Scarface Bio: Texas’s Son of Gangsta Rap

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Colin Mahar

Colin is a content creator based out of New York City. Colin loves rap music because it brings together various things that he enjoys, like art, fashion, and film. He spends his time writing and producing music when he's not working. He's eager to share with you his first hand experiences in the industry.

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Scarface is a legend in Texas hip hop who helped bring the Houston sound into the mainstream. From his work with the Geto Boys to launching a successful solo career, Scarface has had incredible longevity in the industry and has consistently been ranked among the top 5 lyricists of all time by many hip hop legends. 

I’ve been listening to Scarface and the Geto Boys for many years after discovering iconic hits like Mind Playin’ Tricks on Me and Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta. The Geto Boys always had a raw and unfiltered energy that was unlike anything else in rap. Scarface’s charisma and lyricism partially helped the group become a global phenomenon and cemented him as a legend in the rap game. Here is a look at the life and career of Scarface.

Scarface Quick Facts

Scarface Birthplace

Scarface was born on November 9th, 1970, in Houston, Texas. He grew up in the city’s South Acres neighborhood, also known as Crestmont Park.

Scarface Parents

Not much is known about Scarface’s parents, but he was raised Christian in Houston’s South Acres neighborhood. However, it is known that his grandmother helped inspire the title of his most famous song, Mind Playing Tricks on Me.

Scarface Early Life

Scarface attended Woodson Middle School in Houston. He struggled with mental health issues when he was a teenager and even spent time in a psych ward after attempting suicide. He eventually dropped out of high school and started selling drugs to support himself.

Scarface Professional Life

Joining the Geto Boys

Scarface started making music under the name DJ Akshen, pronounced “Action.” He started DJing at a record label called Short Stop, that was run by a local rapper named Lil Troy. In 1989, he landed a deal with the famous Rap a Lot Records and was quickly added to the new incarnation of the Geto Boys.

The Geto Boys was originally formed in 1986 and consisted of rappers Raheem, the Sire JukeBox, and Sir Rap a Lot. Raheem and Sir Rap a Lot eventually left the group and were replaced by DJ Ready Red, Prince Johnny C, and Lil Billy, aka Bushwick Bill. The group released one project in 1988 called Makin Trouble, which was critically panned and failed to garner much attention.

After the failure of their first album, Prince Johnny C and Sire JukeBox were fired from the group and replaced by Willie D and Scarface. The group then began work on their second studio album, which would be the first under the new lineup.

Grip It! On That Other Level

Grip It! On That Other Level was released on March 12th, 1989, and was a noticeable improvement over the group’s first album, peaking at number 166 on the Billboard 200. The album was also much more controversial and featured the exaggerated violence and misogyny that would make the group famous. But the controversy would only help them sell more records and build a buzz outside of Texas. It even attracted the attention of legendary producer and Def Jam founder Rick Rubin, who remixed ten of the album’s songs. The songs were later released under Def Jam as the remix album called Geto Boys. 

Grip It! On That Other Level is an undeniable classic and features all the raw energy and aggression that would define the Geto Boy’s sound. It was highly controversial for the time and pushed the envelope in ways that were unprecedented at the time. The Geto Boys helped create the archetype for modern gangsta rap and horrorcore, and this album displayed their raw talent perfectly. 

But the group and label faced harsh criticism and Def Jam even had to change distributors due to the controversy. Due to the explicit lyrics, the label’s distributor, Geffen Records, and their CD manufacturer Sony DADC refused to put out the Geto Boys Remix album. So, Def Jam had to switch to Warner Bros to get the project into stores. 

The group would also face pushback from politicians who took aim at the burgeoning genre of gangsta rap and used the Geto Boys as a perfect example of why the music was problematic. But the controversy only helped propel them to further heights and helped cultivate a fanbase who was drawn in by the controversy.

We Can’t Be Stopped

In June 1991, Bushwick Bill shot himself during an argument with his girlfriend while under the influence of alcohol and PCP and ended up losing an eye. The following month the group released their third studio album, We Can’t Be Stopped, which featured cover artwork that showed Scarface and Willie D alongside their group mate in the hospital.

The controversy only helped sell more records, and it became their most successful album to date, peaking at number 24 on the Billboard 200. The album also featured the hit single Mind Playin Tricks on Me, a pop culture staple that has been referenced in music and film countless times since its release.

We Can’t Be Stopped is the Geto Boy’s most recognized album and features some of their best work as a group. It has a visceral energy that feels way ahead of its time. Their rhymes are hard-hitting and unapologetic, and the production is both eerie and laidback, perfectly accentuating their calm yet aggressive vocal delivery. We Can’t Be Stopped is my favorite Geto Boy’s project and is often been named among the best rap albums of all time. 

Mr. Scarface is Back

The success of the group didn’t stop Scarface from pursuing a solo career. He released his debut solo album, Mr. Scarface is Back, in October 1991. It peaked at number 51 on Billboard and was well received by critics. Mr. Scarface is Back is a raw and unflinching album that displays Scarface’s unique lyrical abilities.

However, not everyone was pleased with Scarface’s success. His solo efforts made him the most famous rapper in the group, and he began to outshine the other members, eventually leading to Willie D’s departure. So, Scarface and Bushwick Bill recruited fellow Rap-a-Lot member Big Mike for their next album Til Death Do Us Part.

The project was released in March 1993 and peaked at number 11 on Billboard. It also featured the Top 40 single Six Feet Deep, which sampled the Commodore’s 1977 hit single Easy. Although the project did well on the charts, it didn’t have quite the same energy as We Can’t Be Stopped, and it’s one of the Geto Boys’ weakest releases, in my opinion.

