Benzino’s obsession with Eminem shows new facets every day. Now he got the king of pop involved in his vendetta.
The bodybuilder, previously known as the owner of The Source magazine, came across the fake claim on the Internet and latched on it with vigour. The statement that made Benzino so excited read as follows: “When Eminem did a diss on Michael Jackson in 2005. Michael made no comments. He went and bought Eminem’s whole catalogue and then got paid every time Eminem performed”.
It was on the Internet, so it has to be true. But it is not. There is no denying that Michael Jackson acquired some of Eminem’s songs. To frame it as his quiet vengeance is to diminish the memory of a great artist and businessman Michael Jackson was.
Jackson understood the importance of music ownership way before and invested in music that he saw as valuable and profitable. The man bought The Beatles catalogue — not in spite but as investment, and a very good one. In 2007 Michael Jackson issued a statement informing about his new big purchase:
“This is a milestone event for Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The diverse collection of songs in this catalogue range from timeless classics to contemporary hits, and I am pleased to add the acquisition of Famous Music to Sony/ ATV”.
Before that, Famous Music LLC belonged to Viacom and included stakes in Shakira, Beck, Bjork and Eminem’s back catalogue.
Not to say that Eminem has never made a jab at Michael Jackson. Slim had a field day going at him on “Without Me” in 2002 and “Just Lose It” in 2004. There was no figure bigger in pop than Jackson, his status was iconic and at the same time muddled in controversy – the ideal target for Slim Shady’s acidic satire.
To claim that Michael Jackson bought shares in Em’s catalogue because he was sulking is offensive to Jackson. He bought them simply because they were that good.
This concept, though, is too complex for Benzino, who prefers comfortable lies when they suit his agenda. So he has eagerly reposted the fake story on His Instagram account and added his own:
So I was at the Turnberry Hotel in Miami when I got a call from Michael, and we talked for about 45 minutes about Eminem disrespecting him. He thanked me for standing up to him and spoke about in his words, the devils running music industry. He mentioned Tommy Mattola and a few others. I’ll never forget that conversation. I had no idea he bought the catalogue.
Benzino conveniently forgot big industry news that was widely reported back in time when he was supposed to know what was happening. However, he remembers having Michael Jackson on the phone, wasting his time on gossip and complaints. Who knew that this aggressive owner of a niche rap media was the bosom friend to one of the most important artists of the century! That even if felt offended, Michael Jackson would decide to call Benzino, of all people, to talk about his feelings.
However, Kim Osorio, a journalist and producer who has successfully sued The Source and Benzino out of $7.7 million for sexual harassment, sort of confirmed the fact of the conversation claiming that she heard Michael Jackson on the phone herself:
I remember when u put the phone to my ear and it was Michael on ur phone saying “the nerve of this boy”
