Following their unauthorized usage of Eminem’s music, politician Vivek Ramaswamy was brought back to reality. The “Rap God” rapper recently delivered a cease-and-desist letter to Republican presidential nominee Vivek Ramaswamy after the businessman-turned-politician rapped along to Eminem’s 2002 song “Lose Yourself” earlier this month at the Iowa State Fair. A spokeswoman for music licenser BMI confirmed to The Times that the letter was filed on Eminem’s behalf. The video of Ramaswamy’s spontaneous performance has received millions of views on social media. The reaction in the comments section to the right-wing candidate’s rapping ranged from extremely favorable to extremely critical, with the majority expressing amazement at the occurrence.
“This letter serves as notice … that BMI has received a communication from Marshall B. Mathers, III, professionally known as Eminem, objecting to the Vivek Ramaswamy campaign’s use of Eminem’s musical compositions,” states the cease-and-desist letter; The Times reviewed a copy. “BMI will consider any performance of the Eminem Works by the Vivek 2024 campaign from this date forward to be a material breach of the Agreement, for which BMI reserves all rights and remedies with respect thereto.”
Ramaswamy’s camp has responded to the letter publicly by stating that the presidential hopeful will stop rapping along to the “Just Lose It” artist’s songs
Ramaswamy’s camp has responded to the letter publicly by stating that the presidential hopeful will stop rapping along to the “Just Lose It” artist’s songs. “Vivek just got on the stage and cut loose,” Ramaswamy’s campaign spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin said. “To the American people’s chagrin, we will have to leave the rapping to the real Slim Shady.” Ramaswamy is no stranger to the rap game, however. As an undergrad at Harvard University, he performed at open-mic nights as rapper “Da Vek.” “I saw myself, honestly, making it big through American capitalism, and that’s why the Eminem story spoke to me,” Ramaswamy told Politico. “I didn’t grow up in a trailer, but I also didn’t grow up in the same circumstances that most of my peers at Harvard did, either. I aspired to achieve what many of their parents did. It kind of spoke to me, I would say.”
Ramaswamy made his national debut at last week’s Republican presidential primary debate. At Wednesday’s debate, the other candidates attacked the 38-year-old Ohio native on his age and political inexperience, as well as on his foreign policy opinions that contradict longstanding GOP doctrine about the United States’ role as leader of the free world. Rival candidates accused him of being either uninformed about international policy or of brazenly utilizing the GOP’s growing isolationism to promote his political position.