Scarface (rapper)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Scarface

| image = Scarface (rapper) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Scarface performing in 2013

| birth_name = Brad Terrence Jordan{{cite web|url=http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/txbirths?c=search&first=Brad&last=Jordan&spelling=Exact&11_year=1970&11_month=0&11_day=0&4=&14=&SubmitSearch.x=82&SubmitSearch.y=5&SubmitSearch=Submit|title=Texas Births 1926–1995|work=Family Tree Networks|access-date=January 5, 2011|archive-date=August 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821081313/http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/txbirths?c=search&first=Brad&last=Jordan&spelling=Exact&11_year=1970&11_month=0&11_day=0&4=&14=&SubmitSearch.x=82&SubmitSearch.y=5&SubmitSearch=Submit|url-status=dead}}

| alias = Mr. Scarface, Face, DJ Akshen, Facemob, Creepy

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|11|9}}

| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.

| genre = Southern hip hop

| discography = {{hlist|Solo|with the Geto Boys}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter|record producer}}

| years_active = 1988–2019

| label = {{hlist|Rap-A-Lot|Asylum|Def Jam South|Def Jam}}

| past_member_of = {{flatlist|

Geto Boys

}}

Brad Terrence Jordan (born November 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper and record producer, notable for his solo career and as a member of the Geto Boys, a hip-hop group from Houston, Texas.{{cite web|author=Jason Birchmeier |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/scarface-mn0000315463/biography |title=Scarface | Biography |publisher=AllMusic |date=November 9, 1970 |access-date=August 9, 2014}} Raised in the city's South Acres (Crestmont Park) neighborhood,Rodriguez, Lori. "[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Latinos-bringing-change-to-black-neighborhoods-1483285.php SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS / Latinos bringing change to black neighborhoods / Newcomers are finding acceptance comes gradually]." Houston Chronicle. Monday May 2, 2005. A1. Retrieved on February 4, 2009. he has been ranked by The Source as one of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time,{{cite web |url=http://www.thisis50.com/forum/topics/the-source-s-top-50-lyricists-of-all-time-complete-list-inside |title=The Source's Top 50 Lyricists Of All Time **Complete List Inside** |website=ThisIs50.com |access-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000719/http://www.thisis50.com/forum/topics/the-source-s-top-50-lyricists-of-all-time-complete-list-inside/ |archive-date=December 31, 2013 }} while About.com ranked him in the top ten of its "50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)" list.{{cite web |url=http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees_9.htm |title=The 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time |website=Rap.about.com |date=June 25, 2014 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-date=March 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309224108/http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees_9.htm |url-status=dead }}

Early life and education

Scarface attended Woodson Middle School in Houston, Texas.Lomax, John Nova. "South Park Monster." Houston Press. Thursday June 6, 2002. [http://www.houstonpress.com/2002-06-06/news/south-park-monster/3 3]. Retrieved on February 6, 2011. He dropped out of high school and worked as a drug dealer.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/05/29/726615663/geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me-anxiety-american-anthem|title=Stressed Out: How 'Mind Playing Tricks On Me' Gave Anxiety A Home In Hip-Hop|website=NPR.org|access-date=May 29, 2019}} As a teenager, he attempted suicide, and subsequently spent time in a hospital psychiatric ward.

Career

Jordan began his career as DJ Akshen (pronounced "Action"), recording and deejaying for Lil' Troy's Short Stop, which was a local record label in Houston, before adopting the name "Scarface" as a reference to the 1983 film by that name.{{cite web|title=Scarface|work=Defjam.com|url=http://www.defjam.com/artists/scarface/|url-status=dead|access-date=February 4, 2015|archive-date=January 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106040339/http://www.defjam.com/artists/scarface/}} After releasing the 12" single "Scarface/Another Head Put To Rest" (1989), which was written by Chris "Mr. 3-2" Barriere and produced by Def Jam Blaster{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Scarface-Scarface/release/2807034|title=Scarface (3) – Scarface|website=Discogs|year=1989 |access-date=25 August 2018}} and Bruce "Grim" Rhodes,{{cite web |title=Bruce "Grim Reaper" Rhodes Discography |url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/351851-Bruce-Grim-Reaper-Rhodes |access-date=September 6, 2015 |website=Discogs}} Scarface signed with Rap-A-Lot Records and joined the Geto Boys, replacing a member who left. The first Geto Boys album he appeared on was the group's second album, Grip It! On That Other Level (1989), a highly successful album that garnered the group a large fanbase. Radio and MTV refused to play any songs from the album because of their violent lyrics; however, the album made the Geto Boys into one of the most successful Southern hip hop groups of their era.

