Arguably one of the saddest stories in hip-hop history is the downfall of Benzino at The Source. The 58-year-old no longer holds his post on the publication’s masthead. Still, he remains a celebrated figure in pop culture history – though he has faced his share of disrespect from the industry and beyond. For his most recent interview, Zino joined the We In Miami podcast to chat about his tenure working at the outlet. At the time, he was raking in some serious dough.
“In our peak we was making a couple of million dollars a month, cash,” the Boston native told the show’s host. “At one point, I had more money than Jay-Z, Diddy, everyone in New York,” Benzino recalled. When he was asked about any troubling experiences with artists at The Source, Hov immediately came to mind. “This one time, Jay and Dame [Dash] was complaining about a cover situation, and they came up to ‘The Source’ on some rah-rah s**t,” his story began.
Benzino said that he had “ni**as strapped up in different rooms,” which his angry guests weren’t aware of. “Sure enough, it starts getting loud. Ni**as start coming out them rooms, and they had to get up out of there. There was a few of them, I think maybe three or four. But there was at least seven of guns up in ‘The Source,’” the embattled media mogul admitted.
Aside from reflecting on the days he spent running things at The Source, Benzino also spoke candidly about his relationship with his daughter, Coi Leray, on the We In Miami podcast. At the time, he was overwhelmed with emotion while talking about the “dead-beat dad” comments he’s seen online over the years. Read everything Benzino had to say at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
On one of the most recent episodes of We In Miami podcast, Former owner of The Source Magazine and reality star Ray Benzino talked about a potentially dangerous run-in with Jay-Z and Dame Dash over a cover story involving weapons at The Source office.
Benzino said, “This one time, Jay and Dame was complaining about a cover situation, and they came up to The Source on some rah-rah sh*t. So I had n***as strapped up in different rooms — they didn’t know that. So they up there and started getting loud, because we just wanted them to think that Dave [Mays, co-founder of The Source] was up there with just one person.”
He added, “Sure enough, it starts getting loud. N***as start coming out them rooms, and they had to get up out of there. There was a few of them, I think maybe three or four. But there was at least seven of us. There was at least seven guns up in The Source.”
Last week Love & Hip Hop Atlanta star Raymond ‘Benzino’ Scott saw his daughter, rapper Coi Leray, perform for the first time since their estranged relationship went public.
Now Benzino reveals through tears he was hurt when Coi called him a dead beat dad. Coi Leray and Benzino have publicly called each other out online and went back & forth over the years. Benzino famously leaked news of a Nicki Minaj and Coi Leray collaboration before she was able to release it allegedly causing Nicki to almost pull the record, She’s said the rapper was absent in her life, but Benzino disagreed.
In a recent interview with the We In Miami Podcast on July 27, Coi Leray’s father, Benzino, opened up about the allegations of him being an absent father to his rising star daughter. The co-founder of Source Magazine couldn’t hold back his emotions as he addressed the sensitive topic. “Let’s Just Forget It & Move […]
Nestled within the thriving music scene of Boston, Massachusetts, Raymond Scott, better known by his stage name Benzino, began his illustrious journey into entertainment. Born on July 18, 1965, his fascination with hip-hop’s rhythmic beats and profound lyricism began during his early years. He was fueled by an intense desire to create and produce music. Benzino co-founded The Almighty RSO, a hip-hop group that offered a platform for his creative expression. This foray into hip-hop set the stage for an impressive career. It ultimately led to an enviable net worth of $10 million in 2023, according to Idol Net Worth.
From Records To Reality TV: Career Highlights & Accolades
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 17: Benzino and Amber Rose behind the scenes of cover shoot for Hip-Hop Weekly on June 17, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Vallery Jean/FilmMagic)
Benzino made waves within the music industry as one of the masterminds behind The Almighty RSO. However, it wasn’t until he co-founded The Source, a magazine widely regarded as the “Bible of Hip-Hop,” that his star truly began to rise. His influence over the hip-hop culture and his contributions to the industry proved instrumental in shaping the genre. Yet, Benzino didn’t just make music; he made headlines. His transition to television, as a controversial character on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, saw him step out from behind the scenes and into the living rooms of millions. The show’s undeniable popularity contributed significantly to his expanding wealth and further established him as a household name.
The Man Beyond The Music: Personal Life & Highlights
HOLLYWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 19: Record producer Benzino and recording artist Althea Heart arrive at We tv celebrates the Premiere of “Marriage Boot Camp” Reality Stars and “Ex-isled” at Le Jardin on November 19, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Paul Redmond/FilmMagic)
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Benzino’s personal life is equally riveting. He has navigated love under the public eye, most notably with Althea Heart, his co-star on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. Their tumultuous romance splashed across tabloids and became a staple of the reality show. It added an element of real-life drama to the scripted moments.
However, Benzino’s life hasn’t been all glitz and glamour. In 2020, he faced charges related to drug possession. He has also had run-ins with the law stemming from his relationship with Heart. While these incidents cast a shadow over his public persona, they also highlighted his resilience. He managed to bounce back, maintaining his career and personal brand amidst the controversy.
More Than A Mogul: Benzino’s Philanthropic Endeavors
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 10: Benzino attends “The Next 15” Atlanta screening at Suite Lounge on February 10, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Despite his tough exterior, Benzino has a heart that beats for the community. He has been involved in numerous philanthropic activities, demonstrating his commitment to giving back. His generosity stretches from supporting local youth organizations to contributing to disaster relief efforts. Several of these philanthropic interests are long-standing for Benzino. Decades ago, he implemented programs to help the youth in marginalized communities.
