Emeritus [Clean] [PA]

Performer: Scarface
Engineer: Mike Mo; Gina Victoria; Mike Dean
Producer: Mike Dean; N.O. Joe; Tone Capone
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Audio Mixers: John Bido; Mike Dean . Recording information: M.A.D. Studios, Houston, TX; Mike Dean's House Of Hits, Cypress, TX; the Durf Factory Studio, Norfolk, VA; The Ranch Studio, New York, NY; The Record Room, North Miami, FL. A year after his stellar eighth LP, M.A.D.E., the Houston O.G. is back for his purported swan song, appropriately titled EMERITUS. Controversy often makes for compelling hip-hop so Scarface does well to let Rap-A-Lot chief J Prince set things off by detailing his legal troubles, the snitches involved, and an alleged conspiracy against the H-Town businessman on the album's intro. From there, `Face sends sniper shots at rival Lil Troy ("High Powered"), examines the Iraq War and recession from a ghetto point of view ("Can't Get Right"), and recounts wrong-road-taken ghetto tales ("Still Here"). Production from Nottz, Illmind, N.O. Joe, Jake One, and Scram Jones mixes soul and blues samples with frenzied key arrangements to a menacing effect. If there are any doubts left as to Scarface's lyrical prowess, the closing title track should put them to rest. Let's hope that `Face's idea of retirement is something like Jigga's. With Emeritus, the legendary Scarface brings his solo career to close, a declaration he made six yeas earlier, although this time it seems more realistic. The former Geto Boy's stipulation that collaborations are still possible is right in line with his recent projects like his three-man crew the Product but more than anything, there's a bitterness throughout Emeritus that feels like pulling up stakes and cutting your losses. Right from the extended intro where Rap-A-Lot CEO J. Prince roll calls the snitches as if it was jailhouse poetry, the album is filled spite for a game that doesn't appreciate its elder players. This uncompromising stance never wavers, even with an appearance from superstar Lil Wayne who, along with Bun B., contributes to the furious highlight "Forgot About Me." Bilal, an Ohio Players sample, plus accusations that corporate drug companies are pimping harder than crack dealers all make "Can't Get Right" a standout while "Soldier Story" and the ironically named "Redemption Song" both look back in anger at Face's rise to fame. With the rapper making women hit the "High Note" and getting hedonistic elsewhere, Emeritus is not the usual, very serious good-bye record, but in so many ways, it's a typical Scarface record. It's just better than usual with the rapper sounding liberated by his decision to move on. [Emeritus was also made available in a clean version with all explicit material removed.] ~ David Jeffries

XXL (Magazine) (p.100) - "Brad Jordan's strongest quality is his ability to preach the ghetto gospel in a manner that's uniquely poetic. He exemplifies that ability on 'Can't Get Right'..."

A member of famed Houston gangsta rap group the Geto Boys, Scarface is one of the most respected southern MCs of all time. As a solo artist, he is by far the most successful member of the Geto Boys and is often credited with bringing southern hip-hop, and the Houston scene in particular, out of the underground and into the mainstream. In the early 2000s, Scarface claimed that he was retiring from the solo MC game, but stated that he would continue to work with the Geto Boys and record and produce for other artists.

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