Greatest Hits

by Scarface

Overview

The prototype for the Dirty South thug image that came years after his debut, Scarface is a harsh and gritty MC who never broke into the mainstream because he had little desire to cross over. On Greatest Hits, Scarface collects most of his singles and well-known album tracks in a collection that has the tiniest thread of chronological order (most of his older songs are found toward the beginning), but maintains a variety that keeps it interesting. What emerges is an image of Scarface the innovator, as he continually evolves his funky gangsta rap without latching onto popular sounds or trends. Growing from a tight and somewhat-dated new jack swing sound to an eerie liquid funk through the years, Scarface maintained an originality that kept him a vital force in the underground. His loyalty to producer Mike Dean is the main reason, giving his body of work a common thread that most MCs rarely bother with. His unique delivery predates the gruff Dirty South sound with a harsh and immediate approach, but his often-overlooked lyrics are some of the most personal in the genre. None of his awesome Geto Boys tracks are included, but his simplistic early solo work transitions into his complex and thoughtful later years quite well. Scarface isn't afraid to look at both sides of his raps, and he often injects harsh truths into songs that would be nothing more than childish fantasies in the hands of lesser lyricists. Almost like a sequel to the Geto Boys' excellent Uncut Dope collection, Greatest Hits documents the solo years of one of the genre's most respected voices. It may be an acquired taste, but Scarface is a chilling realist in a music style known for its consequence-free boasts. ~ Bradley Torreano

Product Details

Release Date:	10/22/2002
Label:	Priority Records / Rap-A-Lot
UPC:	0724381264621

Tracks

1. Mr. Scarface
2. Money and the Power
3. Let Me Roll
4. Southside
5. Mary Jane
6. Goin' Down
7. Smile
8. F*** Faces
9. Homies & Thugs
10. Guess Who's Back
11. Love & Friendship
12. Now I Feel Ya
13. I Seen a Man Die
14. Hand of the Dead Body
15. Look Me in My Eyes
16. Jesse James
17. Born Killer
18. A Minute to Pray

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Scarface   Primary Artist,Rap
Master P   Primary Artist
Johnny P.   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Jay-Z   Primary Artist
Ice Cube   Primary Artist,Rap
Devin the Dude   Primary Artist,Rap
Too $hort   Primary Artist
2Pac   Primary Artist
Beanie Sigel   Primary Artist
Tela   Primary Artist
Kanye West   Vocals

Technical Credits

2Pac   Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Composer
Master P   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Beanie Sigel   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Tela   Featured Artist,Composer
Ice Cube   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Devin   Featured Artist
Jay-Z   Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Composer
Too $hort   Featured Artist,Composer
Silkk the Shocker   Composer
Devin the Dude   Composer
Leslie Brathwaite   Composer,Producer
Lawrence Smith   Composer
James Lee Stanley   Composer
Jalil Hutchins   Composer
Carlo Karges   Composer
Eddie Wilson   Composer
Tupac Shakur   Composer
John Bido   Composer
Lil' J   Producer
Mark James   Composer
N.O. Joe   Producer
Scarface   Composer,Producer
Marvin Gaye   Composer
Kanye West   Composer,Producer
Brad Jordan   Composer
Tom de Pierro   Composer
Leroy Williams   Composer
Anzel "Red Boy" Jennings   A&R
L. Michael Smith   Composer
Skip Holman   Remastering
Brenda Sutton   Composer
James Nyx, Jr.   Composer
Kid Style   Design
J Smith   Composer
Devin Copeland   Composer
E. Wilson   Composer
Bido 1   Producer
Tony Randle   A&R
Mario Castellanos   Photography
O'Shea Jackson   Composer
Joseph Johnson   Composer
Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton   Engineer,Recording
Michael B. Sutton   Composer
Joern-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen   Composer
John Okuribido   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Mike Dean   Mixing,Composer,Producer
George Duke   Composer
Mr. Lee   Producer
Tone Capone   Producer
Todd Shaw   Composer
Jason Clark   Design,Layout Design
Lil Jon   Producer
J. Prince   Executive Producer
Bido   Producer