In 1992, Scarface (along with fellow Geto Boys member Bushwick Bill) appeared on the Kool G Rap & DJ Polo album Live and Let Die. This collaboration was viewed as notable due to the influential roles that Scarface and Kool G Rap have played in Southern hip hop and East Coast hip hop respectively. During this period of his career, Scarface also worked with the West Coast gangsta rap stars Ice Cube and MC Eiht, as well as with his friend Devin the Dude, a fellow Rap-A-Lot signee.

Scarface's 1991 solo album Mr. Scarface Is Back was a success, and his popularity soon overshadowed that of the other Geto Boys. Scarface remained in the group, but he released a series of solo albums that kept him in the public eye, and they sold well. Scarface is the only Geto Boys member who has remained with the group ever since the lineup was revamped in 1989. Scarface's popularity as a solo artist peaked with the albums The Diary and The Last of a Dying Breed. In particular, The Last of the Dying Breed achieved both critical and commercial success, and led Scarface to be named "Lyricist of the Year" at the 2001 Source Awards. In 2002, Scarface released The Fix, the follow-up to The Last of a Dying Breed. The Fix was another highly successful album, which featured a wide range of high-profile guests such as Nas, Jay-Z, Faith Evans, Kelly Price, WC, and Beanie Sigel.

It was around this time that Scarface also returned to the studio with the Geto Boys for what turned out to be their final album as a trio, The Foundation (2005). Further, he was featured on Duets: The Final Chapter, a posthumous album by the Notorious B.I.G. Scarface also made guest appearances on a variety of other tracks throughout the 2000s, including on albums by Beanie Sigel, Freeway, and Tech N9ne.

In addition to his career as a rapper, Scarface was the coordinator and president of Def Jam South from 2000 to 2005, where he fostered the career of the rapper Ludacris. He also produced three tracks for the UGK album Underground Kingz.

Despite his limited commercial appeal, Scarface has consistently attained wide respect from within the industry, and he has been described as "your favorite rapper's favorite rapper".Reid, Shaheem. (August 16, 2002) [https://archive.today/20120907085200/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457053/20020815/scarface.jhtml Scarface Keeps Eye On Future – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News]. Mtv.com. Retrieved on October 25, 2011.

On June 30, 2010, Scarface announced that he was working on a new album titled The Habit, which would include features from John Legend and Drake, and that it was scheduled for release that fall.Harper, Rosario. (June 30, 2010) [http://www.sohh.com/scarface-defends-return-from-retirement-im-stepping-back-in-on-my-terms/ Scarface Defends Return From Retirement, "I'm Stepping Back In On My Terms"]. Sohh.com. Retrieved on October 25, 2011. 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.{{cite web|url=http://blog.istandardproducers.com/2010/08/texas/ |title=iStandard Texas Time – Help Decide Scarface's Next Track / iStandard In Dallas @ TUMS This Week | iStandardProducers.com |website=Blog.istandardproducers.com |access-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204092653/http://blog.istandardproducers.com/2010/08/texas/ |archive-date=February 4, 2015 }} The album would feature a production from Eminem.{{cite web|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/scarface/the-habit/39851/ |title=Prefixmag.com |website=Prefixmag.com |access-date=August 9, 2014}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/news/scarface-has-been-in-jail-since-october-on-child-s/49034/ |title=Prefixmag.com |website=Prefixmag.com |access-date=August 9, 2014}} He was released from jail in August 2011 and as of 2024, The Habit remains an unreleased album with no announcements made since the arrest. Scarface released a separate album titled Deeply Rooted in 2015.

Media appearances

Scarface also appeared in the Mike Judge film Idiocracy as a pimp named Upgrayedd.{{cite web |title=Idiocract Cast and Crew |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/idiocracy/cast/282466/ |website=TV Guide |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=July 23, 2018}} 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 film Office Space.{{cite web |title=Office Space – Original Soundtrack |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/office-space-mw0000602579 |website=AllMusic |access-date=July 23, 2018}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://theboombox.com/scarface-i-am-hip-hop-award-2015-bet-hip-hop-awards/ |title=Scarface receives legendary I am hip hop award |last=Johnson |first=Victoria |date=October 14, 2015 |website=TheBoombox.com|access-date=October 26, 2016}}

