Who is Benzino: Rapper’s Biography, Age, Wife, Daughter, Net Worth, and Career

Benzino is a household name in American hip-hop culture because of his prominent controversies and considerable influence in urban media. Renowned for his rap career and his co-ownership of the renowned hip-hop publication The Source, Benzino made a significant impact on the hip-hop scene from Boston to the national arena. Despite having varying degrees of success as a rapper, he has remained well-known for decades due to his influence in the media, conflicts with well-known musicians like Eminem, and appearances on reality TV.

Benzino Biography

Raymond Scott, better known as Benzino or Ray Benzino, is an American Rapper, record producer, urban media proprietor and television personality. He was born on the 18th of July, 1965 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Benzino is of a mixed ethnicity of Puerto Rican from his father’s side and African American & Cape Verdean from his mother’s side. He has been actively working in the music and entertainment industry since 1986. He gained fame because of his co-ownership in The Source magazine, his hip hop music, reality TV (“Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta”) and most importantly, his feud with Eminem. Benzino was engaged to Althea Heart and has a son with her.

Benzino Age, Height and Appearance

As of 2025, Benzino’s age is 60 years old. His zodiac sign is Cancer. With a muscular and athletic build, Benzino’s height is 5 feet 11 inches and he weighs approximately 80 kgs. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Benzino Family

Benzino’s mother, Mary Scott, was Black American and Cape Verdean, while his father, Edward DeJesus, was Puerto Rican. His sisters are Anita Scott-Wilson and Maureen Scott. Following his attendance at his mother’s burial in Duxbury, Massachusetts, on March 29, 2014, Benzino was shot. His 36-year-old nephew Gai Scott shot him in the shoulder and back; he was subsequently taken into custody for the shooting.

Benzino Wife and Daughter

Karlie Redd and Althea Heart are two of Benzino’s well-known romances. Soon after giving birth to their son in November 2015, Benzino and Heart called it quits on their engagement. Season 6 of Marriage Boot Camp, a television program that chronicles their shattered relationship, featured them together.  Benzino has a daughter named Coi Leray and a son named Taj. However, their mother’s whereabouts remain unknown. 

About Coi Leray and her Feud with Benzino

Coi Leray Collins is an American singer and rapper who was born on May 11, 1997. She started her musical career in 2018 with the release of her debut mixtape, Everythingcoz. She is the daughter of rapper and media executive Benzino. After signing with Republic Records, she released her first extended play, Now or Never (2020), and her second mixtape, EC2 (2019). The Lil Durk remix of her song “No More Parties” achieved double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and peaked in the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021.

Beginning in 2021, Coi and her father had a number of public arguments that were broadcast on social media. She joked about his demise as father in the lyrics of her song “No More Parties” announcing that he blamed him on her. This brought a back-and-forth between the two. Both dad-daughter couples have denied their disapproval of the online battle between them.

Later Benzino revisited the love for Coi with the We in Miami podcast, and felt he was heartbroken that he was “deadbeat dad.”

In an interview, Coi disclosed that Benzino’s support for her during her Rolling Loud Miami 2023 performance was the first time he had ever seen her perform. Coi has also revealed that she would want to have a stable relationship with her father. 

Benzino Dog Meme

Contrary to popular belief, Benzino does not have a dog or any pets. A Benzino dog meme refers to dogs on the internet that are quirky in looks. The Benzino dog meme has no connection with Benzino, the rapper.

Benzino’s Career

Early Career

Benzino was partially inspired to enter the hip-hop scene by the movie “Wild Style.” He formed the group Made Men after being a founding member of the rap group Almighty RSO. Early in his career, Benzino had trouble getting noticed just as a musician because a large portion of his fame stemmed from his contentious position at The Source magazine. 

Due to Benzino’s editorial choices and conflicts of interest, such as endorsing his own music and artists, the magazine was both a potent voice in hip hop and a cause of conflict. His early years were characterised by disputes over respect and credibility in the hip-hop community as well as the music industry.

Career Highlights

Benzino had significant influence because he co-owned The Source magazine, a well-known hip-hop publication. In addition, he produced records, most notably as a member of Hangmen 3. “The Benzino Project” (2001) and “Redemption” (2003) are two of his solo albums. Benzino’s public feud with Eminem, which included the release of diss tracks and a mixtape titled “Die Another Day: Flawless Victory,” is arguably what made him most famous.

Film and TV Career

Benzino’s varied and dynamic career in television and films reflects his multifaceted personality outside of music. He has acted in a number of films, including Bloodline (2005), Turnt (2020), and more recent productions like “On Da Run” and “I Want Her” (2023), frequently playing tough and real characters that reflect his urban upbringing. In addition, Benzino became well-known on television, most notably for his participation in the 2012–2014 season of the reality show “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” which highlighted both his personal and professional lives. He made appearances on shows like “Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars” and “The Next:15,” further solidifying his TV presence.

Benzino Discography 

Below are Benzino’s albums and the years of their release. 

Benzino Filmography

Following are the films that Benzino has been a part of- 

Benzino TV Shows

Following are the TV shows that Benzino has been a part of- 

Benzino’s Feud with Eminem

Since 2002, Benzino has been embroiled in a well-publicized dispute with rapper Eminem, which started when his magazine, The Source, gave The Eminem Show a four-star rating. For what he saw as an unjust assessment, Eminem accused the magazine and its co-founder Benzino. Later, “Pull Your Skirt Up” (a reference to Eminem as “2003 Vanilla Ice”) was one of Benzino’s diss tunes directed at him. In contrast, Eminem released “The Sauce” and “Nail in the Coffin” and “Die Another Day.” As part of their continued animosity, Benzino released the diss mixtape Benzino Presents: Die Another Day: Flawless Victory, which further disparaged Eminem.

On September 4, 2020 Benzino released a new song called “The Bigger Picture” along with a music video on YouTube.

Benzino Controversies

• On April 16, 2019, Benzino was stopped in Brookhaven, Georgia and ticketed for driving an uninsured vehicle. He was not the policyholder who was responsible for insuring the vehicle.

• On June 22, 2019, Benzino was taken into police custody in DeKalb County, Georgia, on a bench warrant, as well as taken to police headquarters to be booked. He was subsequently incarcerated.

• On the way there, he started a racial tirade against the Vietnamese-American cop who was arresting him. The tirade included racial slurs as well as epithets about parents. 

• Benzino was taken into custody and accused of criminal damage to property on July 31, 2020. He was charged with causing damage to a man’s Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck when he was with Althea Heart, Benzino’s ex-fiancée.

• Benzino was taken into custody on February 3, 2022, and charged with one count of second-degree criminal damage to property, which is a felony.

Benzino Net Worth

Although exact net worth estimates vary, Benzino’s wealth is thought to be in the several million dollar range, derived from his media endeavours, music, and TV appearances.

Benzino Upcoming Updates

As of 2025, Benzino is a reality TV star and occasionally releases music. The 2020 and 2021 singles are among his most recent releases, and he is still involved in the urban music scene with possible future musical endeavours. Recently, no significant tours have been formally announced.

Conclusion

As a rapper, producer, magazine co-owner, and television personality, Benzino has established a distinctive niche for himself in American hip hop culture. Even though he has had ups and downs in his career due to controversies and public feuds, he is still active and influential over thirty years after he began. His multifaceted legacy encompasses his contributions to hip hop media and music as well as continuous public debates regarding the industry’s ethics and authenticity. In the constantly shifting world of urban entertainment, Benzino’s story is one of tenacity, inventiveness, and perseverance.

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