Scarface also continued dropping solo projects, including The World is Yours in ’93 and The Diary in ’94, both of which did well critically and commercially. 

The Resurrection

In 1996, Big Mike was dropped from the group, and Willie D returned to reunite the original lineup. Later that year, they dropped the critically acclaimed album The Resurrection. The album peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200, becoming their highest charting album to date. Critics saw The Resurrection as a return to form for the group after a lackluster effort on their previous release.

The Resurrection is an excellent album, in my opinion, and the Geto Boys continued to recreate and refine their sound to be more mature yet just as hard-hitting. The project features a wider array of socially conscious themes, including an interview with incarcerated Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover. Although it still featured the same nihilistic rhymes and eerie sound that made them famous.

Scarface also continued dropping solo projects, including The Untouchable in ’97 and My Homies in ’98. By this point, Scarface was already a certified legend in the game and was featured alongside hip-hop icons like 2pac, Master P, and Ice Cube. Although this isn’t my favorite era of Scarface’s career, he continued to deliver what his fans wanted to hear and showcased his abilities as one of the greatest lyricists of all time.

Around that time, the Geto Boys dropped another album called Da Good Da Bad & Da Ugly. But by this point, Bushwick Bill had left the group to pursue a solo career, leaving Willie D and Scarface to perform as a duo. Bill would be replaced by a different featured rapper on every song, mainly Rap-a-lot artists. Although a solid effort, Da Good Da Bad & Da Ugly was not the group’s most cohesive project, and it felt like it was missing something without the appearance of Bushwick Bill.

Scarface returned with another solo album in 2000 called Last of a Dying Breed. It was not quite as commercially successful as his previous efforts but received more critical acclaim. However, he would follow up two years later with what many have claimed is one of the greatest hip hop records of all time.

The Fix

The Fix was released on August 6th, 2002. It featured an all-star list of collaborators, including Kanye West, Beanie Sigel, Jay-Z, Faith Evans, Nas, and More. The project debuted at number 4 on Billboard and sold 160,000 copies in the first week.

The Fix is my favorite Scarface solo project. His rhymes had gone from shocking and controversial to honest and reflective.  The production from Kanye, Mike Dean, the Neptunes, and more, provide the perfect accompaniment to his gruff rhymes. Guess Who’s Back is one of my all-time favorite hip-hop tracks, and it’s the song that first introduced me to Scarface as a rapper. It’s an undeniable classic and deserves its place at the top of rap’s best albums.

After the Fix, Scarface would fall back from music for a bit. He would reunite in 2006 with the Geto Boys, including Bushwick Bill, for their final project, the Foundation. Although not my favorite project in the Geto Boys catalog, it was nice to hear them come together for one final record.

Later Career

Scarface would continue dropping solo records, including My Homies Part 2, Made, Emeritus, and Deeply Rooted. Although none managed to reach the critical and commercial heights of his earlier work, Scarface had already cemented himself as a legend by that point.

Bushwick Bill passed away on May 1st, 2019, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Out of respect for their groupmate, Willie D and Scarface officially disbanded the Geto Boys. The following day, Scarface announced that he was running for Houston city council and claimed he was retired from rap to focus on local politics.

Scarface Video

Scarface Family

Not much is known about Scarface’s personal life. However, he is believed to be married and has five children. His son, Chris Jordan, saved his life by donating a kidney to him after Scarface went into organ failure during a battle with COVID-19. He also has another son named Brandon Jordan, who is autistic and briefly went missing in 2014 but was later found by LAPD.

In 2018, a woman named Lisa Varner claimed that he was the father of her eight-year-old daughter, whom he’d never met in person. According to Varner, Scarface initially paid child support but stopped when she wanted to make it public that he was the father of her baby. 

Scarface also claims to be the cousin of the singer-songwriter, Johnny Nash.

Scarface Dating and Relationship History

Scarface is believed to be married, but his wife’s identity is unclear. At one time, he had a relationship with Melissa Lollis, the mother of his son Brandon. He also allegedly began a relationship with Lisa Varner while married to his current wife.

Scarface Controversies

Scarface and the Geto Boys have frequently been criticized for their lyrics, which many say promote violence and misogyny. They were often the target of political campaigns against gangsta rap music due to the extreme nature of their lyrics. However, the group insisted it was just art and meant to be taken as satire, not reality.

In 2015, the rapper was arrested for unpaid child support right after being honored at the BET Awards. He was quickly released on a $482,190 bond and claimed in a letter that the issue had been resolved.

Scarface Net Worth and Career Earnings

Scarface’s net worth is estimated to be around $100,000. Although he’s sold millions of albums throughout his career, he’s also dealt with legal issues, mental health problems, and substance abuse that has often impacted his finances.

Scarface Famous Quotes

“In order to be a great, you gotta be among the greats.” – Scarface

“I’ve always been infatuated with death. I’m drawn to the permanence of it and the unknown.” – Scarface

“I would spend a lot of time alone. I’d go in my room at my mom’s house and not come out for weeks, just trying to find me. And I didn’t always like what I found.” – Scarface

Scarface Discography & Full Credits

Solo Discography

• 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

Geto Boys Discography

• 1989 – Grip It! On That Other Level
• 1991 – We Can’t Be Stopped
• 1993 – Till Death Do Us Part
• 1996 – The Resurrection
• 1998 – Da Good, Da Bad & Da Ugly
• 2005 – The Fountain

Scarface FAQ

Sources

• Wiki, 1
• Hip Hop Scriptures
• All Music
• IMDB
• Vibe
• Wealthy Gorilla
• Hip Hop DX
• Khou

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