Scarface spoke about his relationship with the Roc-A-Fella crew in a 2013 interview with Complex:
I spent a lot of time with Kanye when Kanye was doing a lot of beats. Kanye stepped in on that album. It’s funny how that shit works. Me and JAY-Z would talk for hours. That’s my dog. We’re homies. I fuck with ‘em all. Guru, Kanye, JAY-Z, Beanie, everybody over there at Roc-A-Fella was family. The whole New York was like my extended family.
Face also spoke about JAY-Z’s creative process:
For the longest I thought he had pre-written shit and he would drop that down. But as time went on, I realized he was a freak of nature. He can hear a beat three times, listen to the beat ride once all the way through, and then lay his verse. I’ll be at the board writing my verse and he’ll already be gone. He’ll come in there sit, chat, and laugh, and then the beat will come on and he’ll write that shit in the middle of a conversation. The music will be playing and he’ll zero in and be like, ‘Ooh, ooh,’ and then lay that shit.
Kanye mixed the drums from Dr. Dre’s “Xxplosive” with a sample from “Sunrise” by The Originals
Guess Who's Back
Scarface Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This ya boy Young Hova, yo turn the motherfucking noise up
We'll get right into the proceedings this evening
Headphones are distorting, bring it down a lil' bit
Okay, now we working with it
The boy Face on the bass line, Face - Mob!
Welcome to New York City, it's ya boy Young Hov' chea
Kanye West on the track (whoo!) Chi-Town, what's going on now?
Just gimme a minute of ya time baby - I don't want much (whoo!)
Lemme talk to these motherfuckers, uhh
Guess who's bizack?
You still smelling crack in my clothes
Don't make me have to relapse on these hoes
Take it back out to taxing them roads
When I was hugging it, niggas couldn't do nothing with it
Straight from the oven with it, came from the dirt
I emerged from it all without a stain on my shirt
You can blame my old earth, for the shit she instilled in me
Still with me, pain plus work
Shit she made me milk this game for all it's worth
That's right, these niggas can't fuck with me
I'm calling guts every time, drag my nuts every time
Homey, we make a great combination don't we?
Me and the Face Mob, every time we face-off
Face it y'all, y'all niggas playing basic ball
I'm on the block like I'm eight feet tall
Homey, I'm in the drop with the AC on
That's why the, streets embrace me dawg, I'm so cool!
Guess who's bizack?
Back on the block with the old Face Mob
Mack Mittens and Hov'
Don't make me relapse
Back to the block with the fo'
Cuz this street shit is all I know
From the womb to the tomb, a hot pot of joy and a spoon
Trying to make me forty thousand and move
Motels, star-studded, rock stars and goons
Plain clothes wanna run in my room
But nigga guess who's bizack? It's ya boy Face Mob
Started with an eightball, gotta get this cake dawg
Give niggas a break, nah, you know how the game go
Fuck you think I slang fo', to go against the grain (no)
I'm out here to grind mo', rapped up in the paper chase
I wanna fuck a fine hoe and candy paint the 88
Don't got no wholesale, cause that ain't how I wanna run it
Here take these five stones and bring a nigga back a hundred
Gotta see my feet dude, you do shit a fiend do
The fire get too hot in the kitchen, I hit the streets fool
Money is an issue, and that's on the fa' shizzle my nizzle
Ya block warm, then I come by with the fizzle
And make fa' sho' I get to work mines, for part of the time
We go to war and you ain't making a dime (ha ha!)
Cause I got, shit to lose, a nigga out here payin his dues
My baby walking gotta get him some shoes
It's a new game doing, lemme give ya the rules
Get outta line and I'ma give ya the blues
It's a new game doing, lemme give ya the rules
Get outta line and I'ma give ya the blues, whoa!
Guess who's bizack?
The boy B. Mizack, a.k.a. Mr. Crack-A-Brick
Turn a whole one from a half a brick, look I mastered this
You can smell it once the plastic rips
A hot plate'll make ya swell up if ya gasket clicked
You can make ya chips swell up, ya don't have to pitch
Play them corners like a safety, watch the traffic switch
Young'n never pump fake, and you'll get past the blitz
And keep ya whole hood on flip, like on box-spring
Pissy Mack and shit, low old box of things
Strictly glassy shit, I hug the block like a quart of water
Shit I used to hug a corner like a old deuce and a quarter
Till like deuce in the morning, with the old heads
Slanging loose quarters, this Philly cat back gatted (had it)
Still fucking with them crack addicts
Still busting with that black-matic
Guess who's bizack?
Back on the block with the old Face Mob
Mack Mittens and Hov'
Don't make me relapse
Back to the block with the fo'
Cuz this street shit is all I know
In "Guess Who's Back," Scarface collaborates with Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Beanie Sigel to talk about their lives in the streets and the challenges they face. The song opens with Jay-Z's introduction before the beat, with Kanye's vocals, kicks in. Jay-Z raps about his former drug use and his journey to where he is today, while Scarface, Beanie Sigel and Mack Mittens follow with their own verses about their experiences with drugs and the streets. Scarface also references his mother's influence on him growing up and how he's made the most of his life despite that.
The song seems to have been influenced by Scarface's earlier work with the Geto Boys, as well as Scarface's and Jay-Z's strong connection to the streets. The track's focus on materialism, wealth, and violence can be seen as a product of the artists' backgrounds and the violence they have witnessed. The lyrics also reflect a harsh reality, as the artists reflect on their past gang affiliations and drug use.
Line by Line Meaning
Talk to me man
Scarface introduces himself and asks to be heard
This ya boy Young Hova, yo turn the motherfucking noise up
Jay-Z identifies himself and asks for the volume to be turned up
We'll get right into the proceedings this evening
Jay-Z implies that he has a lot to say and will get started quickly
Headphones are distorting, bring it down a lil' bit
Jay-Z asks for the volume to be lowered because the headphones are distorting
Okay, now we working with it
Jay-Z acknowledges that the volume is better now
The boy Face on the bass line, Face - Mob!
Jay-Z introduces Scarface and his production skills
Welcome to New York City, it's ya boy Young Hov' chea
Jay-Z greets the listeners and identifies himself as the host of the song
Kanye West on the track (whoo!) Chi-Town, what's going on now?
Jay-Z introduces Kanye West as the producer and greets listeners from Chicago
Can I talk to y'all for a minute? Lemme talk to y'all for a minute Just gimme a minute of ya time baby - I don't want much (whoo!) Lemme talk to these motherfuckers, uhh
Jay-Z asks permission to speak to the listeners and assures them that he won't take up too much of their time
Guess who's bizack?
Scarface questions who has returned
You still smelling crack in my clothes
Scarface implies that he is still involved in the drug trade
Don't make me have to relapse on these hoes
Scarface warns that he may fall back into old habits if provoked
Take it back out to taxing them roads
Scarface references his time as a drug dealer and the danger of the streets
When I was hugging it, niggas couldn't do nothing with it
Scarface talks about his skill as a drug dealer and the respect he commanded
Straight from the oven with it, came from the dirt
Scarface suggests that his drug operation was authentic and homemade
I emerged from it all without a stain on my shirt
Scarface suggests that he was able to avoid legal problems despite his criminal activities
You can blame my old earth, for the shit she instilled in me
Scarface attributes his criminal behavior to his upbringing
Still with me, pain plus work
Scarface acknowledges the difficulty of his lifestyle and the effort required to maintain his position
Shit she made me milk this game for all it's worth
Scarface suggests that he was driven to succeed in the drug trade due to his upbringing
That's right, these niggas can't fuck with me
Scarface boasts about his ability to outcompete rivals in the drug trade
I'm calling guts every time, drag my nuts every time
Scarface suggests that he is fearless and willing to take risks to succeed
Homey, we make a great combination don't we?
Scarface praises his partnership with J. Prince, CEO of Rap-A-Lot Records
Me and the Face Mob, every time we face-off
Scarface references his rap crew, the Geto Boys, and their ability to succeed in confrontations
Face it y'all, y'all niggas playing basic ball
Scarface suggests that his rivals are not as skilled or successful as he is
I'm on the block like I'm eight feet tall
Scarface suggests that he is dominant and imposing in his environment
Homey, I'm in the drop with the AC on
Scarface suggests that he enjoys the fruits of his labor and can afford luxurious cars
That's why the, streets embrace me dawg, I'm so cool!
Scarface suggests that he is well-liked and respected in his environment
Back on the block with the old Face Mob Mack Mittens and Hov'
Scarface references his rap crew and collaborators Jay-Z and Mack 10
From the womb to the tomb, a hot pot of joy and a spoon Trying to make me forty thousand and move
Scarface references his difficult upbringing and mentions his goal of making money
Motels, star-studded, rock stars and goons Plain clothes wanna run in my room
Scarface mentions the glamour and danger of his lifestyle and the threat of law enforcement
The boy B. Mizack, a.k.a. Mr. Crack-A-Brick Turn a whole one from a half a brick, look I mastered this You can smell it once the plastic rips A hot plate'll make ya swell up if ya gasket clicked
Scarface mentions his collaborator B. Mizack and boasts about his drug dealing skills
You can make ya chips swell up, ya don't have to pitch Play them corners like a safety, watch the traffic switch Young'n never pump fake, and you'll get past the blitz
Scarface offers advice to aspiring drug dealers about how to succeed in the trade
And keep ya whole hood on flip, like on box-spring Pissy Mack and shit, low old box of things Strictly glassy shit, I hug the block like a quart of water Shit I used to hug a corner like a old deuce and a quarter Till like deuce in the morning, with the old heads Slanging loose quarters, this Philly cat back gatted (had it) Still fucking with them crack addicts Still busting with that black-matic
Scarface references his past as a drug dealer and implies that he is still involved in the trade
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICKY M. L. WALTERS, SYLVESTER ALLEN, HAROLD RAY I. BROWN, MORRIS DEWAYNE DICKERSON, LE ROY L. JORDAN, CHARLES MILLER, LEE OSKAR, HOWARD E. SCOTT, RICHARD L. SERRELL, KEVIN WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind