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Dukes | first = Rahman | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458854/benzino-eminem-got-beef.jhtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110222053247/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458854/benzino-eminem-got-beef.jhtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 22, 2011 | title = Benzino Ignites Beef By Calling Eminem '2003 Vanilla Ice' – Music, Celebrity, Artist News | publisher = MTV.com | date = November 22, 2002 | access-date = July 23, 2012}}</ref> and "Die Another Day", while Eminem released "The Sauce" and "Nail in the Coffin".<ref>{{cite magazine | first = Jenny | last = Eliscu | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/benzino-eminem-feud-heats-up-20030103 | title = Benzino, Eminem Feud Heats Up &#124; Music News | magazine = Rolling Stone | date = January 3, 2003 | access-date = July 23, 2012}}</ref> As a continuation of this animosity between the two, Benzino released the diss mixtape ''Benzino Presents: Die Another Day: Flawless Victory'', further disparaging Eminem.<ref>{{cite web | last = Cantor | first = Paul | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649935/rapper-huddy-6-killed-car-accident.jhtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110126014320/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649935/rapper-huddy-6-killed-car-accident.jhtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 26, 2011 | title = Rapper Huddy 6 Killed In Car Accident – Music, Celebrity, Artist News
| publisher = MTV.com | date = October 13, 2010 | access-date = July 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>Adaso, Henry. [http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/10BestHipHopBattles.htm The Greatest Hip-Hop Battles (...and Their Winners)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075154/http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/10BestHipHopBattles.htm |date=July 7, 2011 }}. [[About.com]]. Retrieved June 27, 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Magazine impresario Benzino talks about his music, Hip-Hop's future & his feud with Eminem | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DN&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI%7CDN&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=108B488B1266A2B9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=[[Philadelphia Daily News]] | date=March 3, 2005 |access-date=January 21, 2009 }}</ref>
On September 4, 2020, Benzino released a new single titled "The Bigger Picture" with an accompanying music video on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Benzino-The Bigger Picture (Official Music Video) | website=[[YouTube]] | date=September 3, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlczY14RRF0 |accessdate=7 November 2020}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Benzino's father Edward DeJesus was Puerto Rican and his mother Mary Scott was Black American and Cape Verdean. His sisters are Anita Scott-Wilson and Maureen Scott.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=mary-a-scott-timas&pid=170363098&fhid=4413 | title = MARY A. (TIMAS) SCOTT's Obituary on Boston Globe | website = Boston Globe|access-date=January 10, 2018}}</ref> In 2021, the rapper fell out with his daughter, [[Coi Leray]], after she dissed Benzino in her song "[[No More Parties]]".
<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coi Leray & Benzino's Family History & Beef, Explained|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/coi-leray-and-benzinos-family-history-and-beef-explained-news.131113.html|access-date=2021-07-26|website=HotNewHipHop|date=May 7, 2021|language=en}}</ref>
Benzino has dated [[Karlie Redd]] and [[Althea Heart]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.vibe.com/article/what-happened-love-and-hip-hop-atlanta-ep-6 | title = What Happened on 'Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta' Ep. 6?
| magazine = [[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]] | date = July 24, 2012 | access-date = August 7, 2012}}</ref> Benzino and 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dallasblack.com/entertainment/former-love-hip-hop-atlanta-star-althea-heart-arrested-after-fight-benzino |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801152200/http://dallasblack.com/entertainment/former-love-hip-hop-atlanta-star-althea-heart-arrested-after-fight-benzino |archive-date=August 1, 2016 |work= Dallasblack.com|title=Pains Us to share this about Benzino & Althea Heart}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thegrio.com/2019/01/17/former-love-hip-hop-atlanta-star-benzino-pleads-guilty-in-drug-case/|title=REPORTS: Former 'Love & Hip Hop Atlanta' star Benzino pleads guilty in drug case|date=January 17, 2019}}</ref>
On March 29, 2014, Benzino was shot after attending his mother's funeral in [[Duxbury, Massachusetts]].<ref name="BBC-shot" /> He was shot in the shoulder and back by his 36-year-old nephew Gai Scott, who was later arrested for shooting him.<ref name="BBC-shot">{{cite news | title = US rapper Benzino shot at mother's funeral | work = BBC News | date = March 31, 2014
|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/26817685 | access-date = March 31, 2014}}</ref>
===Legal issues===
