Emeritus is a title given to retired professors. The title establishes the authority of the bearer, in case they want to speak about their given field of expertise after they retire from teaching. Appropriately, Emeritus is the name of the new, and final, Scarface album. Scarface has professed about the ghetto, and we, the listeners, are his students. We listened to lecture topics such as: How Minds Can Play Tricks on You, How Good It Feels to be a Gangsta, and How Men Don’t Cry Until They Die.
Scarface’s last lecture certainly doesn’t feel like the last day of school, though. For the most part, he avoids the “farewell tour”-type of feel that was prevalent on Jay-Z’s supposed farewell album, The Black Album. Instead, Scarface gives you what you expect from his albums: the life of a gangsta, stories of crime, a corrupt and racist government, and cautionary tales about those who lived the hard life.
The Cool and Dre-produced “Forgot About Me” is a banger that is a departure from the usually calmer, subdued beats that ‘Face has rapped over during his lengthy career. Lil’ Wayne and Bun B both appear on the track and drop dope verses. Scarface is “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper” and it would be a shame if two of the South’s best don’t come correct with the rapper who built the South. “Can’t Get Right” is Scarface’s take on the state of affairs in America. ‘Face tackles gang violence, racist law enforcement, and even shares his feelings on the War in Iraq: “Bombs over the skies in Baghdad/ They fighting and they don’t know why/ What they said about Hussein was a goddamn lie/ Waged war against a religion for oil, don’t lie.”
The smooth production from Anthony Gilmour on “Soldier Story” perfectly fits Scarface, Z-Ro, and The Product. The song takes the side of the hustlers, blaming the government for introducing crack and guns to the hood, which leads to its destruction. The personification of the county jail and the streets as a father and mother and the hood as a hungry beast who swallows people whole paints a picture of a dark situation that many live in. It all goes back to the old adage that some people will do what they must do in order to survive, no matter if they know what they do is wrong.
On the last track, the title track, Scarface finally offers us something in the way of a farewell track. Scarface goes out guns blazing, and doesn’t even need a hook. Instead of reminiscing about his life and legacy in hip-hop, ‘Face spits for 3 minutes straight, proclaiming his greatness, cementing his legacy, and reminding us that while he may have came up listening to N.W.A. and Rakim, we came up listening to him. His final bars?
“It’s over when I leave this stage/
I’ma turn the page/
Say goodbye to ‘Face/
Wave”
While Scarface most likely isn’t gone forever, as he has stated he’s open to working on an album with past collaborators like Ice Cube, Bun B, and Jay-Z, this album is almost a fitting end to his discography. “High Notes” and “We Need You” unfortunately prevent this album from coming anywhere near the caliber that The Diary and The Fix attained. The longevity of this album is also called into question because there aren’t any timeless tracks on here; 2010 probably won’t get to see Emeritus. But when you’ve had the career that Scarface has, having a solid farewell album pales in comparison to the heights he’s achieved throughout his career as one of the greatest to ever do it. If this is truly good-bye, then he will be sorely missed.
81.5/100
Standout Tracks:
Emeritus
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Soldier Story
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Forgot About Me
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I think that review was fair in all honesty it’s a dope album not his greatest but damn he has put in more work and made more classics than some of our favorite rappers .These new cats need to study the legacy of scarface and don’t come out the lab until they get it right.
great review fred
This album is fire, proper way to go out for a legend! No love for “High Note”?! Maybe I’m biased, but Jake One killed that beat.
Vatkeezy, I am also a big Jake One fan. the problem wasn’t so much the beat as it was the lyrical content. “High Notes” is in the same vein as “Fuck Faces”, and I realize I’m in the minority when I say that I didn’t even like “Fuck Faces” that much
thanx a milli for the review… Great album, great review..
This is a tight cd and the song “soldier story” is ill and each of the artist that’s on the joint wit’ Face comes wit’ the heat and Zro has that sick rap/sing flow that has u sing the hook right along with him…
P.S. – Mayne, Fuck Faces is classic… til this day in any strip joint in the south a stripper has it bangin’ while she gets on that pole and take it lo’ to the flo’, lol
Nice review; minus the intro/outro this joint bangs from track 2 to track 13. The last three “official” face joints have been bangers. This album has been on almost non stop play since its release.
I would have to disagree with the assessment that this disc doesn’t have timeless tracks. I would say that “Emertius” and “Can’t Get Right” fit that criteria. “Emertius” has that vibe like “this is the last time that I’m going to remind y’all that I’m that dude.” “Can’t Get Right” is a social commentary on the affairs of the world as it pertains from an American stand point.
I think this album and the last two were constructed to be viewed as a whole and not by the parts that make up that whole. But…just my opinion.
Nevertheless I fuks with this. Def in my top 5 for the year (of what I’ve heard). Many may not agree but that’s cool.
Havent had a chance to listen to this yet, but great review! I gotta get my hands on this. The only track ive heard so far (besides the choice selections u made) was Forget About Me and that song was monster! Lil Wayne pretty much steals the show imo and the beats great. Anyways, good shit homie. Once I give the full album a spin ill be back with my full opinion.
this cant be any worse than Made.
I just bought the album last night, and i do admit, i have to agree with Thomas on this one… this is a very dope album though. An album that is one of a kind.. this is one great album that I havent heard in a long time… and im bumpin it while im typing this out…