Eminem Shuts Down Ramaswamy’s Use of His Songs on Campaign Trail

Rapper Eminem, known offstage as Marshall Mathers, made a legal move to prevent GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy from using his songs for campaign performances.

As detailed by the Daily Mail, on August 23, Ramaswamy was served a cease and desist letter from Eminem following the candidate’s “Lose Yourself” performance during a campaign event. The music licensing entity BMI was approached by Eminem, demanding a halt to the Ramaswamy campaign’s use of his tracks.

Ramaswamy’s Eminem Connection

At the Iowa State Fair, when questioned by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds about his favourite entrance anthem, Ramaswamy promptly mentioned Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”. Surprisingly, he even rapped the iconic song when it played moments later. Despite hinting at a rap performance for his first debate, Ramaswamy refrained.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, he drew parallels between his life and Eminem’s, citing the rapper’s tracks as his inspiration.

The Underlying Eminem Fandom

Despite a marked contrast between Ramaswamy’s upbringing with immigrant parents in professional roles and Eminem’s challenging childhood in a trailer park, the GOP candidate resonates with the rapper’s underdog narrative. Ramaswamy’s deep-rooted admiration for Eminem dates back to his Harvard University days, where under the pseudonym “Da Vek”, he dished out raps with libertarian themes. This recent controversy showcases Ramaswamy’s attempt to intertwine his past musical aspirations with his political journey.