(RepublicanDaily.org) – GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy seems to be making a career out of offending people, ostensibly in an attempt to draw more attention to himself.
He was one of the candidates that spoke out the most during Fox News’ Republican primary debate, coming out swinging and seemingly unafraid to cross anyone. He verbally sparred with a lot of candidates that night – former governors Chris Christie and Nikki Haley, and even former vice president Mike Pence.
Political figures are understandable targets, but this time Ramaswamy seems to have set his sights on someone – albeit unintentionally – well outside the political establishment: multi-awarded rapper Eminem.
The rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, informed music license company BMI that he objected to Ramaswamy’s use of his songs. BMI then sent a cease-and-desist letter to Ramaswamy’s team, asking them to stop using Eminem’s music in their campaign.
According to the letter, any performance using Eminem’s works by the Vivek campaign will be considered a breach of “the Agreement for which BMI reserves all rights and remedies with respect thereto.”
The biotech billionaire has used Eminem songs as a walkout soundtrack during rallies, but his most prominent use of them was when he did an impromptu performance of arguably the rapper’s most famous hit, “Lose Yourself” during a recent visit to the Iowa State Fair.
In response to the letter, his campaign said that their candidate was just “cutting loose” when he decided to perform the song, but in the future would “leave the rapping to the real slim shady,” “to the American people’s chagrin.” Ramaswamy himself also responded to the letter, quipping, “Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?,” which is another of Eminem’s lyrics. While he said that he would respect the rapper’s wishes, he chided Eminem for moving away from his anti-establishment image, saying, “I have hope for him that one day he will rediscover the renegade that made him great.”
Ramaswamy’s Eminem-wannabe performance is not only what’s keeping him in headlines – he has also raised a firestorm for calling Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley and author Ibram Kendi – both of whom are black – “the modern grand wizards of the modern KKK.”
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