Brad Jordan better known as Southern MC, Scarface released his debut album in 1991. The album achieved gold status which was rather rare given the little no radio play Scarface was ever given and the lack of popularity for Southern Hip Hop at the time. After several years in the Geto Boys their presumed leader decided to take a chance at making a solo album, using old school samples of Smokey Robinson, James Brown, Barry White, Marvin Gaye and others this turned out to be a very overlooked album, even for Scarface. Let's not waste anymore time and get into it.
Mr. Scarface
Mister mister Scarface went walkin' down the block...
The lead single off the album was Mr. Scarface. The song opens with a parody of The Itsby Bitsy Spider and a sample of the 1983 film of the same name as our MC. Face spins a blood soaked tale of him attempting to survive an ambush at his home. It's classic story telling and just as violent as a Geto Boy fan could expect, or want. Despite his crew appearing on the album cover, his team does not show up in the album for any notable features, but Jordan proves himself as a lone star here.
The Pimp
This is unsettling. I'm having flashbacks of Tim Dog and Kool Keith's Secret Fantasies. This would've been better late on in the album. Scarface expresses his sexual dominance and it fits his personality, but it messes up the sequences a little too much.
Born Killer
My mama did her part, but it's not fault i was born without a heart
This may be a shock to you but a lot of Scarface's material involve graphic violence, but it's violence done well. Face expresses that was born to kill people and commit crimes no matter how he was raised. There's a bit of a loose story told here of Scar going broke and having to start killing and robbing for money, it's nicely done.
Murder By Reason of Insanity
Boy you should of known not to fuck with me bitch, Brothers like me are making mortuaries rich
Scarface delves into his murderous ways more by explaining his motive as being his own insanity. This leads into another story this time of him rolling into a neighborhood with a car full of Mac-10's and Tec-9's ready to start killing.
Dad always said look a man in the eye before you kill him...
Your Ass Got Took
You fucked up b. According to Scarface anyhow, he's here to tell you how to keep your ass from getting took, meaning death or jail. His aggression reaches a new level here, plain uncut gore.
Diary of a Madman
I try to talk to my dad, but my old man ignores me, He says I'm delirious, And I drink too much, so he doesn't take me serious
One of the things our host is best known for is his willingness to detail the frailness of the mind. Here he feels he's gone and trapped in an endless world of killing that no longer affects him in the slightest because he's taken so many lives. Shout out to the Grave Diggaz.
Body Snatchers
Murder. All 'bout murder. Nothing new is stated here but the host keeps the album flowing consistently. It follows almost a B Movie like trail of blood and death left by the body snatcher himself.
That's the face of a reliable man.
Money and The Power
The Bradster has achieved money, power, and his version of success. He sets clear what his goals are and why he does what he does. Even some insight of him bullshitting to his mom about where he gets his money, giving this some realism instead of what sounds like a fantasy.
P.D. Roll 'Em
Scarface's shit talking entry. There's a police siren waling in the background which ISN'T annoying, even though the idea sounds like it would piss you off. This one's okay, it doesn't really improve or hurt the album.
Good Girl Gone Bad
Brad spins a story of a drug deal going bad. The girl in the title refers to cocaine, aka white girl. I've always put our host in the upper echelon of story tellers in Hip Hop and he only furthers proves my point here. They also jump a guy named Big Mike in this song, and i'm fairly certain it's zero relation to the actual Big Mike that threw down with Scarface resulting in Mike's house being torn up. Given he wasn't in the Geto Boys yet. Coincidence eh?
A Minute to Pray and a Second to Die
Life goes on in the streets of my hood when you die. But some cry, and gets by, while others choose to wonder why..
If it wasn't for Mr. Scarface i'd say the best track, bar none. A beautiful sample of Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues leads to a classic track. Scarface bumps this album up so far with this track. The dangers of the hood had been discussed before in the genre but our host gives you the feeling that you're there with him experiencing it. All the horrors you can think of are discussed here and laid out by Brad Jordan. The final two tracks on this album serve as a reflection of Scarface's behavior and environment, this is what sets this album higher than a standard gangster rap album.
I'm Dead
I always thought this had influence on Biggie's Suicidal Thoughts track. Both serving as a grim ending to a gory LP. Scarface as the title entails, is dead. He first doesn't realize it but finds out he's only a spirit in his home and sees his own funeral. Some of the rhymes in the latter parts of the song are a bit weak and the emotion could've been better but as far as i'm aware, this had never been done before. It's still not common for rappers to kill themselves off in tracks, let alone at the end of an album.
The Highlights:
Mr. Scarface
A Minute to Pray and a Second to Die
Murder by Reason of Insanity
The Lowlight:
The Pimp
The Gem:
Born Killer
Is It Worth a Purchase?
I can't guarantee this Scarface LP is still in circulation, but it's not like you can't amazon a copy. Or even just simply burn it if you can't find a cheap enough copy. This is not the best work of Brad Jordan but it's like a B Movie with A Movie qualities to it. There's over the top violence with some terrific story telling ended by a reflection where our host has to pay the price for what he's done. I'd recommend checking this one out.
Overall Grade: A-
Scarface has stated he's retiring this year after his Deeply Rooted album drops, the singles are pretty solid so far. We'll see if he follows up. Until Next Time, One Love.
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