On April 16, 2019, Benzino was stopped in [[Brookhaven, Georgia]] and cited for driving an uninsured vehicle. He was not the policy holder responsible for insuring the vehicle.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/8ULBVvSDih4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210724223725/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ULBVvSDih4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ULBVvSDih4| title = Caught driving uninsured car, Benzino claims "I don't even drive this car" | website=[[YouTube]]| date = July 23, 2021 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> On June 22, 2019, Benzino was arrested for a [[bench warrant]] in [[DeKalb County, Georgia]], and was taken to police headquarters for booking and was later jailed. As he was being transported there, he launched a racist tirade against a police officer arresting him, who was of [[Vietnamese American|Vietnamese descent]]. The tirade involved multiple [[racial slur]]s and [[maternal insult]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2019/06/27/benzino-arrest-video-meltdown-yelling-cops-racial-harassment/|title=Ex-'L&HH' Star Benzino's Arrest Video Shows Full Meltdown.|website=TMZ|date=June 28, 2019 |language=en|access-date=July 7, 2019}}</ref> On July 31, 2020, Benzino was arrested and charged with criminal damage to property. He was accused of damaging the [[Chevrolet Silverado]] pickup truck of a man who was in the company of Benzino's ex-fiancée Althea Heart.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/reports-rapper-benzino-accused-of-spotting-man-with-ex-girlfriend-damaging-his-truck/PS6EJA7UHVETTFJNJI5H5JJDR4/|title = NEW DETAILS: Ex-'Love & Hip Hop' star Benzino arrested in Chateau Elan|newspaper = The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|last1 = Burns|first1 = Asia Simone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2020/08/04/ex-love-and-hip-hop-benzino-arrested-althea-eaton-jealous-rage-property-damage/|title = Ex-'L&HH' Star Benzino Busted for Alleged Property Damage After Jealous Rage| date=August 4, 2020 }}</ref> On February 3, 2022, Benzino was arrested and charged with one count of second degree criminal damage to property, a felony.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.realitytitbit.com/celebrity-news/benzino-and-lahhs-althea-heart-have-altercation-years-after-split|title=Benzino and LAHH's Althea Heart have 'altercation' years after split|date=April 12, 2022}}</ref>
==Discography==
===Studio albums===
* ''[[The Benzino Project]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Redemption (Benzino album)|Redemption]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Arch Nemesis]]'' (2005)
* ''[[The Antidote (Benzino album)|The Antidote]]'' (2007)
===Collaboration albums===
* ''In Tha Company of Killaz'' <small>with Wiseguys</small> (1996)
* ''[[Doomsday: Forever RSO]]'' <small>with the Almighty RSO</small> (1996)
* ''[[Classic Limited Edition]]'' <small>with Made Men</small> (1999)
* ''No Skits Vol. 1'' <small>with Hangmen 3</small> (2000)
===Remix albums===
* ''[[The Benzino Remix Project]]'' (2002)
===Mixtapes===
* ''Die Another Day: Flawless Victory'' (2003)
* ''When the Heavens Fall'' <small>with 1st 48</small> (2010)
* ''Caezar'' (2011)
* ''Blue Bag'' <small>with 1st 48</small> (2011)
* ''The Magnificent 757's'' <small>with Stevie J</small> (2012)
* ''Crushed Ice'' (2013)
* ''Welcome to Texaco City'' <small>with OJ da Juiceman</small> (2015)
===Charted singles===
* "[[Rock the Party (Benzino song)|Rock the Party]]" (2002, US No. 82)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/benzino/chart-history/hsi/|title=Benzino Chart History: Hot 100|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref>
====As featured artist====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles as featured artist
! scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Title
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Album
|-
!scope="row"|"Run Tell That"<br/>{{small|(Natalac featuring Benzino  and Mr Smith aka Bo$$ Money)}}
|2021
|rowspan="1"|  ''Love & Pimp-Hop''
|-
!scope="row"|"Trending Topic"<br/>{{small|(Natalac featuring Benzino and Mr Smith aka Bo$$ Money)}}
|2024
|rowspan="1"|  "Return of Goldie"
|}
==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2000
| ''Da Hip Hop Witch''
| Himself
|
|-
| 2005
| ''Bloodline''
| Kilo
|
|-
| 2011
| ''Baghdad''
| Himself
|
|-
| 2016
| ''Hollywood Hearts''
| Himself
| TV movie
|-
|rowspan=3| 2020
| ''Turnt''
| Meko
|
|-
| ''Indictment: Who Is Jonathan Carter?''
| James
| TV movie
|-
| ''False Advertisement''
| -
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2023
| ''On Da Run''
| Matteo
|
|-
| ''I Want Her''
| Mike
|
|}
===Television===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
|-
! Year
! Legacy
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Soul Train]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Marques Houston/Solange Knowles/Benzino"
|-
| 2014
| ''Town Bizzness''
| Himself
| Episode: "T-Pain in Seattle"
|-
| 2012-14
| ''[[Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta]]''
| Himself
| Main Cast: Season 1-3
|-
| 2015-16
| ''[[Marriage Boot Camp#Season 6 - Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars 4|Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars]]''
| Himself
| Main Cast: Season 4
|-
| 2016
| ''[[The Next :15]]''
| Himself
| Main Cast
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Tamar & Vince]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Love and War"
|}
===Music Videos===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Song
! Artist
|-
| 1993
| "[[Hey Mr. D.J. (Zhané song)|Hey Mr. D.J.]]"
| [[Zhané]]
|-
| 1995
| "[[Craziest]]"
| [[Naughty by Nature]]
|-
| 2003
| "[[Clap Back]]"
| [[Ja Rule]]
|}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.hiphopweekly.com/ ''Hip Hop Weekly'' magazine official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307213720/https://hiphopweekly.com/ |date=March 7, 2022}}
{{Benzino}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:African-American male rappers]]
[[Category:American male rappers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Rappers from Boston]]
[[Category:American shooting survivors]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:East Coast hip hop musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:Hip hop mass media people]]