Benzino Vs Ozone Mag: Exclusive Look!!!

Friday - December 23, 2005

A-Plus

Hip hop is no stranger to beefs. Not long after the first bar was spit, emcees have been going at it on wax. In recent times, battles have come off of wax and spilled into the streets and now even the pages of magazines.

The Source, once referred to as “the hip hop bible”, has been the center of much controversy in recent years. Part of that controversy (wait… most of it) has come due to the magazine’s affiliation with artist and co-owner Raymond “Benzino” Scott.

Zno’s (and subsequently, The Source magazine) has had it out with everyone from Eminem to XXL. In 2005, not much has changed as Ray once again finds himself in the public eye, embroiled in yet another feud with a publication.

ROUND 1

Enter Ozone magazine. In the latest issue of the magazine that mainly covers southern hip hop named Benzino the “Most Successful Extortionist” in their year end special.

Check What OZONE Printed Click Here

”No one except Dave Mays and Benzino is quite sure how exactly Benzino became co-owner of The Source magazine, but somehow Zino’s friendship with co-founder Mays has allowed him to live lavishly and shamelessly promote his albums through The Source for many years,” writes Ozone’s editor, Julia Beverly.

The write up also blasts the Made Man about his beefs with magazines (XXL), artists (Eminem) and DJ’s (Funk Master Flex). In addition, Beverly also accuses Benzino and The Source for writing her bad checks for some articles she contributed to the magazine and says that Zino tarnished the image of the magazine with his antics.

”But on the grander scale of things- Dave and Zino were in control of the most recognized brand and platform in hip hop history and they squandered it on a bunch of bullshit…Fuck The Source. And it’s not the money, it’s the principle.

ROUND 2

Never one to back away from a confrontation, Benzino fired back, calling the Ozone magazine offices and had some less than holy words for the magazine and Julia Beverly.

”This is Benzino, my number is 917-***-****, if I gotta read another negative shit about my magazine or me in your magazine, when I see you, I’m going to spit in your fucking face… you stupid fucking bitch” he threatened on the urgent marked voice mail. Zino called the office again with another profanity laced message aimed at Beverly.

Listen to the Voice Mail Click Here

DX caught up with the Ozone editor to get her take on the incident, its beginnings and the possibility of Benzino acting out his threats.

A-Plus: What was the initial reason behind naming Benzino the "Most
Successful Extortionist?"

Beverly: Initially, it was supposed to be funny. It was part of a ‘year-end awards’ section which featured many other people besides Benzino. It wasn't designed to be a “bash Benzino” piece. First I wrote about what I don't like about The Source - especially the recent articles they've written which are blatent smear campaigns. As I wrote, I vented, and stated that I didn't want to be repeating the same thing they were doing, so I'd reveal my personal motives as well. When I did freelance work for them about a year and a half ago, they bounced two checks on me, and they still owe me money. So I stated my opinion about a well-known hip-hop entity and also revealed my personal bias. I felt like it was pretty straightforward.

A-Plus: Were you or anyone else at Ozone worried about a response from
Benzino after the article came out?

Beverly: Obviously I knew he wouldn't be happy, but I didn't give it too much thought at the time.

A-Plus: Now that the situation has escalated, are you worried about any
physical altercations taking place?

Beverly: If he feels that violence against a female is going to prove that he's “hard”, I guess I'll have to deal with that when it comes. If he's a business owner and I'm a business owner, there are ways to battle that don't involve violence. I'm just focused on putting out a good product so Ozone magazine will continue to grow. If The Source was doing their job properly, Ozone wouldn't be as successful as it is.

A-Plus: Why did the magazine decide to publish the voice mail Benzino left at the office (including his phone number)?

Beverly: We didn't exactly “publish” it. First, Benzino & Dave Mays called my cell 8 times last week making threats. Those calls were not recorded. Then this week, Benzino left those messages on the office voicemail. I wanted other people in the industry to be aware that there were threats being made, and know exactly what type of person is controlling the so-called “Bible of Hip Hop”. And since he left the messages on a voicemail, where he clearly knew he was being recorded, I didn't feel like there was anything unethical about releasing it. I sent the audio clip to some DJ’s and posted it on a few message boards, and it spread from there.

So here we are, from articles to audio clips to saliva, this has all the makings of a great soap opera or WWE story line. But it doesn’t stop there.

ROUND 3

With tempers flaring and message boards lighting up, everybody has an opinion on this developing beef. Enter Scott Bejda (www.murdermastermusic.com), a contributor at Murder Dog magazine reached out to Zino after hearing about the initial article in Ozone. Bedja found himself defending Benzino on a conference call, consisting of himself, Benzino and Beverly and a couple of other unidentified voices.

”You run your mouth on a lot of people you shouldn’t run your mouth and number two, you can’t even pay your writers because you wouldn’t even pay me for a little Gangsta Boo interview,” he fired at Beverly, essentially calling her out on the same charge she fired at Benzino: the lack of compensation for journalists.

For Bedja, his entry into this beef is fueled by two things: personal issues with Beverly and a respect for the foundation The Source has laid for hip hop journalists.

”I was disgusted when I saw the Benzino diss column in Ozone,” Bedja says, days after the conference call. “JB claims that Benzino owes her money, but she couldn't even pay me for one little interview. Plus how the hell are you gonna take shots at the magazine that start this whole rap journalism thing? Every issue she blasts alot of people with her rude ass remarks.”

Listen to the Confrence Call Click Here

ROUND 4

With the war of words spilling from magazine pages to verbal jabs, Beverly took her side of the story to New York radio DJ Funkmaster Flex of Hot 97 (who also has issues with Zino stemming from allegations of Flex being involved in a payola scandal).

During an interview with an uncharacteristically somber Flex, Beverly went into detail about threats Benzino made which included several racial slurs directed towards Beverly, who is a white female and other threats of a sexual nature.

“So he was saying that you should put his penis in your mouth?” Flex asked, referencing an earlier statement made by Beverly.

“I mean, I don’t know, I think that was the implication… yeah.”

”Let me step in now Julia…,” Flex said, interrupting. ”Let me tell you something Benzino, you’re disgusting…you do freedom of speech, you say what you want to say in your magazine, but this lady can’t say what she wants to say? You know what, it’s gonna be rough for people who are apart of this magazine and people who advertise with this magazine.”

Beverly quickly noted that she feels that this is not an issue between the entire Source magazine, and the issue solely rest with Benzino.

Listen to the Whole Flex Interview:

Funkmaster Flex Interview Pt.1 Click Here

Funkmaster Flex Interview Pt.2 Click Here

Funkmaster Flex Interview Pt.3 Click Here


ROUND 5???

Ok, so round 5 hasn’t been fired yet. This beef is still gaining steam. In the interest of maintaining the integrity of hip hop journalism, let’s hope that this war of words remains just that… a word of words.

*editor’s note: DX made several attempts to contact Benzino for this story, but were unable to reach him. All calls went to his voice mail box, which after being made public is surprisingly full.