Scarface

Background

Scarface was born Bradley Terrence Jordan on November 9, 1970, in Houston, Texas. He is of African-American descent. His mother is Oma Terry. He developed an interest in music as a child, learning from his musician uncles who often gathered in his home for jam sessions. He attended Woodson Middle School in Houston and dropped out of high school to peddle drugs on the streets. Having been diagnosed with manic depression when he was 16, he attempted suicide and was admitted to a psychiatric ward in a hospital.

Jordan began his career in music under the moniker D.J. Akshen, recording for a local record label called Short Stop in Houston, owned by rapper Lil’ Troy. He then changed his moniker to Scarface, which would be associated with him for the rest of his career. It was here that his first solo single ‘Scarface’ was released in 1989. Later that year, he went on to sign up with Rap-A-Lot Records and joined the group Geto Boys, and featured in their successful second album, “Grip It! On That Other Level.” In 1991, his first solo album titled “Mr. Scarface is Back” was released and it became a massive hit. The album reached number 51 on Billboard Hot 200 and propelled Jordan to instant fame. Even after achieving success as a solo artist, he continued to remain with Geto Boys, who garnered more popularity due to his presence. His second solo album, “The World is Yours,” was released in 1993 and made it to the top 10 on Billboard 200 and was certified gold. Then, in 1994, he released his third solo album, “The Diary,” which debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 200 chart and was certified platinum.

His fourth studio album, “The Untouchable,” was released in 1997, debuting at the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for the first time in his career. In 1998, he released his fifth studio album, “My Homies,” which included collaborations with hip-hop artists the likes of 2Pac, Ice Cube, Too Short, and others. The album peaked at the number one spot on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. For his sixth studio album released in 2000, “The Last of a Dying Breed,” he won a Source Award for Best Lyricist of the Year in 2001. This was also the time when he served as the President of Def Jam South, the music recording division of Def Jam Recording. In 2002, he released his first album with Def Jam Recordings, titled “The Fix.” The album featured guest performances from Jay-Z, Nas, and Faith Evans, among others, and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2005, he quit Def Jam South. The following year, he released a sequel to “My Homies,” titled “My Homies Part 2,” and also made a brief appearance in the movie “Idiocracy.”

In 2007, he released his ninth studio album, “Made,” which was a critical and commercial success. Releasing his tenth studio album in 2008, “Emeritus,” Jordan announced that it would be his final studio album. In 2015, he was awarded the “I am Hip-Hop Award” at the B.E.T. Hip-Hop Awards for completing 25 years in the genre. This was also the year he released his official biography, “Diary of a Madman.” After a seven-year hiatus, he released his 11th studio album, “Deeply Rooted,” and two years later, he released “Deeply Rooted: The Lost Files.” In 2019, he announced his run for Councilperson for the Houston City Council, contesting unsuccessfully against the winning candidate. In 2021, he and fellow Geto Boys member Willie D. started a podcast, “Geto Boys Reloaded,” which debuted at number three on the Apple Podcast Charts. In 2022, he announced a 32-city farewell tour across the U.S.

Jordan is acknowledged as one of the greatest lyricists in hip-hop, named among the Top 50 lyricists and M.C.s of all time by “The Source” magazine and About.com. He has often been in the news for his controversial personal life. He is also known for his vocal political activism and philanthropy. His exceptional storytelling and creativity placed him among the most popular musicians in hip-hop and he continues to remain a legend for fans.