| Scarface | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Birth name |
Brad Terrence Jordan |
|
Also known as |
Mr. Scarface, Facemob, DJ Akshen |
|
Born |
November 9, 1970 |
|
Genre |
|
|
Occupation |
Rapper, record producer |
|
Years active |
1988-present |
|
Labels |
H-Town Records (1988) |
|
Associated acts |
|
Brad Terrence Jordan (born November 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper and record producer from Houston, Texas. Hailing from the city's South Park neighborhood, he came to prominence as a member of the Geto Boys before embarking on a successful solo career. Jordan is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time.
Early life[]
Jordan was born on November 9, 1970, in Houston, Texas. He attended Woodson Middle School in Houston before dropping out and working as a drug dealer. At the age of fourteen, he attempted suicide and subsequently spent time in a hospital psychiatric ward.
Career[]
Jordan began his career under the stage name DJ Akshen, releasing the single "Big Time"/"I'm DJ Akshen My Man" in 1988 on H-Town Records. He then became affiliated with Lil' Troy's Short Stop Records and changed his stage name to Scarface after recording a song with the same title, which was based on the protagonist of the 1983 film Scarface. Jordan's second single, "Scarface", was released in 1988 on Short Stop. Jordan was noticed by James Prince, the CEO of Rap-A-Lot Records, and signed to the label. Jordan erroneously states in his autobiography that he signed to Rap-A-Lot in 1987 at the age of sixteen, but claims he was signed following the popularity of the "Scarface" single, which was released in 1988.
Prince needed new members for his star act Geto Boys, and enlisted Jordan and fellow Rap-A-Lot solo act DJ Ready Red to join Bushwick Bill and Willie D as the new line-up for the group. Geto Boys' second album, Grip It! On That Other Level (1989), was hugely successful commercially and garnered the group a large fanbase, in spite of their controversial subject matter keeping them from radio airplay.
Jordan's 1991 debut solo album, Mr. Scarface Is Back was a commercial success, and Scarface's popularity soon overshadowed the other members of the Geto Boys. Jordan 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 remained a member of the group since its 1989 revamp. Jordan's popularity peaked with The Diary (1994) and The Last of a Dying Breed (2000).
In addition to his career as a rapper, Jordan was the coordinator and president of Def Jam South from 2000 to 2005, where he fostered the career of Ludacris, whom he originally signed to the label.
Public Service[]
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 decided to run for mayor. He announced his candidacy the day after the death of his friend and fellow Geto Boys member Bushwick Bill. His campaign is defined by the vision of "putting the neighbor back in the hood", which is the motto of the Positive Purpose Movement, an organization founded by Jordan. The organization works with area schools to promote education and empowerment among children from underrepresented communities.
Jordan was quoted in The Washington Post as saying that "Scarface is dead." 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 finished second to Carolyn Evans-Shabazz and received 38% of the vote in the final tally on December 15, 2019.[1]
Personal life[]
Jordan claims to be a cousin of singer Johnny Nash. Jordan released a memoir, Diary of a Madman, in 2015, which details his childhood, getting his first record deal with Rap-A-Lot and his tenure at Def Jam South.
Jordan was brought up as a Christian but converted to Islam in 2006.[2]
Jordan is an asthmatic.[3] He contracted COVID-19 in March 2020.[3] Jordan requested a kidney donor in October 2020 as his kidneys had not returned to full functionality after surviving COVID-19.[4]
Legal issues[]
Jordan was imprisoned from September 2010 to mid-2011 for failure to pay child support in four different cases.
Discography[]
Studio albums[]
- 1991: Mr. Scarface Is Back
- 1993: The World Is Yours
- 1994: The Diary
- 1997: The Untouchable
- 1998: My Homies
- 2000: The Last of a Dying Breed
- 2002: The Fix
- 2006: My Homies Part 2
- 2007: Made
- 2008: Emeritus
- 2015: Deeply Rooted
References[]
- ↑ Bandini (December 15, 2019). "Scarface Loses Election For Houston City Council In A Run-Off". Ambrosia for Heads.
- ↑ http://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.1975/title.sean-price-interviews-scarface-they-discuss-religion-emceeing-ultimate-rap-collaborations
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fox 5 Washington DC (June 11, 2020). "Rapper Scarface recovering 2 months after COVID-19 diagnosis: 'I am glad to be alive'".
- ↑ Stewart, Shelby (October 8, 2020). "Houston rapper Scarface shares he's in need of a kidney on social media". Houston Chronicle.