Spinning Records & Stacking Dollars: Business Ventures
Dave Mays of The Source, Benzino, J. Prince of Rap-a-lot, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Russell Simmons and Suge Knight of Death Row (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Benzino’s financial portfolio goes beyond record sales and television appearances. His business acumen has led him to invest in a variety of ventures, from launching his record label, Benzino Recordings, to co-creating ZNO Publishing and establishing a seafood restaurant chain. This diversification of income streams has played a crucial role in accumulating his net worth of $10 million.
Benzino’s journey has been far from ordinary. From shaping the hip-hop landscape to courting controversy on national television, his life is a rich tapestry of highs and lows, successes and setbacks. Through his music, business ventures, and even personal trials, Benzino has crafted a unique narrative within the entertainment world, amassing a net worth of $10 million. His tale is a reminder that even amid adversity, resilience and determination can pave the way to success.
Remember the whole kerfuffle over entertainment industry nepo babies a few months ago? It feels like you could write a whole article about them for the children of rappers. However, unlike in Hollywood, where name recognition can keep earning you roles you might otherwise miss out on, in rap, fans actively hold your parentage against you (plus, either fans like and stream the music or they don’t).
That makes Coi Leray‘s breakout all the more impressive, even if her dad, former Source magazine owner Benzino, didn’t help her out much along the way. In fact, he’s never even been to one of her shows, according to a backstage interview the father-daughter pair gave at Rolling Loud in Miami over the weekend. After Coi called her dad over and revealed it was his first time ever seeing her perform, he gave his assessment.
“You can say I’m biased,” he admitted, “But honestly, I don’t see nobody else doing that. She’s amazing.”
This is a far cry from some of the comments they’ve previously made. Coi has admitted to downplaying their relationship in the pursuit of her own rap career, even going as far as tweeting, “I NEVER WANTED ANYBODY TO KNOW!!! I’M EMBARRASSED TO BE YOUR DAUGHTER.” Meanwhile, Benzino himself had critiqued her career and even nearly accidentally sabotaged her by revealing her collaboration with Nicki Minaj before it was ready, prompting Nicki to consider pulling the plug.
Coi Leray might not completely get along with her dad Benzino, but there are some lines she’s wary of crossing — especially when it comes to his former (?) rival, Eminem. Although Coi had nothing but positive things to say about the Detroit rapper after Benzino’s Twitter rant tearing him down, she recently revealed that a collaboration with him — however unlikely — would be a bridge too far. During an appearance on Math Hoffa’s My Expert Opinion, the host asked whether Coi would collaborate with Em and she said she would definitely talk to Benzino first.
“I would sit down with my father, first of all, and bring it up to him,” she said. “I wouldn’t even ask. I’d be like, ‘Yo, listen. This is what happened. I’m not even expecting an answer. I just need to tell you right away.’ Me and my father could never be speaking for f*****g years. If that was to happen, I’d be like, ‘Hold on, let me just tell you this. Let me bring it to your attention.’ hopefully, he’ll be like, ‘Yo, you know what? Do it.’”
That latter outcome would probably also be unlikely, since Benzino has had it out for Eminem since 2003, when the then co-owner of The Source launched a campaign of diss records against Em. However, much of hip-hop sided with Eminem over his rival, and Benzino dropped the feud — at least publicly — until last May, when he went on a tirade against Eminem being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, accusing the Hall of racism for skipping over other pioneering rap acts such as Eric B and Rakim, Lauryn Hill, and Nas.
You can watch Coi’s interview with Math Hoffa above.
Michael Jackson was known as the King of Pop, but was he secretly the King of Petty? According to hip-hop media titan Benzino, that might be true. Many stories about the musician have emerged, including how the “Bad” singer was almost run over by actor Jason Bateman on a bicycle. Now, Benzino is sharing one of his own.
During his appearance on The Gauds Show podcast, Benzino revealed that Michael Jackson fully supported his feud with rapper Eminem.
“I knew Mike. I met Mike through Teddy [Riley]. He called me, and he thanked me,” said Benzino. As for what the call was about, he revealed Jackson called him, “Because when Eminem dissed him with the fire situation, in the [‘Just Lose It’] video, Mike called — and I remember his assistant put him on the phone — and I sat there and listened to him. And he thanked me.”
The “Just Lose It” video was released back in 2004. In it, Eminem poked fun at Jackson on several fronts, including his 2005 child molestation trial, rumored plastic surgery, and his hair catching on fire on the set of the infamous 1984 Pepsi commercial.
The feud between Benzino and Eminem is still going strong to this day. Strangely, the former’s daughter, rapper Coi Leray, has said she’s on the side of her dad’s foe.
On one of the the more recent episodes of Ray Daniels’ Goats and Underdogs podcast, former Source Magazine owner Ray Benzino claimed that Outkast’s Andre 3000 and his “The South got something to say” speech at the 1995 Source Awards was aimed directly at him.
Benzino said, “The reason why André 3000 said what he did, I’ma have to tell y’all this story. When they was giving OutKast 4.5 mics, I remember, I didn’t understand it. I didn’t understand the music and I was the one who kinda raised some situations up at ‘The Source,’ I’m gonna admit it. And I was wrong. I think it got to OutKast. And I think that’s why André said what he said. I think that was kinda directed toward me.”
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