Recording as Akshen, he began his career recording solo for Rap-A-Lot Records, a local label in Houston, Texas. In the late 1980s, he joined the Geto Boys as they were forming and released We Can't Be Stopped, a highly successful LP that garnered the Geto Boys a large fanbase, in spite of their ultra-violent lyrics keeping them far from radio and MTV. Akshen changed his name to Scarface (he even changed his flow from a rapid-fire Kool G Rap-like delivery to normal flow, this time with a darker tone), after the film Scarface, saying he felt that the main character of the movie was just like him in many ways. Scarface soon released his debut solo album, Mr. Scarface Is Back. The album was a success, and Scarface's popularity soon overshadowed the other Geto Boys.
Scarface left the group and released a series of solo albums that kept him in the public view in spite of decreasing sales. He turned this around with 2000's Last of a Dying Breed, which received overwhelmingly positive reviews and sales, and earned him Lyricist of the Year at the Source Awards. In 2002 he released The Fix, the critically acclaimed follow up to Last of a Dying Breed. In 2007 he released Made which overall recieved very positive reviews.
Discography
1991 - Mr. Scarface Is Back (Rap-A-Lot)
1993 - The World Is Yours (Rap-A-Lot/Priority)
1994 - The Diary (Rap-A-Lot/Noo Trybe)
1997 - The Untouchable (Rap-A-Lot/Virgin)
1998 - My Homies (Rap-A-Lot/Virgin)
2000 - The Last Of A Dying Breed (Rap-A-Lot/Virgin)
2002 - The Fix (Def Jam South)
2003 - Balls And My Word (Rap-A-Lot)
2006 - The Product: One Hunid (Koch)
2006 - My Homies Pt. 2 (Rap-A-Lot Records)
2007 - Made
2008 - Emeritus
On My Block
Scarface Lyrics
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You either working or you slanging cocaine on my block
You had to hustle, cause that's how we was raised on my block
And you stayed on your hop until you made you a knot
On my block, to hang out was the thing back then
And even when you left out, you came back in
To my block, from Holloway, Bellfort, to Scott
Reed Road to Phlox, we know the spots
Smoke weed and rocks, drink all the blue dots
On yo' block you prolly bred a Fat Pat or 2Pac
Or Big Pun, or B.I., ya homeboys from knee, high
And even when it was storming outside, that nigga'd be by
That's me, dogg, on my block, I ain't have to play the big shot
Niggas knew me back when I was stealing beers from Shamrock
And my nickname was Creepy, if Black June could see me
He'd be tripping, and I'd bet he still try to tease me
My block, where everything is everything for sheezy
My block, we probably done it all homey believe me
My block, we made the impossible look easy, for sheezy
My block, I'd never leave my block, my niggas need me
On my block, we duck the nigga, haters and the cops
Fuck a hotrod, we race Impalas, chromed, out
On my block, it ain't no different than the next block
Ya get drunk and pass out, and they back ya to the house
And when you wake up on the couch you going right back at it
On my block when ya that fucked up they laugh at it
On my block, it's just another day in the heart
Of the Southside of Houston Texas, making your mark
On my block, we're cuing all the time, playing dominoes
Keep the Swishers sweet down until my Mama goes
Back inside ,, then we can fire
Pass it around a few times to get high
My block, where everything is everything for sheezy
My block, we probably done it all homey believe me
My block, we made the impossible look easy, for sheezy
My block, I'd never leave my block, my niggas need me
My block, where everything is everything for sheezy
My block, we probably done it all homey believe me
My block, we made the impossible look easy, for sheezy
My block, I'd never leave my block, my niggas need me
On my block, everybody business ain't ya business
What's going on in this house is staying here, comprende?
