About this episode
Scarface — the legendary rapper and Geto Boys icon — sits down with Shannon Sharpe at Club Shay Shay for an unfiltered conversation packed with raw stories, hip hop history, and unforgettable celebrity moments. Face takes the stage in New Balance shoes, jokes about “jonesing” Shannon, and sips award-winning Shay by Le Portier VSOP cognac. He reveals that he often plays golf with Shannon’s brother, Sterling Sharpe, calling him a scratch golfer still showing off his strength. Born Brad Jordan in Houston, Scarface grew up with his grandmother, surrounded by his uncles’ music, a “crazy” grandfather, and the streets that shaped him. He recalls playing football like Walter Payton and Earl Campbell, ducking death during a store robbery, and surviving a shooting and open-heart surgery that stunned doctors. Face opens up about losing his biological father in a tragic shooting, his stepdad “standing in the gap,” and the sayings from his grandmother that still guide him. Scarface reveals that Ice Cube, Ice-T, LL Cool J, and Will Smith inspired his storytelling style, and he names Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, KRS-One, Nas, Jay-Z, Q-Tip, T.I., and Lil Wayne among the greatest lyricists ever. He remembers beating Jay-Z, Eminem, and Prodigy for top lyricist honors in 2001, and says Chuck D, Big Daddy Kane, Ice Cube, and LL Cool J were his biggest influences. He talks about Black history being erased like old-school rappers being forgotten. Face shares how Tupac became his “partner,” the wild stories from touring together, and the possibility they recorded Pac’s final song. He recalls being in the studio with Jay-Z as he freestyled verses without writing, and how Jay and DJ Khaled gave him lifelines when he was battling COVID and kidney failure like HOV did for Lil Wayne, DMX, 21 Savage. Scarface opens up about his own son ultimately donating a kidney to save his life. He talks about working with Kanye West, calling him a “cold” producer with beats for days, and having unreleased music together. Scarface also remembers discovering Ludacris as head of Def Jam South and learning from his mentor Ice Cube. He weighs in on Jim Jones’ comments about influencing Nas, Drake’s claim that UK rappers are better than American rappers (“like saying Kobe is better than Jordan”), and ghostwriting in hip hop. He says Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift-caliber artists are the only ones making money from streaming, while calling for others to take their work off streaming platforms. The conversation spans politics, fatherhood, and sports — from running for council to his love for the Houston Rockets, Kevin Durant, Jalen Green, the Texans, C.J. Stroud, and DeMeco Ryans, to respect for the young OKC Thunder. The episode closes with Scarface performing some of his biggest hits, breaking down their stories, and talking about making music with Mike Dean. This is Scarface — from the streets of Houston to the studio with Tupac, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and beyond — telling the stories only he can. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.