(WWJ) – Rapper Eminem has reportedly asked Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to stop using his music on the campaign trail.
Music licenser Broadcast Music, Inc. sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Vivek 2024 campaign after Eminem reached out to BMI, saying he objected to the candidate's use of his music, according to a report from the Daily Mail.
In the letter, BMI asked the campaign to remove all of Eminem's music from any future events.
Ramaswamy's use of Eminem's music came to light earlier this month when a video from a campaign stop at the Iowa State Fair went viral.
During an event with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, he was introduced to Eminem's "Lose Yourself," reportedly after telling the sound technician that it was one of his favorite "walkout songs."
At first, Ramaswamy is seen signing autographs for fans and rapping, but the mic is not on. But halfway through the first verse, the mic comes on and he proceeds to rap the lyrics, first nailing every word before stumbling near the end and sharing a slightly awkward high-five with Reynolds.
"Vivek just got on the stage and cut loose. To the American people's chagrin, we will have to leave the rapping to the real slim shady," a spokesperson for the campaign told the Daily Mail after receiving the letter from BMI.
Ramaswamy, 38, is a biotech entrepreneur from Ohio who has been turning heads in the early stages of the 2024 race. He recently took aim at the so-called ESG (environmental, social and governmental) framework allegedly used by large investors.
Eminem recently slammed former President Donald Trump and his supporters, saying his base "thinks that he cares about them and it's actually the people that he cares about the f***ing least."
