Scarface (rapper)

Scarface
Scarface in 2013.
Background information
Birth name	Brad Terrence Jordan[1]
Also known as	Mr. Scarface, Face Mob, Akshen[2]
Born	(1970-11-09) November 9, 1970 South Park, Houston, Texas, U.S.
Origin	Houston, Texas, United States
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper, Music Producer, Author
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Rap-a-Lot, Asylum, Def Jam, BMG Rights Management
Associated acts	Geto Boys, 2Pac, Ice Cube, Facemob, Master P, UTP, Too Short, Trick Daddy, Devin the Dude, DJ Muggs, UGK, Z-Ro, Nas, Beanie Sigel, Vinnie Paz, Gang Starr l, FDAmusic

Brad Terrence Jordan (born November 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper, music producer, and author. He hails from Houston, Texas and is a former member of the Geto Boys.^[2] He is originally from the city's South Acres (Crestmont Park) neighborhood.^[3] In 2012, The Source ranked him #16 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time,^[4] while About.com ranked him #10 on its list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987-2007).^[5]

Early life and education

Scarface attended Woodson Middle School in Houston, Texas.^[6] He was brought up as a Christian, but converted to Islam in 2006.^[7]

Career

He began his career as DJ Akshen (pronounced Action) recording solo for Lil' Troy's Short Stop Records, a local label in Houston. After releasing the 12" single "Scarface/Another Head Put To Rest" (1989) produced by Def Jam Blaster and ^[8]Bruce "Grim" Rhodes,^[9] he would go on to sign with Rap-A-Lot Records and join a group who were collectively known as Geto Boys replacing one member who left, and released the group's second album Grip It! On That Other Level (1989), a highly successful album that garnered the group a large fanbase, in spite of their violent lyrics keeping them from radio and MTV. He took his stage name from the 1983 film Scarface.^[10]

In 1992, Scarface appeared (along with Ice Cube and Bushwick Bill) on the Kool G Rap & DJ Polo album Live and Let Die.

The album Mr. Scarface Is Back was a success, and Scarface's popularity soon overshadowed the other Geto Boys. Scarface remained in the group while releasing a series of solo albums that kept him in the public view with increasing sales, making him the only Geto Boys member that has always remained with the group since the group personnel was revamped in 1989. This peaked with The Diary and The Last of a Dying Breed, which received overwhelmingly positive reviews and sales, and earned him Lyricist of the Year at the 2001 Source Awards.^[2]

In 2002, he released The Fix, the follow-up to The Last of a Dying Breed and returned to the studio with the Geto Boys for their album, The Foundation. He was also featured on The Biggie Duets alongside Big Gee and Akon. He guested on Ray Cash's debut single "Bumpin' My Music".

In addition to his career as a rapper, Scarface has also been the coordinator and president of Def Jam South since 2000, where he has fostered the career of popular rapper Ludacris, whom he originally signed to the label.^[2]

Scarface has appeared on Freeway's album Free at Last and on Beanie Sigel's album, The Solution. Scarface is currently planning production; he has produced three tracks on UGK's Underground Kingz including "Life Is 2009," "Still Ridin' Dirty," and "Candy."

Some of Scarface's early music videos ("A Minute to Pray and a Second to Die") featured community activist Quanell X in supporting roles.

In 2008, Scarface collaborated with rapper Tech N9ne on his album Killer on the song "Pillow Talkin'".

Despite limited commercial appeal, he remains out of the norm and uniquely popular amongst those in the industry, and has been described as "your favorite rapper's favorite rapper".^[11] On August 6, 2009 Scarface performed at the 2009 Gathering of the Juggalos. In 2005, comedian Chris Rock praised Scarface as one of the best three rappers of all time on his list of the Top-25 Hip-Hop Albums ever. "^[12]

On June 30, 2010, Scarface announced that he is working on a new album entitled The Habit would include features from John Legend and Drake that was scheduled for release that fall.^[13] For one production on the album, Scarface co-hosted a worldwide producer showcase with iStandard from which thousands of producers were considered and after a selection of the top 8, Alex Kresovich was named winner.^[14] The album would feature a production from Eminem.^[15] In February 2011, news came that he had been held in jail without bail since September 2010 for failure to pay child support in four different cases.^[16] As of August 2011, Scarface was released from jail. In 2012, Scarface collaborated with Ice Cube on an Insane Clown Posse remix called "Chris Benoit" on The Mighty Death Pop!'s bonus album Mike E. Clark's Extra Pop Emporium.^[17]

Media appearances

Scarface appeared in the Mike Judge film Idiocracy as a pimp named Upgrayedd. Judge also used the Scarface track "No Tears" and Geto Boys tracks "Still" and "Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta" in his 1999 movie Office Space. Scarface's track "On my Block" is also featured in the movie My Baby's Daddy.

He has appeared in the two video games: Def Jam Vendetta and its sequel Def Jam: Fight For NY.

At the 2015 BET Hip Hop Awards, he received the I am Hip-Hop award.^[18]

Personal life

He claims to be a cousin of singer Johnny Nash.^[19]

Jordan reportedly suffers from severe depression and he also stated that he been diagnosed with bipolar disorder while growing up, which he claims caused him to attempt suicide by cutting his wrists and commited drug overdose several times in his youth.^[20]

Bibliography

Scarface recently released a book April 21, 2015. The book details various moments from his childhood, getting his first record deal from Rap-A-Lot, and his tenure at Def Jam South.^[21][22][23]

• Diary Of A Madman (2015)

Discography

Studio albums

• Mr. Scarface Is Back (1991)
• The World Is Yours (1993)
• The Diary (1994)
• The Untouchable (1997)
• The Last of a Dying Breed (2000)
• The Fix (2002)
• Made (2007)
• Emeritus (2008)
• Deeply Rooted (2015)

Filmography

• 1996: Original Gangstas as 'Rebel Guard at Party'
• 2006: Idiocracy as 'Upgrayedd (Upgrade)'

References

External links

• Scarface's Official Website
• Scarface Interview at Complex.com