Scarface

Scarface quickly became the South's most admired rapper and remained so throughout the '90s after breaking away from the Geto Boys to launch his solo career in 1991. Even if he never scored any national hits or stormed up the Billboard charts with any of his numerous albums throughout the '90s, no one could question his clout throughout the South. He essentially defined what it meant to be a Southern thug rapper years before anyone even coined the term Dirty South. This became glaringly evident in the late '90s when a massive wave of young MCs arose from Houston, New Orleans, and Memphis emulating his style of hard-boiled, ghetto-bred, straight-up hardcore rapping. Besides serving as the father of Southern thug rap, it seemed as if every hardcore rapper wanted to align himself with Scarface during the '90s -- everyone from Ice Cube and Dr. Dre to 2Pac and Master P collaborated with the former Geto Boy -- all in an attempt to foster credibility among the loyal Southern rap audience.

Yet despite his unquestionable influence, Scarface never crossed over to mainstream acceptance. His albums were often plagued with filler, his lyrics were simply too harsh for radio, and his uncompromising devotion to producer Mike Dean led to a stagnant, albeit trademark, sound. Still, likely because Scarface never crossed over and remained aligned to the streets, his influence never waned, making him one of the few veterans able to sustain in the here-today, gone-tomorrow rap game. In the early 2000s, Def Jam Records rewarded his staying power with a lucrative contract, a wealth of industry connections, and a powerful marketing push. Scarface consequently enjoyed the most successful album of his career, The Fix (2002), and a revival of interest in his back catalog, which his former label, Rap-a-Lot, repackaged that same year on Greatest Hits.

Before Brad Jordan became known as Scarface, he called himself Akshen. As such, he began his rap career first as a solo artist in his native Houston during the mid-'80s for James Smith's then fledging Rap-a-Lot label. Smith was trying to launch a group he tagged the Geto Boys, and he eventually asked Akshen to join the group in the late '80s. The Geto Boys' debut album -- Grip It! On That Other Level (1990), later repackaged and re-released that same year simply as The Geto Boys -- shocked many with its vivid depictions of violence and its overall extreme nature. This album featured the song "Scarface," which introduced Akshen's alter ego, a title he would keep from that point onward. The ensuing controversy surrounding the group's debut put the Geto Boys on the map and set the stage for the impressive We Can't Be Stopped (1991). In the wake of the group's national success came solo albums, one of which being Scarface's debut, Mr. Scarface Is Back (1991). The album made it evident who the group's most talented member was, and the acclaim showered on Scarface resulted in bitter tensions among his fellow Geto Boys, Bushwick Bill and Willie D. By the time Scarface returned with his follow-up album, The World Is Yours (1993), his reputation overshadowed that of his group's. Willie D consequently departed, and the the Geto Boys never again rivaled We Can't Be Stopped, releasing half-hearted, albeit popular, efforts with a new lineup before later reuniting in the late '90s. In the meantime, Scarface continued to funnel his efforts into additional solo efforts: The Diary (1994) and Untouchable (1997). He then released the double-disc My Homies (1998), a bloated effort laden with guests, many of the South's leading rappers.

It wasn't until 2000, though, that Scarface won substantial admiration from the greater rap community with Last of a Dying Breed, his most personal and focused album in years. As a result, he was awarded Lyricist of the Year at the 2001 Source Awards and was offered a promising deal with Def Jam Records. The powerhouse East Coast label wanted Scarface to helm its Def Jam South subsidiary division, and the rapper obliged, first signing Ludacris, who became an overnight superstar, and then releasing his own album, The Fix (2002). Led by a Kayne West-produced collaboration with Jay-Z, "Guess Who's Back," it spawned a popular single, "My Block," and attracted widespread embrace. Rap-a-Lot furthered Scarface's newfound coast-to-coast acceptance with the rapper's first best-of collection, Greatest Hits (2002). In 2005, he reunited with Willie D and Bushwick Bill and put together The Foundation, another Geto Boys album. A year later he introduced his new crew, the Product, with the album One Hunid and released a second volume of My Homies. Also landing in 2006 was 2 Face, a collection of tracks featuring Scarface and the late 2Pac.

Godfather of the south introduces the future of Texas with Green City

His Label – Underground railroad (has put out 1 album on Koch in 2006) –

name of group: The Product – did same deal with SMC for Green City

He formed the label to discover new talent and develop it just like he did with Ludacris and with Devin the Dude.

1st record on SMC is a group from Killeen, TX named Green City, he appears on the album, available for interviews, etc. Green City – 7 members. Heard music when he was at a gym and found out these guys were not on a label and spoke to them that day and signed them on the spot. He met group in Houston (they flew in from Kailleen) 2 weeks later and Green City began recording their album – “Brand New Money”.

Album features Manny Fresh, Scarface

2 semi-pro boxers from Killeen that went to high school with the guys and they were playing the music at the gym in Houston.

Members:

Spark Dawg – main rappers - President
Mike Hee – main rappers (Ali is his manger and also Vice President of the label)
Yung Texxus – main rappers Co-CEO
MJ
J. Scott
Big Spade (member – but in jail – parole violation – on a track or two)
G – Ni (from Atlanta – member – in house producer, produced a few tracks for the album, that is how he started up in group – Spark Dawg brought him in, was a producer on Spark’s solo joint – lots of mixtapes)

Patiently waiting section of Ozone Magazine – October 2006

Scotty Lee – CEO of label Green City and he also founded the group, but not a rapper, a business man. Group was his dream, he brought the guys together in high school to form the group.
Green City – what does it mean – it represents the name Killeen, it rhymes with the city and it also represents money. All the members attended Killeen high school and became good friends, Spark made grills for people in school, that is how he met the others.
Green City is also a click, and a movement – there are other people that are in the click, but not as rappers.

Killean is a Milatary town and it is connected to Ft. Hood (the biggest millarty base in the world). 45 minutes north of Austin. How is their style different – they are real 80’s babies (early 20’s), they are young and new artists are their legends and who they grew up listening to – Swishahouse, Fabulous, Ludacris, TI, Bum D, Scarface hero (even before the deal)
Being from a military town – there are people from all over the country and they hear stuff from all over the place. Have a sound that is mixed with Texas influence with a whole national feel. Nothing like the Houston sound.

What is it like working with Face? Face is not Hollywood at all, he is well respected, and is very down to earth. Easy to chill with, regular dude, “Uncle Face”. It is surreal that they are working with him – he is a hero, a legend in their eyes, Face makes it real easy by being real and acting like a regular dude. No other Texas person can give you such a big co-sign is Face. Can’t lose with him backing them up/haiving their back.

“No one else in Texas can give you a bigger co-sign than Scarface, we are blessed to working with him.” - Spark

What is the first single – “Party like a Rock Star” – featuring Manny Fresh (possibly with Mike Jones – he might be on remix), produced by Da Champ (young 18 year old – Spark manages him, found him in Austin)

Posted by Anna Nathanson