Send "Scarface " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Pitchfork |
 Scarface has always seemed depressed, but on his previous two records, he sounded like a man permanently severing ties with the outside world. Both 2007's MADE and 2008's Emeritus were almost alarmingly bleak-- mournful, embittered dispatches from a self-imposed exile-- and spending time in them was rewarding and exhausting in equal measure. Each was also branded Scarface's Retirement Record, but these weren't glitzy Hov-style send-offs; they were "alone in a motel with a bottle of Jack and a gun" sorts of situations.It's a relief, then, to hear him rapping again with Dopeman Music, and it's even more gratifying to find him limber and energized. Scarface is calling Dopeman Music a mixtape, a run-up to his forthcoming studio album, tentatively titled Under Oath, and maybe because of the lowered profile, he seems looser and more engaged with the world. The beats are hard-hitting pieces of blaxploitation soul, and Scarface barrels his big-shouldered way through them with vigor. Outside of two unknown Face Mob compatriots-- B. James and Monk Kaza, who keep pace with their mentor impressively-- there are no guest rappers. But there is a palpable sense of the light being let in; Scarface calls out fellow Houston vets Z-Ro and K-Rino, yes, but also finds time to namecheck Ludacris. T.I., Wayne, and Kanye West (turns out that Scarface is an 808s & Heartbreaks fan). Hell, there are even a few skits here-- and they're sort of funny! "Re-engaged," of course, doesn't equal "light-hearted." As ever, Scarface deals in weighty stuff: pain, loneliness, remorse, injustice. Always a bracingly economical writer, he freeze-frames systemic racism with just five words on "The N Word": "White judge, black court reporter." He's thoroughly unconvinced anything in this regard has changed: "Bottom line is, I'm a black man, so my S-K-I-N/ Is my S-I-N," he raps wearily on "The Ghetto Report". Scarface has never been much a ladies' man; one of the few songs addressing women on MADE was bluntly called "Go", and here, "Get Lost" offers basically the same sentiment. He can sometimes sound crushed under the weight of his misanthropy, but here he comes off as oddly sanguine. "Yeah, I made a little money, but it's gone now," he sighs on "Lyrical Assault", not sounding particularly perturbed. He throws some good vibes to his former bandmates Willie D and Bushwick Bill later on the same song: "A Geto Boy till the end, got the plaques to prove it/ Out the group, but I still blast the music."...full text |
| Ted-payne |
| Scarface – pretty consistent dude. I like most things he releases in fact. Here is a mixtape designed to get people excited for his upcoming album. Does it do the job? Lets see what I think on first glance: 1. Picking Up The Pieces - Nice intro – that soulful kind of beat Scarface sounds great over…a la Guess Who’s Back and This Can’t Be Life. Good to hear Scarface rapping – he is still sounding good. One of the best voices in rap IMO. 2. Dopeman Music - Whoa this beat is cool – kind of out there. Definitely jazzy but a little darker than you’d expect. Crazy production, I dunno about Face’s cohorts on the song but they certainly don’t ruin the song. 3. Lyrical Assault – The start of the beat made me think Polow Da Don right away – those epic sounding opening chords. Gotta say I am surprised about Malice being on the track – he was talking pretty greasy about Face. Scarface and the gun talk I am not too old to enjoy it – I don’t care what anyone says. 4. Fasho Moneyskit - WHO CARES 5. Gwap - Always worried about songs called gwap. This is pretty classic Scarface here – not my fav track so far but if you like Scarface (I do!) then you will like this. 6. Get Lost – Starting a bit too soft for my taste. this just isn’t my personal style. Good track for what it is I guess. Production has grown on me since I typed the start of this…this might grow on me. 7. The N Word – What is the N word anyways? Nipple? Just kidding don’t lose it Not much of a song here – cool interlude I guess…better than a skit. 8. The Ghetto Report - This is my fav Scarface style – the “ghetto CNN” Scarface over the soulful beats. A definite highlight IMO. 9. 2 The Beat – Scarface is form the south so he gotta have those lasers and hi hats. Would sound awesome on a good system. 10. Wanted – A bit generic to me to start – got a cool guitar interlude – but just a bit “plodding” for me. 11. Hustle Game – Yeahhhhh this is good. Great production on this joint – I love it. Perfect kind of song for Face. 12. Rff Raff Skit – I was gonna say BOOOO SKIT…BUT…nice K-Rino and Z-Ro shout outs – those dudes are awesome. 13. In My Blood – Nice piano to start – more of a B James song I think. 14. Bad Man – I love reggae and rap combos – this not so much. I see what he was trying – just not feeling the production. Could grow on me – it has an OK hook....full text |
| Hiphopdx |
| It’s refreshing to hear Scarface’s name mentioned in upcoming releases. It’s even more refreshing to hear the legend's voice over quality, edgy production. An artist whose catalogue would be the envy of any rapper living or dead returns to his beloved culture with Dopeman Music. His post-Emeritus hiatus aside, Scarface shows that he is still hungry, relevant and worthy of the crowns given to him. Although it's "just a mixtape" in terms of presentation and personnel, Brad Jordan proves that buzz can never duplicate mastery. Dopeman Music marks one of the few tools Scarface has never used in Hip Hop, which is releasing a mixtape. Conceptually, it follows suit with the title of project. The leader and his latest Facemob spend the album addressing the role of the hood and currency. The 'Mob emcees that Scarface brings along for the go-'round sound deserving to be alongside the legend. Fans will inevitably question whether these rappers are capable of standing on their own. It's not that lead assisting rapper B. James is an outstanding lyricist, it’s that he can complement Scarface's style perfectly. Lyrics like, “The School of hard knocks / All the scholars turn to fiends / No jobs in the city, all we got is triple beams” are solid lyrics but the subtle changes of delivery between artists, and devotion to the material is what makes Dopeman Music a convincing piece of art. The retail mixtape operates on a respectable level of quality, though not up to par with a proper Scarface album. However, unlike some of past in-between-projects, or unofficial archival releases, Dopeman has some truly breakout moments. “2 the Beat” features a ridiculously addictive hook and dope verses, with an old school approach to Rap songwriting. 'Face reminds us all why everyone from Tupac Shakur to Jay-Z has sought the legendary Geto Boys front-man out. “Get Lost” shows the man’s continued versatility. He remains one of the few artists who can have an R&B hook on a project without it ever compromising himself as an artist. His verse on “Get Lost ” paints a vivid picture of a woman whose lifestyle and age conflict. Its hook is reminiscent of those heard on 2002's classic album, The Fix. The song itself is one of the few times on the project where the Facemob’s inclusion can be counterproductive. Fans long for more verses from 'Face after hearing him open the track with a phenomenal verse, though the rapper teases the listener with a stamp of approval, and "on-the-next" approach....full text |
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