Brad Terrence Jordan, better known by his stage name Scarface, is a Texas-based MC originally known for his work as a member of the Geto Boys. He has been a solo artist since 1991, becoming one of the most popular southern rappers in the business, while maintaining ties to the Geto Boys.
Scarface began his career as Akshen, recording solo for Lil' Troy's Short Stop Records, a local label in Houston. In the late 1980s, he signed with Rap-A-Lot Records, joined the Geto Boys, and released Grip It! On That Other Level (1989), a highly successful LP that garnered the group a large fanbase, despite limited exposure on radio and TV due to their violent lyrics.
Akshen changed his name to Scarface and released his debut solo album, Mr. Scarface Is Back. The album was a success, and Scarface's popularity soon overshadowed that of the other Geto Boys. Scarface remained in the group while releasing a series of solo albums that kept him in the public view with increasing sales. This peaked with 2000’s The Last of a Dying Breed, which received overwhelmingly positive reviews and sales, and earned him the honor of Lyricist of the Year at the Source Awards.
He has collaborated with such artists as Jay-Z, Freeway, Master P, Jadakiss, Faith Evans, Chamillionaire, 2Pac, Nas, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Lloyd Banks, Beanie Sigel, Young Jeezy, Too Short, Anthony Hamilton, Bun B, Raekwon, Z-Ro, and Gang Starr. In addition to his career as a lyricist, Scarface has also been the coordinator and president of Def Jam South since 2000, where he has fostered the career of popular rapper Ludacris, whom he originally signed to the label.
This photograph is part of Brooklyn-based photographer Peter Beste's Houston Rap Culture series. For the last four years Beste has been working on a book with writer Lance Scott Walker about the lifestyles of the hustlers and rappers from their hometown of Houston. Beste has had solo exhibitions in London, New York, San Francisco, Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Osaka, Oslo, and Bergen. His work has appeared in Spin, VH1, The Fader, American Photo, Vice, The Face, London Observer, Dazed and Confused, XXL, and many others. His first book, True Norwegian Black Metal (Vice Books),will be out in May 2008.
www.peterbeste.com