Scarface Will Retire after Next CD
Houston Legend Tired of Hip-Hop Politics, Will Call It Quits
Nov 20, 2008
Nobody likes to see a legend go in Hip-Hop — especially one named Scarface. He dropped his first record 20 years ago with the Geto Boys, and, along with J. Prince, spent years paving the way for Black independent label heads. Rap-a-Lot Records stood tall long before there was Death Row, No Limit or Cash Money.
But that history took a backseat to his apparent feelings of disgust in a recent question and answer session with AllHipHop. It's one thing to discuss retiring from an occupation one has held for decades. It's quite another to use the word "hate" when describing why it's time to go.
"F--- rap, you can have it back," Face told the Web site. "...in the past 10,12 years I just really started hating this s---. And it ain’t have a motherf------ thing to do with the music part of it, it’s just the bulls--- that come wit’ it."
Several rappers have announced dropping the mic in the past, but few could argue the legitimacy of Scarface's reasons. Still, he's one of the best storytellers in the genre's history. His absence would be a major blow.
Why Scarface Is Retiring
Not surprisingly, Scarface's main reason for stepping away has to do with the almighty dollar. He doesn't divulge any names, but the MC says money is consistently not paid to him when it should be. When the interviewer asks him about touring or show money, the platinum-selling rapper simply states, "f--- the show money. You need fa' sho' money."
He also blames record sales. Scarface isn't the first to compare rapping to the drug game, but he makes the point that rap in 2008 has become over-saturated with artists seeking to serve a finite pool of purchasers.
"It's so many people making records, man, I wouldn't be surprised if it's f------ 20 million rappers and a million consumers," Scarface said. "You got more motherf------ selling than you got using."
At one point, Face made the industry sound both hopeless and pointless, arguing that record sales aren't a real way for an artist to get paid. He sees it from two sides: Record companies are not paying performers what they're worth, while listeners download an album instead of buying it.
Rappers Don't Stay in Retirement
From Master P. to Jay-Z and Too Short, it's virtually proven that MC's can't stay away from the microphone. Whether it's genuine passion, greed or a need to be seen, rappers, at best, typically take a couple years off before they reemerge. Scarface's fans only hope he goes that route.
"...money talk and bulls--- walk now," he said. "But if it ain't no motherf------ money involved, bye, I'm done."
But this isn't the first time Brad Jordan has threatened to exit the game. In fact, it's not even his second. About two years ago, before he released "MADE," Face told SOHH that it was his time to go. At that point, he was frustrated with J. Prince for releasing an album of previously recorded material that he did not co-sign. Earlier this year, he said he was done, and that he would come back if he could collaborate with someone else for an entire disc.
"...this is not a good business to be in," he said in 2006. "'The Fix' was my last album. I'll never record again."
With so many classics in his bag, Scarface deserves a break. Still, rap is almost identical to professional sports — the players often flirt with quitting, but come back several times because it's almost all they know. Perhaps Scarface will establish himself as the Brett Favre of Hip-Hop.
