Eminem, Benzino and That One Racist Eminem Song from 1988

Recently, the 2002/2003 beef between legendary rapper Eminem and Benzino reignited. With it came the re-sparking of emotions related to a song called “Foolish Pride” by Eminem in which he disparages Black women. Some have said this is where the beef between Eminem and Benzino started. It isn’t.

A Brief History of the Eminem and Benzino Beef

Recently, Complex magazine noted Benzino admitted to starting the beef with Eminem. On Math Hoffa’s My Expert Opinion, Complex notes that “Benzino then claimed he did start the beef, pointing to one line in a song he included on a mixtape, though he didn’t know how Eminem heard it.”

From there, Eminem released a plethora of heated and successful disses toward Benzino. Eminem noted that he’d “never hold his breath for 5 mics in the Source,” a magazine Benzino was over at the time. In an effort to discredit Eminem, the Source magazine held press conferences in 2003 and released clips of a song called “Foolish Pride” by Eminem. It’s a song in which Eminem disses Black women.

Foolish Pride

Eminem claims the song was written somewhere in 1988 or 1989. In “Foolish Pride”, Eminem says, “Black chicks only want your money.” He goes on to warn against dating Black women and says it’s something he’d never do. At the time of the recording, he says he was just 16 years old and inspired by the wrong things.

Before recording the song, Eminem had broken up with his then-girlfriend Kim (who’d become his wife and ex-wife twice) and began dating a Black girl, who had the same color hair and eyes as Kim on “Yellow Brick Road”, a song released in 2004, after Benzino’s press conference. The Black girl Eminem dated likely shared Kim’s name as well.

Also, in “Yellow Brick Road”, Eminem reflects on hearing one of the dopest albums ever by the iconic pro-Black rap group X-Clan. Their music was powerful to Em, even if he perceived it to be a little racist towards white people. Em notes that back in 1989, he and his white friends were ridiculed for dressing what some thought was Black and robbed of African-centered jewelry.

After being dumped by Black Kim, Em was disgruntled. He had been using her to get back at Kim, and probably ended up seriously liking her. With his pride hurt and after listening to X-Clan, Eminem recorded “Foolish Pride”.

In “Yellow Brick Road”, Em apologizes for what he said about Black women on “Foolish Pride”. In the early 2000s when the beef had transpired between him and Benzino, hip-hop forgave Eminem. Benzino’s magazine failed.

The Aftermath of the Eminem and Benzino Beef

Since the beef, Eminem has become the highest selling rapper in rap, a responsible father and wealthier than the humble beginnings from which he emerged. Benzino has failed at almost everything he touches, including fatherhood. He and his music artist daughter Coi Leray have had public spats in which she accuses him of begging her for money.

The beef between Benzino and Eminem started over a diss that Benzino made first, and their beef was never about “Foolish Pride”. That song become a focal point of Benzino to discredit Eminem. The attempt failed. Not only did Dr. Dre stand behind Eminem but so did the rap industry to make him the number 1 selling artist of all-time.

This article was written by Jermaine Reed, MFA, the Editor-in-Chief of The Reeders Block, who also works an Adjunct College Professor and director. Join the email list to get notifications on new articles and books. This article is 100% human-written. And remember, if you see an error, that’s what makes us human. Subscribe and share.