On my block, ya had to have that understanding
Cause if ya told Ms. Mattie, she went and told Gladys
And once ya mama got it, it was all on the wire
And when the word got back, they set yo' ass on fire
On my block, we got some 'Nam vets shell, shocked
Who never quite got right, now they inhale rocks
On my block, , it's like the world don't exist
We stay confined to this small little section we living in
Oh my block, I wouldn't trade it for the world
Cause I love these ghetto boys and girls
Born and raised on my block
The lyrics of Scarface's song "On My Block" paint a vivid picture of life in the Southside of Houston, Texas. The song describes the daily routine of the people who live there, dividing their time between hustling, working, and hanging out on the block. The rapper refers to the camaraderie that exists between the people in the neighborhood who grew up together, recalling how even those who left eventually came back. The song speaks of the joys and struggles of life in the poor urban community, as well as the sense of belonging and pride that the residents feel.
The lyrics reveal the dangers that come with life in the ghetto, like the possibility of getting caught and punished by the police or being targeted by rival gangs. Scarface also touches on the importance of silence and privacy in the community, where everyone knows everyone's business, yet there is a code of loyalty that prohibits one from sharing secrets that could lead to somebody else's downfall.
Despite the harsh realities of life on the block, Scarface has fond memories of it, particularly the music, the parties, and the people who shaped his life. With lyrics that are brutally honest and filled with emotion, "On My Block" has become an anthem that resonates with people who have grown up in similar circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyday it's been the same old thang on my block
My block is a routine place, either you work or sell drugs.
You either working or you slanging cocaine on my block
Working or selling drugs is the only way to survive on my block.
You had to hustle, cause that's how we was raised on my block
Hustling to survive is our way of life from our upbringing on the block.
And you stayed on your hop until you made you a knot
They hustled until they made enough money to be financially stable.
On my block, to hang out was the thing back then
Hanging out was a common activity on my block during old times.
And even when you left out, you came back in
People always return to my block even after they leave.
Reed Road to Phlox, we know the spots
We know every place on our block from Reed Road to Phlox.
Smoke weed and rocks, drink all the blue dots
On my block, people smoke weed, do drugs and drink.
On yo' block you prolly bred a Fat Pat or 2Pac
On other blocks, there may have been famous rappers like Fat Pat and 2Pac born or raised.
Or Big Pun, or B.I., ya homeboys from knee, high
Other famous rappers like Big Pun or B.I. may have been childhood friends growing up.
On my block, we duck the nigga, haters and the cops
We avoid haters and the police by dodging them while being on my block.
Fuck a hotrod, we race Impalas, chromed, out
We race pimped out Impalas instead of racing hot rods.
On my block when ya that fucked up they laugh at it
People on my block find it funny when someone is too messed up due to drugs.
On my block, we're cuing all the time, playing dominoes
Playing dominoes is a popular game on my block.
Keep the Swishers sweet down until my Mama goes
People wait for the mom to go inside before smoking on my block.
Back inside ,, then we can fire
Smoke up after the mom goes back inside the house.
On my block, everybody business ain't ya business
People mind their own business on my block.
What's going on in this house is staying here, comprende?
They want secrecy- what happens inside someone's house should remain in the house.
On my block, ya had to have that understanding
People have to understand and respect the secrecy rule of the residents' homes.
Cause if ya told Ms. Mattie, she went and told Gladys
If someone told Ms. Mattie, she would tell Gladys and so forth leading to the spread of gossip.
And once ya mama got it, it was all on the wire
Once someone's mother gets the gossip, everyone knows about it.
On my block, we got some 'Nam vets shell, shocked
On my block, some Vietnam war veterans suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Who never quite got right, now they inhale rocks
PTSD affected people who, now, sometimes inhale drugs.
On my block, , it's like the world don't exist
People on my block feel like the block is their entire world.
We stay confined to this small little section we living in
People on my block never venture out of their small area.
On my block, I wouldn't trade it for the world
People love their block and won't trade it for anything else.
Cause I love these ghetto boys and girls
They have a special place in their heart for the people who grew up on the block.
Born and raised on my block
People were born and raised on my block.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRAD JORDAN, CHARLES MANN, CHARLES M. MANN, DONNY HATHAWAY, LEE STONE, NASHIEM MYRICK, ROBERTA FLACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind