As a rapper, Benzino's career has been relatively unsuccessful, compared to many of the artists featured in his magazine. Though known for his run-ins with the police, Benzino is most famous for his on-going feud with rapper Eminem, and more recently hip hop group Slaughterhouse.
Benzino's impact on The Source
Benzino started his rap career with a group called the Almighty RSO. The group was known mainly for their anti-police song "One In The Chamba" from the Forever Doomsday album released through Tommy Boy Records. The single and album were considered controversial for the tone of the rap group and encouraging the murder of local law enforcement. In 1994 The Boston Police and the Fraternal Order of Police union had placed the group on high priority at the time forcing RSO to be dropped from the label. Benzino went on to record with rappers Antonio Twice Thou and Mr. Gzus, to form Made Men.
Since Dave Mays was a friend and manager of the group, he would frequently insert stories and reviews into The Source without the consent of the editors. Benzino also secretly inserted favorable coverage and advertising. In 1994 and 1999, Mays slipped in articles on Benzino's group forcing a majority of the staff to walkout in protest. After an article in GQ Magazine criticized Mays' decision on working with Benzino, it forced scrunity on the rapper and the publication. Editors claimed that Benzino and his associates visited the magazine, threatening journalists and stealing property. Benzino was arrested in a dispute with law enforcement in Miami in 2001. After publicizing the incident, Benzino became co-owner of the magazine, forcing out the original founders of The Source. When the publication held its annual awards, Benzino was nominated for awards even though his music is rarely seen or heard in the media. Industry insiders believe that Benzino was involved in rating albums. Therefore his role as the "five-mic giver" has been well recognized in the pages of the publication.
After acknowledging his position as co-ownerof The Source, he recorded a solo album. Benzino was signed to Motown Records and released The Benzino Project. The debut album featured many notable rappers, and also Pink. However, the album sold poorly, causing Motown to drop him from their label. The remains of the album was turned into a remix album featuring the same artists and a few different beats. Tarnished but undeterred, Benzino released his sophomore album under Elektra Records.
The Feud With Eminem
Benzino decided to air out his concerns with white multi-platinum Eminem. The rapper claims that Eminem's success ruins blacks and Latino rappers' chances of success. Benzino believes that corporations are controlling and supporting Eminem, which allows him talk about meaningful topics, while black rappers must rap about materialistic things.
One possible contributing factor for Benzino's concerns was Eminem's rating for his album The Marshall Mathers LP. Originally, The Source had given Eminem a two mics (star rating) for his album which was received poorly by the readership, so it was later changed to a four mic rating. Meanwhile, Benzino's Made Men was rated four-and-a-half mics. Eminem was upset and addressed the magazine on his follow-up album The Eminem Show.
Benzino claims that MTV is also partly responsible for the problems of hip hop. Executives at the MTV Video Music Awards allowed Eminem to show up with over 100 blonde clones dressed like him marching on stage for their 2000 awards show. Benzino also singled out Interscope's Jimmy Iovine for Eminem's rise to stardom. One thing that most angered Benzino was a rap Eminem made on "Without Me," one of his singles from The Eminem Show: “Though I'm not the first king of controversy/ I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley/ To do Black music so selfishly/ and use it to make myself wealthy" (although in the context of the song, it was not likely a comment intended to be taken seriously). Benzino considered this the last straw.
Before Benzino released his album, he recorded a "diss" record mixtape addressed to Eminem. In some of his interviews he has stated that Eminem is a part of the corporate "machine" and it is destroying hip hop. Eminem caught wind of Benzino’s comments and decided to respond. Eminem recorded two vicious tracks, attacking the credibility of The Source and the rap career of Benzino.
Not to be outdone by Eminem, Benzino threw out the claims of a corporate takeover and started to insult Eminem personally. He recorded a response to Eminem’s lyrical attacks by threatening his daughter and dubbing him the “2003 Vanilla Ice” and “Rap Hitler.” Eminem, fed up with this decided to air it out on radio. DJ personality Angie Martinez allowed Eminem to express his problems, in which Eminem branded Benzino as the “worst rapper in the world”. Benzino phoned in later, threatening to fight Eminem if they crossed paths. Elektra Records dropped Benzino, even before his sophomore album was ever released. Benzino's album Redemption sold 14,000 units, a major disappointment compared to his rival's album, The Eminem Show, selling over 4 million copies.
Benzino has also been the subject of scrutiny for using his magazine as a personal promotional platform as well as a tool against his enemies. In 2003, The Source released recordings of Eminem which included derogatory references to Blacks and women. Eminem apologized for making the tapes but also stated The Source's vendetta against him were the reasons for the allegations. The recordings, made in 1988, were the subject of a lawsuit from the rapper [1]. Eminem sued The Source for defamation and copyright infringement. The federal courts allowed an injunction to distribute a minimal amount of lyrics of the alleged tape. Benzino and the publication ignored the injunction and went forth to publish the entire lyrics on its website and in its magazine. By ignoring the injunction, The Source was found in contempt of court and were forced to pay Eminem and his label, Shady Records, a large compensation sum.
Benzino and The Source urged video stations to ban Eminem's video, "Just Lose It", and urged to have the song removed from Eminem's album, because of the video's depiction of Michael Jackson. In spite of their efforts, BET has been the only network to ban the video. Currently Eminem and Benzino continue to feud on albums, despite Eminem's plead to end the dispute with The Source, through the single "Like Toy Soldiers" from Encore) . Benzino responded with his "diss" record "Look Into My Eyes". The song's video parodies Eminem for being scared of Benzino, and for being willing to give up the rap game in order not to see the death of Eminem's friend Proof.
At one time, the two were willing to sit down together and settle their differences. But that was halted after a confrontation between Eminem and co-founder David Mays. They got into a heated dispute, causing Benzino to reignite the argument. There were numerous reports that Benzino had influenced editors to write a critical piece about 50 Cent and G-Unit after a comment was made by members of the group. The situation is unclear, but the magaqzine is once again attacking Eminem and his Shady Records. After the magazine was printed, Benzino and Mays were criticized for allowing their vendetta against Interscope ruin the credibility of The Source. The issue addresses the controversy surrounding Hot 97 personality Funkmaster Flex and rappers associated to Eminem and 50 Cent.
The Call For Benzino's Resignation
After fans and supporters of Eminem called for the removal of the rapper from the publication, Benzino formally resigned from his position as co-owner of The Source [2]. The rapper decided to leave the magazine due to the controversy surrounding his involvement, citing a dispute between the publishers of Black Enterprises, as well as Eminem contributing to his resignation. The departure was short-lived. Benzino soon returned to his former position at The Source saying that his reason for leaving had been to prevent the firing of Def Jam president L.A. Reid. Benzino placed the blame on Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine as well as Russell Simmons for pressuring Reid to remove Def Jam advertising from The Source. Insiders from The Source claimed that Benzino as well as Mays were part of a publicity stunt to encourage advertising in the magazine [3]. The owners wanted information to be leaked out so they can ease the advertisers' worries about associating with The Source.
After returning to the publication, Benzino was sued with multiple lawsuits. Former editor-in-chief Kim Osorio, and many female workers filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Benzino and The Source for sexual harassment and gender discrimination. After a taping of the previous Source Awards, Benzino was dealt numerous lawsuits for unpaid expenses and missing jewelry after he and Mays had invited their families to the award shows [4]. While filming a music video down in the Dominican Republic, the staff at The Source held another walkout. The Source's staff were upset about having received non-clearing paychecks with no response from senior management. Benzino's latest album, Arch-Nemesis, was released quietly in 2005 and has sold 10,000 units to date. Two of the Source's top music executives from Boston have been accused of a nightclub shooting in New York. Leroy Peebles and Alvin Chiles were both accused of the shooting that resulted in three people hospitalized.
The current editor-in-chief Joshua "Fahyim" Ratcliffe, has recently left the magazine. Ratcliffe stated that a conflict of interest between the rating of highly acclaimed The Minstrel Show from rap group Little Brother was changed after threats to him by Benzino. Ratcliffe felt that Benzino's jealousy of any group deserving a five star rating is too much. Ratcliffe resigned after being forced to change the rating of the album. Lil' Kim who released The Naked Truth received the five mic rating instead. Although critics speculated that Lil' Kim's manager is currently Dave Mays, this is the first time that a female rapper ever received the highest rating in the magazine. The Little Brother album received a four-and-a-half mic rating instead of a five.
In 2006, the shareholders of The Source Magazine officially terminated co-founder Mays and Benzino after their controversal actions ruined the reputation of the publication. Benzino tried to avert the termination by obtaining a temporary restraining order to prevent him from losing his post as chief brand executive and president. After the restraining order was lifted, the shareholders formally dismissed Mays and Benzino. Former writer and editor Jeremy Miller officially became CEO of The Source. It's not clear if Benzino will continue to influence the magazine but it's certain that the situation the rapper is facing may lead to a more negative perception of the publication.
