When legends put their Top 5, Scarface is on there. What does the man have an affinity for?
Hip Hop has come to mean different things to different people. It originated as an authentic form of expression, one that 'Face has utilized to the fullest. Through powerful, reflective, and uplifting lyrics Hip Hop defied the odds and embraced the years as it has became a widely appreciated and celebrated genre of music. Hip Hop at its best carries our aspirations, our struggles, our bliss and our betrayals.
In a perfect world we entrust our MCs to demonstrate a level of awareness of our community. Candid lyricism in conjunction with tangible real life experiences is part of the amalgamation that is Scarface. Scarface, a man who needs no introduction, is one of our living lyrical icons.
In an unbridled interview, he reveals his extended edition of AllHipHop.com’s Top 5 Dead Or Alive, Top 5 Southern MCs and Top 5 of Right Now.
RAKIM
Scarface: The way that Rakim put words together is like no other.
AllHipHop.com: For the younger generation who may be unfamiliar with Rakim; which track do they really need to listen to? Do you remember what made you first gravitate towards him?
Scarface: Listen to [Eric B. & Rakim’s] “Follow The Leader.” The main said, “…A furified freestyle, lyrics of fury/ my third eye makes me shine like jewelry… [chuckles] goddam! N****s talk about chains; the man said his third eye makes him shine like jewelry!
Scarface: “Criminal Minded.” To me KRS-ONE had that pause—it picks back up—he had a swagger from that “Criminal Minded” album. You know, that was really our star.
KOOL G RAP
AllHipHop.com: What about Kool G Rap earned your respect?
Scarface: …He had a song called “Truly Yours”— and that’s really the best girl diss that I ever heard.
Scarface: He dissed somebody and I was like, damn. [starts emceeing] “This I dedicate to the girl I hate…” [mimics the DJ Polo beat, uh uh uh uh uh uh] “This I dedicate to the girl I hate…” Man, that is a fantastic come line—
Scarface: [starts reciting a verse from Cube’s “A Bird in the Hand”] “Fresh out of school I was a high school grad/ had to get a job because I was a high school dad…/ but there was no SC for this youngster/ I didn’t have no money/ so I had to punch the clock…” That boy Cube is cold; that boy Ice Cube is sick!
AllHipHop.com: What do you think about his evolution as an MC? Does he still possess the same hunger he had with Illmatic? Is he more lyrically potent now or has he grown complacent as his wealth has increased?
Scarface: I like Nas as an MC. I like Nas period. It don’t matter.
AllHipHop.com: You know I have to go here; it’s interesting that you didn’t name any Southern MCs. Why didn’t any of those make the list?
Scarface: Of all time, there’s not a greatest Southern MC of all time that could be in there, in my opinion.
AllHipHop.com: I love you’re being real even though you’re from the South.
Scarface: I mean of all time —If I did one for [the] South MCs I would say — Top five of all time, it’s 3000
ANDRE 3000
Scarface: I really like Andre 300, right now. Because his word usage, his word play.
JUVENILE
Scarface: Let’s see, Juvie said, “The District Attorney don’t give a fuck about y’all/ she got to run again for office again in the fall…” That boy Juvenile was a damn fool!
Scarface: [snatches Cee-Lo’s voice] “You got to get up, get out/ cut that bulls*** out/ ain’t you sick and tired or have to get up and get out..” That boy is cold.
DEVIN THE DUDE
AllHipHop.com: Devin, I love Devin. But why is he so slept on; what about Mr. Copeland is overlooked?
Scarface: That’s the fucking Bill Withers of Southern Hip-Hop. Devin can put a wash in a n**** from our day.
AllHipHop.com: What I love about Devin is the ease that he can go from a party song like “Don’t Get Me Wrong” with the Coughee Brothaz to crazy lyricism like on “Write & Wrong.” I absolutely love Devin as a lyricist and as a man; he’s good people.
Scarface: That motherfucker says, “When you’re wrong/ motherfuckers want to talk about you/ when you’re wrong/ motherfuckers want to criticize you…”
AllHipHop.com: Do you think that the Blueprint 3 is going to live up to the hype?
