Benzino: Pump Up The Volume

[Shadyluva]

Benzino: Pump Up the Volume
By Tiffany Hamilton

Ray Benzino might be setting up his personal Tet Offensive, a series of aggressive moves in his long running war again "the machine." And like the famous strategy in a war torn 1960's Vietnam, Benzino hopes to topple his adversaries in a spectacular fashion and drive them out of Hip-Hop for the good of the culture.

If this offensive is to work, Boston native must contend with a number of obstacles from his cumbersome work as The Source's Co-Owner/ Chief Brand Manager to and his plethora of enemies and his other affairs.

Rumors have swirled of The Source's financial woes, sale, and eviction. If that weren't enough, Benzino and the magazine have not only criticized G-Unit for [being agents of the corporate machine?], but also accuse radio heavyweights like Funkmaster Flex of accepting pay for play. Although his foes deny the charges, 'Zino is pursuing them using every weapon in his arsenal. Read the war report from Zino's uniquely abrasive perspective.

AllHipHop.com: Let's touch on the issue of The Source and bankruptcy, what is really going on?

Benzino: We are definitely not filing bankruptcy, that's a lie. Dave has been handling the finances since day one. What happened is he took out a loan to get in on the Internet stuff; the next thing you know we are indebted to this bank because of the high interest rate. It's funny that in Hip-Hop, everyone has money except for the artists. There is a big corporate machine that basically exploits our music and our artists, and this is exactly like one of those situations where corporate America thought they could get over.

AllHipHop.com: Besides the issue of bankruptcy, there is also speculation that financial troubles is leading to an eviction of The Source at your 23rd street office in New York.

Benzino: We are not being evicted. We are just looking for a smaller space because we aren't using it. There is no reason to continue paying for a space that we aren't using, so we are in the process of shopping around.

AllHipHop.com: Speaking of businesses - many are still wondering why you are still beefing with artists at Aftermath?

Benzino: You know what we have explained the issue with Eminem and Jimmy Iovine repeatedly. I really can't understand how he can be rated one of the top rated MC

[AspirinE]

Wat the fuck is he saying ... He IS a broke ass mufacka... he aint being advertised and his magazine is not selling well.. the last nail has been stuck in the cofin but he is still knocking and screaming for ppl to let him out