Political career

On June 10, 2019, Jordan launched his campaign to be elected as the Councilperson for District D of the Houston City Council when the current seat holder, Dwight Boykins, decided to run for mayor.{{cite web|url=https://thegrapevine.theroot.com/houston-rap-legend-scarface-running-for-houston-city-co-1835373694|title=Houston Rap Legend Scarface Running for Houston City Council|last=Connor|first=Jay|date=June 10, 2019|website=The Root|access-date=June 14, 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/06/11/scarface-is-dead-geto-boys-rapper-says-hes-focused-running-houston-city-council/|title='Scarface is dead': The Geto Boys rapper says he's focused on running for Houston City Council|last=Donovan-Smith|first=Orion|date=June 11, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=June 15, 2019}} He announced his candidacy a day after the death of his friend and bandmate Bushwick Bill. Jordan's campaign is defined by the vision of "putting the neighbor back in the hood," which is the motto of Positive Purpose Movement,{{cite web|url=https://www.positivepurposes.org/|title=Positive Purpose Movement {{!}} United States|website=mysite|language=en|access-date=June 15, 2019}} an organization that he founded.{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Rapper-Scarface-announces-run-for-Houston-City-13965304.php|title=Rapper Scarface announces run for Houston City Council seat|last=Gill|first=Julian|date=June 10, 2019|website=Houston Chronicle|access-date=June 15, 2019}} The organization works with area schools to promote education and empowerment among children from underrepresented communities.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2018/8515241/geto-boys-scarface-running-houston-city-council|title=Geto Boys' Scarface Announces He's Running for Houston City Council|magazine=Billboard|date=June 10, 2019|access-date=June 15, 2019}}

Jordan was quoted in The Washington Post stating that "Scarface is dead." Positioning himself as a viable candidate for City Council, he emphasized his desire to build a legacy of public service when he added, "I'm not going to be a 75-year-old rapper... I'm going to be finishing my last term in office as president when I'm 75". Jordan was defeated by former educator Carolyn Evans-Shabazz in a run-off election on December 15, 2019.

{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Incumbent-lead-in-Houston-council-races-as-14907292.php|title=Cisneros wins by whisker, other incumbents cruise in council runoffs|website=Houston Chronicle|date=December 15, 2019|access-date=December 15, 2019}}

Personal life

Scarface claims to be a cousin of singer Johnny Nash.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Czdg8e8UX4|title=Scarface of Geto Boys: Guitar Moves|last=Noisey|date=October 5, 2016|access-date=August 25, 2018|publisher=YouTube}}

He also owns and collects Gibson Les Paul electric guitars.

In March 2020, Scarface revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19.{{cite magazine|author=Jon Blistein |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/geto-boys-scarface-coronavirus-positive-test-973856/ |title=Houston Rapper Scarface Tests Positive for Coronavirus |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 26, 2020 |access-date=April 27, 2020}} The virus damaged his renal system and on September 14, 2021, Scarface received a kidney transplant from his son.{{cite web|url=https://www.houstoniamag.com/arts-and-culture/2021/09/rap-pioneer-scarface-receives-kidney-transplant|title=Rap Pioneer Scarface Receives Life Saving Kidney Transplant|website=Houstonia Magazine|date=September 24, 2021|access-date=December 5, 2023}}

Scarface converted to Islam in 2006.[http://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.1975/title.sean-price-interviews-scarface-they-discuss-religion-emceeing-ultimate-rap-collaborations Sean Price Interviews Scarface: They Discuss Religion, Emceeing & Ultimate Rap Collaborations]. Hiphopdx.com, October 29, 2012.

Bibliography

Scarface released a memoir on April 21, 2015, which details various moments from his childhood, getting his first record deal from Rap-A-Lot, and his tenure at Def Jam South.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BrotherMob |title=SCARFACE (@BrotherMob) |publisher=Twitter|date=January 5, 2010 |access-date=September 6, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://facemobmusic.com |title=Facemob Music |publisher=Facemob Music |access-date=September 6, 2015}}{{cite book|title=Diary of a Madman: The Geto Boys, Life, Death, and the Roots of Southern Rap (9780062302632): Brad "Scarface" Jordan, Benjamin Meadows Ingram: Books |date= April 21, 2015|isbn=978-0062302632 |last1=Jordan |first1=Brad "Scarface" |last2=Ingram |first2=Benjamin Meadows |publisher= HarperCollins}}