Scarface (rapper)

Scarface attended Woodson Middle School in Houston, Texas.[6] He dropped out of high school and worked as a drug dealer.[7] As a teenager, he attempted suicide, and subsequently spent time in a hospital psychiatric ward.[7]

He was brought up as a Christian, and converted to Islam in 2006.[8]

He began his career as DJ Akshen (pronounced Action) recording and deejaying for Lil' Troy's Short Stop, a local record label in Houston. After releasing the 12" single "Scarface/Another Head Put To Rest" (1989), written by Chris "Mr. 3-2" Barriere and produced by Def Jam Blaster,[9] Bruce "Grim" Rhodes,[10] he would go on to sign with Rap-A-Lot and join a group who were collectively known as Geto Boys replacing a 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.[11]

In 1992, Scarface appeared (along with 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, the latter of which received 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 was the coordinator and president of Def Jam South from 2000 to 2005, where he has fostered the career of 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 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 popular among those in the industry, and has been described as "your favorite rapper's favorite rapper".[12] 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.[13]

On June 30, 2010, Scarface announced that he was working on a new album entitled The Habit, which would include features from John Legend and Drake, and that it was scheduled for release that fall.[14] 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.[15] The album would feature a production from Eminem.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18]

Scarface also appeared in the Mike Judge film Idiocracy as a pimp named Upgrayedd.[19] 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.[20]

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.[21]

On June 10, 2019, Scarface 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.[22][23] Jordan, whose rap moniker was "Scarface," announced his candidacy a day after the death of his friend and bandmate Bushwick Bill. His campaign is defined by the vision of "putting the neighbor back in the hood," which is the motto of Positive Purpose Movement,[24] an organization founded by Jordan.[25] The organization works with area schools to promote education and empowerment among children from underrepresented communities.[26]

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”.[23] Jordan was defeated by former educator Carolyn Evans-Shabazz in a run-off election on December 15, 2019. [27]

Scarface claims to be a cousin of singer Johnny Nash.[28] He also owns and collects Gibson Les Paul electric guitars.

In March 2020, Scarface revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19.[29]

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.[30][31][32]

• Diary of a Madman (2015)

• Scarface's official website
• Scarface interview at Complex.com