Eminem, the Grammy-winning rap star, has sent a cease and desist letter to Vivek Ramaswamy, the Indian-origin Republican presidential hopeful, asking him to stop using his songs during his campaign events. The rapper’s move came after Ramaswamy gave an impromptu performance of Eminem’s hit song “Lose Yourself” at the Iowa State Fair earlier this month.
Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur from Ohio, has been using Eminem’s songs as his campaign anthem and has shown off his rapping skills on several occasions. However, Eminem was not impressed by the candidate’s musical choice and requested his music licenser BMI to exclude his compositions from their agreement with Ramaswamy’s campaign.
According to an Aug. 23 letter reported by the Daily Mail, BMI said that Eminem objected to Ramaswamy’s use of his works and asked that the campaign stop playing his music at any future events. BMI also warned that any further use of Eminem’s songs would be considered a material breach of the agreement and would result in legal action.
Ramaswamy Responds with Humor and Respect
Ramaswamy’s campaign spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the receipt of the letter and said that the candidate was respectful of Eminem’s wishes. She said that Ramaswamy “just got on the stage and cut loose” and that he had no intention of violating any rights or offending anyone.
She also added that Ramaswamy was a big fan of Eminem and admired his talent and courage. She said that Ramaswamy would have to leave the rapping to the real Slim Shady, one of Eminem’s alter egos, and that he would find another way to connect with the voters.
Ramaswamy himself took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to respond to Eminem’s letter with a humorous video. In the clip, he thanked Eminem for his music and said that he understood his decision. He then proceeded to rap a few lines from another Eminem song, “Not Afraid”, before saying that he was just kidding and that he would respect Eminem’s request.
Eminem Has a History of Political Activism
Eminem’s objection to Ramaswamy’s use of his music is not surprising, given his history of political activism and criticism of Republican politicians. The rapper has been vocal about his opposition to former President Donald Trump and his policies, releasing several songs and videos that denounced him and urged Americans to vote him out.
Eminem also supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, allowing his campaign to use “Lose Yourself” in an advertisement that aired on the eve of the election. The rapper shared the ad on X with the caption: “One opportunity … #Vote.”
Eminem has also expressed his views on other issues such as gun control, abortion rights, racism, and police brutality. He has used his music as a platform to raise awareness and inspire action among his fans and the public.
Ramaswamy Rises in the Polls Despite Controversy
Despite the controversy over his musical choices, Ramaswamy has been gaining momentum in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. He has been attracting attention with his anti-woke message and his promise to restore American values and leadership.
Ramaswamy has seen a significant increase in national polls for the 2024 Republican primaries, currently averaging around 10.1 percent, according to FiveThirtyEight. He is trailing behind former President Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who are leading the field.
In Iowa, where he made his viral rap performance, Ramaswamy secured 4 percent in a recent Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom survey, placing him behind six other contenders. He has also been campaigning actively in other key states such as New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada.
Ramaswamy is expected to face more challenges and scrutiny as he continues his bid for the White House. However, he has shown that he is not afraid to stand out from the crowd and make some noise along the way.