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Raymond Scott (born July 18, 1965), better known by his stage name Benzino or Ray Benzino, is an American 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>Template:Cite news</ref>

CareerEdit

Benzino has said one of the primary inspirations to enter the genre of rap stems from his fondness of the film Wild Style.<ref>Template:Cite news</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 EminemEdit

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 tracks towards Eminem, titled "Pull Your Skirt Up" (calling him "2003 Vanilla Ice")<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and "Die Another Day", while Eminem released "The Sauce" and "Nail in the Coffin".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Adaso, Henry. The Greatest Hip-Hop Battles (...and Their Winners) Template:Webarchive. About.com. Retrieved June 27, 2010.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On September 4, 2020, Benzino released a new single titled "The Bigger Picture" with an accompanying music video on YouTube.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal lifeEdit

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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2021, the rapper fell out with his daughter, Coi Leray, after she dissed Benzino in her song "No More Parties". <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Benzino has dated Karlie Redd and Althea Heart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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">Template:Cite news</ref>

Legal issuesEdit

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 GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template: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 descent. The tirade involved multiple racial slurs and maternal insults.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On February 3, 2022, Benzino was arrested and charged with one count of second degree criminal damage to property, a felony.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

DiscographyEdit

Studio albumsEdit

Collaboration albumsEdit

Remix albumsEdit

MixtapesEdit

  • Die Another Day: Flawless Victory (2003)
  • When the Heavens Fall with 1st 48 (2010)
  • Caezar (2011)
  • Blue Bag with 1st 48 (2011)
  • The Magnificent 757's with Stevie J (2012)
  • Crushed Ice (2013)
  • Welcome to Texaco City with OJ da Juiceman (2015)

Charted singlesEdit

As featured artistEdit

List of singles as featured artist
Title Year Album
"Run Tell That"
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2021 Love & Pimp-Hop
"Trending Topic"
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2024 "Return of Goldie"

FilmographyEdit

FilmEdit

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Da Hip Hop Witch Himself
2005 Bloodline Kilo
2011 Baghdad Himself
2016 Hollywood Hearts Himself TV movie
2020 Turnt Meko
Indictment: Who Is Jonathan Carter? James TV movie
False Advertisement -
2023 On Da Run Matteo
I Want Her Mike

TelevisionEdit

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: Reality Stars Himself Main Cast: Season 4
2016 The Next :15 Himself Main Cast
2017 Tamar & Vince Himself Episode: "Love and War"

Music VideosEdit

Year Song Artist
1993 "Hey Mr. D.J." Zhané
1995 "Craziest" Naughty by Nature
2003 "Clap Back" Ja Rule

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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