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
Betrayal
Scarface Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo what up kid?
Yo, you holdin your head up?
I'm tryin to man, but the system is shady
Word man they always man, they always tryin
to keep a good brother down, but I'm sayin
We still, you know we got love for you son
and we prayin for you and we, you know
you know while you in there man
No question
Hopefully they won't keep you in there for too long
Yeah, for real, I sure love be out in a minute, you know?
But you know what I want you to kid?
You know what wouldbe the bomb man?
What's that?
You need to do some shit with Face man
Bomb on niggaz, be shady man
Scarface?
Yeah man
Yo that's my nigga, yaknowwhaImean
Scarface is tight son
Yo that's a good idea word is bond
I'm gonna talk the play in tomorrow(yeah) and
see about if we could hook up wit him
That's proper
Scandalous, money greed and lust
In this trife life, there ain't nobody you can trust
Plus there's no justice, it's just us
In fact, watchin' yo back it be must
And each and everyday around the way gats bust
And jealous so-called friends'll try to set you up
It's called betrayal
Check the horror scene
The kid was like twelve or thirteen
Never had the chance like other kids to follow dreams
Watched his father catch two in the dome and to the spleen
Nothin" but blood everywhere, these streets are mean
They spared his life, but killed his moms and his sister Jean
Of course over some drug shit
Hi spops was on some ill-out, spill your guts, on some thug shit
Didn't know his boys was on some shady ass no love shit
His pops got played out though, with silencers they laid him out yo
Took his stash and all the cash and left 'em, tied up on the couch yo
With tape over his mouth, so he couldn't cry out
cause his dad was the nigga with clout
Survival of the fittest so they split his wig no doubt
Despite the stocking caps he noticed the same cat, who used to give him doe
and taught him, to use the same gat
Supposed to be an Uncle,fam and all that
He could tell it was him 'cause he wore the same slacks, he wore when
he took him to Meadowlands racetrack
Why did he flip and go out like that?
It's called betrayal
Scandalous, money greed and lust
In this trife life, there ain't nobody you can trust
Plus there's no justice, it's just us
In fact, watchin' yo back it be must
And each and everyday around the way gats bust
And jealous so-called friends'll try to set you up
It's called betrayal
A Betrayal
Punk ass niggas
It's called betrayal
He on a mission to become a ball player
Flip big Benz's, flossin all gators
Had it all mapped out,6-8,12th grader
Fresh outta school, he fin' to go lay paper
He had abrother who was hustlin collectin his change
Never let his baby brother stick his neck in the game
Told him all he had to do is just enjoy the ride
And he ain't have to worry about money cause that's in time
So now he's pacin as the time moves slowly
Can't wait to face Shaquille in the paint and school Kobe
Kept his grades and stayed up under naighborhood functions
And then a group of knuckleheads came through dumpin
So now he's sittin on the sidewalk bleedin
Fell into a puddle of his own blood and stopped breathin
And everybody in the neighborhood still grievin
But destiny caught up with his ass and he got even
And all the cryin in the world ain't goin to bring him back
his brother, sittin at the wake wipin tears from his mother's eyes
Why'd the game have to go and take the young boys life
Only the wicked live shife, payin the price
while he's starin at the shell
his brothers soul wants hell the trigger man made bail
and you, wouldn't pay the boys mail, and sacrificed the fuckin family
That's betrayal
Betrayal
Scandalous, money greed and lust
In this trife life, there ain't nobody you can trust
Plus there's no justice, it's just us
In fact, watchin' yo back it be must
And each and everyday around the way gats bust
And jealous so-called friends'll try to set you up
It's called betrayal
The song Betrayal by Scarface is a commentary on the difficult and dangerous reality of life in the inner city. The lyrics describe a world where trust is difficult to come by, and even so-called friends and family can turn against you for their own selfish gain. The story told in the verses highlights this theme, describing the experiences of several individuals who fall victim to "betrayal" in different ways. In the first verse, the singer talks about the insidious ways in which the system keeps "good brothers" down, through injustice and inequality. He also acknowledges the support and love of his community, who are with him even while he is incarcerated.
In the other two verses, Scarface tells the stories of two young men who are betrayed by those they thought they could trust. The first is a boy whose father was killed in a drug deal gone wrong. The boy survives, but his mother and sister are killed in the crossfire. Later, he discovers that his father's "boys" were the ones who set him up, and that his own uncle was involved in the murder. The second story is about a boy who wants to be a basketball player, and whose brother is involved in the drug trade. The brother promises to keep him out of harm's way, but the boy is killed in a drive-by shooting. The brother is left to deal with the aftermath, hisown grief and his family's anger.
Throughout the song, the message is clear: in this world, betrayal is common, and trust is rare. Scarface uses his storytelling skills and poignant lyrics to bring the listener into the heart of the struggle, and to illustrate the brutal consequences of betrayal.
