Rapper Eminem has now reportedly written to GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy requesting that he stop utilizing his songs and to withdraw the music licensing agreement Ramaswamy’s campaign had with BMI.
Early in August, Ramaswamy performed “Lose Yourself” by Eminem in rap form at the Iowa State Fair.
Eminem objected to the Ramaswamy campaign’s use of his musical works, a representative for BMI contacted Ramaswamy’s attorney on August 23 and notified him of the rapper’s objections.
Eleven days before to the letter’s delivery, Ramaswamy had entertained a crowd gathered early in the morning at the Iowa State Fair to hear him speak alongside the state’s Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, while singing Eminem’s Lose Yourself.
The 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur was asked to identify his favorite walkout song by Reynolds.
US #Republican presidential candidate Vivek #Ramaswamy performed #Eminem's song "Lose Yourself"
Seeing this, Eminem asked Vivek Ramaswamy not to perform his songs anymore.
Ramaswamy, we recall, wants to recognize the occupied territories of the #Russian Federation and lift… pic.twitter.com/xiG69GQQXS
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 29, 2023
Later, when the sound engineer began playing the 2002 rap song from the soundtrack of the film 8 Mile, which was loosely based on the life of white rapper Eminem, Ramaswamy seized the opportunity to make a memorable political campaign moment.
Under the alias “Da Vek,” Ramaswamy had given rap performances in college, frequently rapping “Lose Yourself.” He apparently sang the song at a karaoke club while on vacation in Canada.
Ramaswamy has seen a modest bump in polling since his performance at the first GOP primary debate, which saw him trade barbs with longtime politicians like Mike Pence and Chris Christie.
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