Scarface: I dunno, man. You said, ‘will the Blueprint 3 live up to the hype,’ I think it will to answer your question. I need to talk to him. I just want to talk to him and let him know where we’re at [MCs in the game] right now. You know what I mean? Jay-Z is serious though. I like Jay-Z. Now the Blueprint 3—I need to talk to him bad, man.
AllHipHop.com: Let him know if he’s still looking for features he can holla at me. Or you can call him on three way.
Scarface: I like Young Jeezy, man. I like him a lot.
AllHipHop.com: What do you say to the critics who question his dope boy motif? How long can you rhyme about work?
Scarface: They’re just critics, man. They can’t rap a f***ing lick. They don’t know the game at all. They don’t know s*** about it.
AllHipHop.com: So you feel as long as people can identify with Jeezy he’ll be appreciated?
Scarface: S***, I appreciate him. I love Young Jeezy. [adopts Jeezy’s cadence] “I’m young by the way…” [starts singing hook from “Get Allot”] “I get a lot of that/ put your hands in the air if you get a lot of that…”
AllHipHop.com: That says a lot coming from you. That beat by Nicco is incredible.
AllHipHop.com: What about Lil Wayne; is it just his word play?
Scarface: Wayne can play. Young Moula [laughs]. His rhyming is very nice.
AllHipHop.com: What do you think about him challenging the boundaries of Hip-Hop?
Scarface: I like it; I like that s***, man. He went there.
BEANIE SIGEL
Scarface: I like Beanie Sigel; he’s nice. Who else is bad?
EMINEM
Scarface: Yeah, Elvis, put Elvis in there. Elvis has left the building, f****ing Elvis, man. That goddam Elvis [whistles], whoa. Eminem is awesome; he’s outside of the box. We’ve never collaborated; but, I like that dude, man. You know, we’ve kicked it a few times. Eminem sent me a few beats.
The Sidebar
A malevolent force is possessing Hip Hop. Afflicted by parasitic corporate greed, an art form that was once celebrated and galvanized by community spirit, has been abducted by killer clowns from outer space. These malignant jesters offer mere pence as they greedily extract Hip Hop’s incredible essence. A catastrophic rouge paints the mouth of these callous clowns; creativity drips from the edges of its disposal. The constant pillaging of Hip Hop has it on life support. Hip Hop lay in ruins; it’s a putrid abyss of what it once was. What do we do when our most respected MCs grow so disheartened that they prematurely resign?
DJ Premier – Keith “Guru” Elam Tribute Mix Tracklist: Gang Starr – Betrayal (Feat. Scarface) Gang Starr – Intro (The First Step) Gang Starr – Execution Of A Chump (No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt. 2) Gang Starr – Name Tag (Premier & The Guru) Gang Starr – Speak Ya Clout (Feat. Jeru the Damaja & Lil Dap) Gang Starr – Peace Of Mine Gang Starr – Eulogy Gang Starr – Royalty (Feat. K-Ci & JoJo) Gang Starr – Daily Operation (Intro) Gang Starr – In This Life… (Feat. Snoop Dogg & Uncle Reo) Gang Starr – Above The Clouds (Feat. Inspectah Deck) Gang Starr – The Planet Gang Starr – Daily Operation (Intro) Gang Starr – Next Time Gang Starr – 93 Interlude (Unreleased Moment Of Truth Interlude) Gang Starr – The Militia II (Feat. Rakim & WC) Gang Starr – Intro (HQ, Goo, Panch) Heavy D. – A Buncha Niggas (Feat. The Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes, Guru, Rob-O & Third Eye) M.O.P. – Salute Part II (Feat. Guru) D&D Allstars – Hot Shit (Feat. Big Daddy Kane, Sadat X, Guru & Greg Nice) Gang Starr – PLAYTAWIN Gang Starr – Soliloquy Of Chaos Group Home – The Legacy (Feat. Guru) Gang Starr – Conspiracy Gang Starr – Stay Tuned Gang Starr – Zonin’
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