Line by Line Meaning
Scandalous, money greed and lust
The world is full of deceit, driven by the desire for money and power
In this trife life, there ain't nobody you can trust
In this difficult and dangerous life, there are no trustworthy individuals
Plus there's no justice, it's just us
The system is corrupt and biased, leaving us to fend for ourselves
In fact, watchin' yo back it be must
We must constantly be vigilant and cautious of those around us
And each and everyday around the way gats bust
Every day, in our neighborhoods, guns are fired
And jealous so-called friends'll try to set you up
Even those we consider friends may betray and manipulate us out of envy
It's called betrayal
These acts of deceit and treachery are known as betrayal
Check the horror scene
Observe the terrifying reality
The kid was like twelve or thirteen
The young boy was only twelve or thirteen years old
Never had the chance like other kids to follow dreams
Unlike other children, he never had the opportunity to pursue his aspirations
Watched his father catch two in the dome and to the spleen
He witnessed his father being shot twice in the head and once in the abdomen
Nothin' but blood everywhere, these streets are mean
The streets are violent and filled with bloodshed
They spared his life, but killed his moms and his sister Jean
Although they spared his life, they murdered his mother and sister
Of course over some drug shit
The incident occurred due to involvement in the drug trade
His pops was on some ill-out, spill your guts, on some thug shit
His father was involved in dangerous and ruthless criminal activities
Didn't know his boys was on some shady ass no love shit
He was unaware that his friends were engaged in deceitful and heartless behavior
His pops got played out though, with silencers they laid him out yo
His father was set up and murdered, without a chance to defend himself
Took his stash and all the cash and left 'em, tied up on the couch yo
The perpetrators stole his father's drugs and money, leaving him bound and helpless
With tape over his mouth, so he couldn't cry out
His mouth was taped shut, preventing him from calling for help
cause his dad was the nigga with clout
Because his father was a powerful figure in the community
Survival of the fittest so they split his wig no doubt
In this ruthless world, they killed him without hesitation
Despite the stocking caps he noticed the same cat, who used to give him doe
Despite their disguises, he recognized one of the perpetrators who used to offer him money
and taught him, to use the same gat
This person had previously taught him how to use the same gun
Supposed to be an Uncle, fam and all that
This person was supposed to be his uncle, a family member
He could tell it was him 'cause he wore the same slacks, he wore when he took him to Meadowlands racetrack
He recognized him by the clothing he wore when they went to the racetrack
Why did he flip and go out like that?
Why did he betray and turn against them in such a violent manner?
A Betrayal
This act of betrayal is shocking and heartbreaking
Punk ass niggas
This term refers to the perpetrators as despicable individuals
He on a mission to become a ball player
He had dreams of becoming a professional basketball player
Flip big Benz's, flossin all gators
He aspired to have luxury cars and wear expensive alligator skin clothing
Had it all mapped out, 6-8, 12th grader
He had a plan for success, envisioning himself graduating high school as a top player
Fresh outta school, he fin' to go lay paper
After graduating, he planned to sign a lucrative contract
He had a brother who was hustlin collectin his change
His brother was involved in illegal activities and collecting money
Never let his baby brother stick his neck in the game
He always protected his younger brother from getting involved in illegal activities
Told him all he had to do is just enjoy the ride
He advised his brother to simply enjoy the benefits of his success
And he ain't have to worry about money cause that's in time
He assured his brother that he would eventually be financially secure
So now he's pacin as the time moves slowly
Now, he anxiously waits as time seems to pass slowly
Can't wait to face Shaquille in the paint and school Kobe
He eagerly anticipates challenging NBA stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant on the basketball court
Kept his grades and stayed up under naighborhood functions
He remained focused on his education and participated in community events
And then a group of knuckleheads came through dumpin
Suddenly, a gang of troublemakers arrived and started shooting
So now he's sittin on the sidewalk bleedin
He is now sitting on the sidewalk, bleeding from his injuries
Fell into a puddle of his own blood and stopped breathin
He fell into a pool of his own blood and eventually died
And everybody in the neighborhood still grievin
The entire neighborhood is still mourning his loss
But destiny caught up with his ass and he got even
However, fate eventually caught up with one of his attackers, leading to their retribution
And all the cryin in the world ain't goin to bring him back
No amount of mourning will bring him back to life
his brother sittin at the wake wipin tears from his mother's eyes
His brother is now comforting their grieving mother at the funeral
Why'd the game have to go and take the young boys life
Why did the violence of the streets claim the life of this young boy?
Only the wicked live shife, payin the price
It is only the wicked who engage in deceitful actions and must face the consequences
while he's starin at the shell
As he looks at the casket
his brothers soul wants hell the trigger man made bail
His brother's spirit desires vengeance, but the person who pulled the trigger is now free on bail
and you, wouldn't pay the boys mail, and sacrificed the fuckin family
You, the person being addressed, neglected to support him and caused the destruction of their family
That's betrayal
This act of betrayal is a heartbreaking and devastating betrayal of trust
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRAD JORDAN, SYLVESTER ALLEN, HAROLD BROWN, LEROY JORDAN, LEE OSKAR, HOWARD SCOTT, CHARLES MILLER, MORRIS DICKERSON, KEITH ELAM, CHRIS MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marcosojeda2956
This song put me on in high school(2012) learned alot, ex ended up with close friend who introduced me to guru, and I introduced him to her when she was my girl. Betrayal. Live to learn, so you learn how to live. 2021 still pushing this heat to the fullest
@Jawdroppermvp
Man, Similar story we've had, this song hit me hard towards my senior year in high school, these days every now and then i come back to this just to remind me of all the good old times & pain i had gone through, during those times in my life, 2022 and still hustling to the fullest
@dannyatkins4672
Ain’t shit man that’s not that bad
@gordanhatesjiujitsu
I got to hear this song the same year i was also in highschool graduated 2014. A week does not pass that i dont listen to this song.
@hiSlyJakRatchet
Was def listening to this in middle school and my freshman year while playing games and eventually smoking marijuana to this track
@majahcorcoran782
@Danny Atkins bad enough...who are you going measure someone's pain you sausage
@whooelse9444
This is a real deep track. Always a message in every song with gang starr.
@ericwaters4042
facts just like his song just 2 get a rep
@hollywilliams5416
L I 0
@dapejapes3220
its the message in the song that makes you rock on