Almighty RSO- Doomsday: Forever RSO (1992?)^
Made Men- Classic Limited Edition (1998)^
The Benzino Project (2001)^
The Benzino Remix Project (2002)
Redemption (2003)
Arch-Nemesis (2005)
^It's noted that these albums are no longer found in retailers.
Rock The Party
Benzino Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Benzino, yea
Yellow Man, yea
Young Hef, yea (that's what they call me)
Yellow City, yea (that's where I'm from)
Benzino, yea (my nigga)
Young Hef, yea c'mon rock
Piping all around it wit the matchin' Timb boots
Hop up in the wagon wit the 20 inch shoes on (oh)2
Riding down the street wit a twenty G stack
Shorty paging me saying "Zino where you at?"
Look up in the mirror 5-0 up on my back it's uh oh
Pull up in the spot smoking in the parking lot
Everybody having fun niggas don't stop
Pray to God that I don't have to let the guns pop it's
Maybe all the girls wanna chill wit Benz and Hef
Pushing up the bottle 'til there's no more Henny left
Step it up to Louie now let's see what happens next yo
We gon' throw the party rock the party
Then drink Bakardi freak somebody
Then leave the party to the after party y'all (oh)
We gon' throw the party rock the party
Then drink Bakardi freak somebody
Then leave the party to the after party y'all (oh)
lookin' at the shorty wit the Frankie B Jeans
Thong hangin' out, butterfly belly ring
Butter leather boots with the tassles that's mean (oh)
Got up on that ass when she came up in the door
Rock it to the beat then we took it to the floor
DJ in the club spinnin' record back and forth
People going hard 'cause you know the mood is right
Everybody screaming like they at a Tyson fight
Young Hef in the back wit a dime lookin' tight, oh-my, ohhh
Hit the sour diesel mami bouncin' on my lap
VIP crowded so I take it to the back
Up in the coat room where you find Zino at, and Mario too
Yo (now everybody just)
We gon' throw the party rock the party
Then drink Bakardi freak somebody
Then leave the party to the after party y'all (oh)
We gon' throw the party rock the party
Then drink Bakardi freak somebody
Then leave the party to the after party y'all (oh)
5 in the morning more drinks at the crib
Whatchu waitin' for? mami get your ass in!
Hop up in the coupe, girls riding wit my friend
"Y-y-y-y-yo, y'all follow us, follow us"
Rollin' through the city wit the CD on blast
Pull up at the mansion had to dip up in the stash (yea)
Scene lookin' sexy shorty got a fat ass, oh-my-God
Step up in the place everybody gettin' wet
Sweatin' on the floor dancin' like they havin' sex
Poppin' Champagne taking bottles to the neck, uh uh uh, yea (c'mon)
lookin' at my Jacob it's about that time
Suns comin' up bout to close the blinds (yea)
This is how we do almost everyday
Now meet me upstairs wit Courvoisier, yo
We gon' throw the party rock the party
Then drink Bakardi freak somebody
Then leave the party to the after party y'all (oh)
We gon' throw the party rock the party
Then drink Bakardi freak somebody
Then leave the party to the after party y'all (oh)
What is a party if it don't rock?
We just gon' proceed to make it hot
A Yellow City party no it don't stop
We gon' rock
What is a party if it don't rock?
We just gon' proceed to make it hot
A Yellow City party no it don't stop
We gon' rock
C'mon!
We gon' throw the party rock the party
Then drink Bakardi freak somebody
Then leave the party to the after party y'all (oh)
The lyrics to Benzino's song Rock The Party describe a typical night out at a party in Yellow City with the rapper himself, his friend Young Hef, and some beautiful women. The verses are filled with references to expensive clothing, cars, and liquor, as well as the occasional run-in with law enforcement. The chorus emphasizes the goal of having a good time and making unforgettable memories. The song also features a bridge that further emphasizes the idea of partying until the break of dawn.
Aside from the obvious hedonistic message of the song, the lyrics also portray a culture of materialism and superficiality. The focus is on external characteristics such as money, appearance, and status, rather than deeper values such as love, friendship, and community. Furthermore, the casual use of the n-word in the lyrics may be viewed as offensive by some listeners.
Overall, Rock The Party is a catchy, upbeat track that provides a glimpse into the glamorous lifestyle of a successful rapper. However, the lyrics also come with a warning that such a lifestyle may be empty and unsustainable in the long run.
