Eminem tells US Presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy to stop using his music for campaigns
The real Slim Shady has taken a stand against US aspiring Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for featuring his music in campaign activities. Eminem's record company BMI has sent a cease and desist letter to Ramaswamy, urging him to halt the usage of the artist's songs during US election campaigns.
“This letter serves as notice to you …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…”
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 28, 2023
Letter obtained by @aaronpellish & @annamajaCNN pic.twitter.com/hJsC2iW3Sn
This scenario isn't new in the landscape of US election campaigns. Ramaswamy's contender in the race for the US Republican presidential nomination, Donald Trump, also encountered a series of cease and desist letters from various artists, including Rolling Stone and Adele, during the 2020 US Presidential Elections.
Vivek Ramaswamy's love for rap
- The letter dated August 23 came more than a week after the investor and first-time politician's impromptu performance of "Lose Yourself" at the Iowa State Fair.
🔺Lose Yourself🔺
— Hot Take Politics (@Hot_Takes10) August 29, 2023
Former Oscar winner, rapper, and now Grumpy Dad, Eminem has sent a cease n desist order to Iowa State Fair Karaoke Super Star Vivek Ramaswamy.
Vivek has been trying to captivate young voters by droppin bars during interviews, but will now have to resort to… pic.twitter.com/7Kz7Vkw9bc
- Ramaswamy's spokesperson has been quoted by the media saying that he will comply with Eminem's request.
- While the 38-year-old politician has been accommodating of the request, on X he retweeted a post chiding the artist.
- Ramaswamy has also been quite vocal about his love for rap and for Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III. Apparently, the aspiring candidate used to rap under the pseudonym "Da Vek" as an undergraduate at Harvard University.
- Vivek Ramaswamy says "Lose Yourself" by Eminem is his personal theme.
Trump and the use of songs
- Artists objecting to politicians using their music has become a tradition in American politics in modern times.
- Donald Trump was asked by a number of artists from Pharrell Williams, Adele to Queen to stop using their music for campaigning in 2020.