American rapper Eminem’s lawyers have sent a letter to Indian-origin tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who is seeking a Republican nomination for the 2024 US presidential election, asking the latter to stop rapping his songs.
The letter, dated August 23 and sent by the rapper’s record company BMI, comes more than a week after Ramaswamy delivered an impromptu performance of “Lose Yourself”, one of Eminem’s most popular numbers, at the Iowa State Fair, reports the BBC.
The letter says the company “received a communication from” Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, objecting to the Republican’s use of his “musical compositions”. “BMI will consider any performance of the Eminem works by the Vivek 2024 campaign from this date forward to be a material breach” of its licence, it adds.
Responding to the letter, Ramaswamy’s campaign spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, referring to an Eminem lyric, said in a statement: “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.”
Ramaswamy, the 38-year-old political newcomer is seen as a rising star, following a strong performance at last week’s Republican debate.