Line by Line Meaning
Yellow City, yea
I'm from Yellow City
Benzino, yea
That's me
Yellow Man, yea
That's what I go by
Young Hef, yea (that's what they call me)
People call me Young Hef
Yellow City, yea (that's where I'm from)
I'm really proud of being from Yellow City
Benzino, yea (my nigga)
I'm showing support for my friend Benzino
Young Hef, yea c'mon rock
I'm ready to party and have a good time
Checkin' in the closet for my blue Velour suit
I'm getting dressed up for the party
Piping all around it wit the matchin' Timb boots
I want my outfit to look really coordinated
Hop up in the wagon wit the 20 inch shoes on (oh)2
I'm ready to make a grand entrance
Riding down the street wit a twenty G stack
I have a lot of money on me
Shorty paging me saying "Zino where you at?"
A girl is trying to find me at the party
Look up in the mirror 5-0 up on my back it's uh oh
I'm worried about getting in trouble with the police
Pull up in the spot smoking in the parking lot
I'm arriving at the party and starting to have a good time
Everybody having fun niggas don't stop
Everyone is enjoying themselves and I don't want the party to end
Pray to God that I don't have to let the guns pop it's
I hope there isn't any violence at the party
Maybe all the girls wanna chill wit Benz and Hef
A lot of girls are interested in spending time with me and my friend Benzino
Pushing up the bottle 'til there's no more Henny left
We're drinking a lot of Hennessy
Step it up to Louie now let's see what happens next yo
We're going to upgrade our drinking and see what happens next
We gon' throw the party rock the party
We're going to have a really good party
Then drink Bakardi freak somebody
We're going to get really drunk and maybe even hook up with someone
Then leave the party to the after party y'all (oh)
We're going to continue the party somewhere else
Lookin' at the shorty wit the Frankie B Jeans
I'm checking out a girl wearing Frankie B Jeans
Thong hangin' out, butterfly belly ring
She's wearing a revealing outfit
Butter leather boots with the tassles that's mean (oh)
She's also wearing some really cool boots
Got up on that ass when she came up in the door
I started dancing with her as soon as she arrived
Rock it to the beat then we took it to the floor
We started dancing more and got closer to each other
DJ in the club spinnin' record back and forth
The DJ is doing a really good job
People going hard 'cause you know the mood is right
Everyone is having fun and the energy is high
Everybody screaming like they at a Tyson fight
The excitement level is really high
Young Hef in the back wit a dime lookin' tight, oh-my, ohhh
I'm in the back of the party with a really attractive girl
Hit the sour diesel mami bouncin' on my lap
We're smoking weed and she's sitting on my lap
VIP crowded so I take it to the back
The VIP area is too crowded so we go somewhere else
Up in the coat room where you find Zino at, and Mario too
We're hanging out in the coat room
5 in the morning more drinks at the crib
It's really late and we're continuing to drink at home
Whatchu waitin' for? mami get your ass in!
I'm trying to convince her to come home with me
Hop up in the coupe, girls riding wit my friend
I'm sharing a car with my friend and some girls
"Y-y-y-y-yo, y'all follow us, follow us"
We're telling the girls to follow us
Rollin' through the city wit the CD on blast
We're playing loud music while driving through the city
Pull up at the mansion had to dip up in the stash (yea)
We arrive at the mansion and go to get some more drinks
Scene lookin' sexy shorty got a fat ass, oh-my-God
The party is really sexy and I see another girl with a nice butt
Step up in the place everybody gettin' wet
Everyone is really sweaty and dancing hard
Sweatin' on the floor dancin' like they havin' sex
The dancing is really suggestive and sexual
Poppin' Champagne taking bottles to the neck, uh uh uh, yea (c'mon)
We're drinking a lot of champagne and having a great time
lookin' at my Jacob it's about that time
I'm checking my watch to see how late it is
Suns comin' up bout to close the blinds (yea)
The sun is starting to rise and it's almost morning
This is how we do almost everyday
We party often and this is a typical night for us
Now meet me upstairs wit Courvoisier, yo
We're going to continue drinking in a more private setting
What is a party if it don't rock?
A party isn't really a party if it's not fun
We just gon' proceed to make it hot
We're going to do everything we can to make the party fun
A Yellow City party no it don't stop
We're from Yellow City and we love to party
We gon' rock
We're going to have fun and party hard
C'mon!
Let's do this!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: MARIO WINANS, MICHAEL JONES, RAYMOND SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind