Hand it to Scarface for being able to make dope music 30 years into the game. His last album, 2015’s Deeply Rooted graced multiple year-end lists and proved Brad Jordan was forever nice with a mic. It makes sense that he’d want to capitalize on that success with outtakes from the album, but Deeply Rooted: The Lost Files pales in comparison to the original and shows not even legends always hit the grand slam.
The album’s primary flaw is its mixing even with possibility ‘Face wanted a raw, unmastered feel for these “lost” releases. Regardless, the final product sounds decidedly unfinished and detracts from even the project’s stronger cuts. “Black Still” should have been a thumping protest anthem that brilliantly borrowed from Public Enemy’s “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos.” However, Scarface’s voice is deafening on the track that somewhat drowns out the steel-toed beat. The sonic mismatch makes it hard to focus on hard-hitting lyrics like “Take an eye for an eye, take a tooth for a tooth/Do unto others as them others would do unto you.” The same issues mar “Live That Life” and “That’s Where I’m At,” leaving room to wonder what could have been had someone made better choices during the album’s mixing stages.
Additional problems don’t lie in questions of what could have been, but in what already was. The Lost Files consists of six previously unreleased tracks and four alternate versions of Deeply Rooted cuts. Scarface was wise to release the bizarro version of “Mental Exorcism,” which sports smooth hook and appropriately melancholy production. However, the other three cuts, while decent on their own, are vastly inferior to their original counterparts. “Concrete Couch,” is not only a poor man’s version of “The Hot Seat,” it sports a sample that rap fans will remember from JAY-Z’s “Blueprint 2” back in 2002, Lupe Fiasco’s “Mural” in 2015 and Jeezy’s “Beautiful” featuring Game and Rick Ross just a year before that. Both Lupe and Jizzle sounded more in-pocket with the sample, and maybe that’s why ‘Face initially left it off Deeply Rooted. Why he felt the need to bring it up now is anyone’s guess, as the song only raises doubts about the need for The Lost Files’ existence.
Scarface’s political conviction and willingness to speak out against injustice is admirable. His lamentations on the Sam Cooke-referencing “One Day Closer” are a reminder of how impactful Scarface can be when he pulls from the page of his diary. However, not much else on this album stands out from the protest tunes that have flowed through Hip Hop since Trump’s election. When Dizzy Wright and KXNG Crooked have released albums stocked with protest anthems in the past month alone, a righteous sentiment is not enough for memorable music.
Such periphery just about sums up Deeply Rooted: The Lost Files as a whole. Scarface’s commendable intent to speak out against societal ills gets lost in substandard mixing and conscious decision not to power through with a new album.
Brad wheres Mike @?
Oh hes fuckin with Kanye now?
That sucks bro.
Shouldnt have burned that bridge doggie!
Woof Woof!
Burned bridge!? Mike Dean put in work on the first installment of Deeply Rooted! Please get your facts together before you comment!
Lack of creativity. From Scarface?! Some stuff doesn’t need to be sugar coated.
He’s racist af, unfortunately no one will speak out because he’s black.
Yeah? Who is he racist against, LaQuita?
Scarface ain’t racist(woman please)smh dat man is just rapping about shit he’s been rhyming about since late 80s the only thing is people like u?and them people(shouldn’t have to say)u know who and what I’m talking about the only thing people is finally paying attention so its not racist its truths and alot of time they hurts
Original he get and got respect from the best 2pac,jay z,nas, fuck it 2 many to name O.riginal G.angsta!!! Stop criticizing dat man
I don’t understand why anybody dosent like this album. As usual scarface is deep and so dope and keeps it real. Alot better than this mumble stuff out now. I love this album and all his past ones never have I been disappointed by him.
Man this album is right on time. I don’t know why people are sleeping on O.G. Scarface. I guess it’s because he’s not from New York or California he gets no love. But it’s ok. Face represents us from H-TOWN very well.
I thing that this album is way better than Revival. 4.5/5
Excuse my misspelling DETROIT fucks wit face all day 365.
These are left over tracks from the Deeply Rooted sessions. What were you expecting review boy? There is a reason they didn’t make the final cut of the album clown.
@Laquita you clearly don’t know the definition of racist. Any time someone black challenges the white supremacy he’s called or deemed a racist.
First off blacks can’t be racist, to be racist is to be quote unquote a race that perceives to be superior than another race and have the ability to affect another race condition of living, the ability to restrict economic gain ,the act of keeping another race down from prospering, and many other things Blacks don’t and can’t do. Blacks don’t have the ability, to any of the points about being black and a racist. Racism and Hate are two different entities.
From Cali and we definitely support and ride with Face. This is a solid album. Doesn’t lack anything.
I am a hardcore Scarface fan the rapping is on point on every track the beat on 3 or 4 tracks is wack he does not need to use swag trap beats I give this a 6.8 to 7 out 10.
A dope rapper spits on ANY beat bruh.Obviously if he feeling the beat he’s gonna wanna spit on it.A dope beats a dope beat regardless.Not a fan of too much trap beats.But I can tolerate the odd one or two.
Albums strsight FIYAH ???
Won’t even let me put fire flame emoji symbols wtf