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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
gritty tales from the darkside of the south, July 10, 2004
For those who don't know who this rapper is, he was part of the Geto Boys, which formed around the late 80's-early 90's. They were also best known for their incredible story-telling on 'My Mind's Playin' Tricks on Me'. In 1994, rap was at the top of the charts. With classic albums like Illmatic, Enter the Wu-Tang, Hard to Earn, Ready to Die, Enta Da Stage and more, Scarface put out an INCREDIBLE album that proved to others that the South could do it too.
The South doesn't play a particular role in the game as most of its rappers are weak (Nelly, Chingy, Cash Money etc.) but there were those who could rip it up (Geto Boys, OutKast, Goodie Mob etc.). Without the The Diary, rap wouldn't be quite the same.
Slick Rick was best known for his story-telling. Scarface is best known for also telling stories but with a gritty pace and dark mood. And believe me, his rapping technique is something quite different. He has an extraordinary powerful voice which will totally deafen your ears if you have this up loud. His voice is incredibly strong and while rappers like KRS-One, Ice Cube, Erick Sermon etc. have powerful voices, I reckon Scarface blows them all.
Now, on to The Diary. It starts off with one of the best intros I have ever heard. The piano piece in this is touching and soft but the end of it will give you quite a shock as guns are shot. Then it quickly enters the incredible The White Sheet, a song which is too gangsta for radio. Chorus is catchy and nice, Scarface comes out rough here. No Tears is a hit you'll love. He talks about revenge and uses powerful words to match his powerful voice. Jesse James is another big ups. He speaks very clearly about murder with an open mind. I especially love the lines (I pulled my .45 and buck, buck, buck, buck/and right before he die I f*ck, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck). A true classic. Next up is G's, which is much smoother than the other tracks before it. Nice but I've seen better. I Seen a Man Die is the track you're all looking for. His lyrics in this is AMAZING. Lyrics like "Now your time has arrived for your final touch/I see the fear in your eyes and hear your final breath" and "But if you ready close your eyes and we can set it free/there lies a man not scared to die, may he rest in peace" prove to you just how AMAZING Scarface is at writing lyrics. One is incredible too. It has a real gangsta beat and Scarface drops some hard rhymes here. Goin' Down is the party track here. He speaks of a girl and how he'd like to lay her down. By far the mellowist track on the album. One Time is the interlude and is exceptionally excellent. However, the next track is what I think is Scarface at his BEST. Hand of the Dead Body featuring Ice Cube, the only guest appearance on the album. INCREDIBLE, SPECTACULAR, A MASTER PIECE! Excellent beat matching tight rhymes equals perfection. Mind Playin' Tricks '94 is the remake of the Geto Boys hit single, My Mind's Playin' Tricks on Me and I must say, it's incredible. While sequels to the originals never come out right, Scarface somehow made this one another masterpiece. He still keeps it raw but I would have like to seen the Geto Boys on this song too. The Diary is what I suppose you can call Born Killer 2, his incredible rap battle song. Scarface drops the hardest rhymes on this song out of every song on this album. The beat is fast and dark. And what a way to end this MASTER PIECE with the incredible outro. The piano piece in the intro is extended and sounds like a classic. I would have like to see what kind of lyrics Scarface would write to this incredible piece of music.
The Diary. One of gangsta rap's hardest albums and even today, it still is. I would put this in the top 5 hardest gangsta rap albums, along with others like Straight Outta Compton, Rhyme Pays, Eazy-Duz-It and other ones. But trust me on this, this is a rap gem. So get it. It really is worth your money.
Best moments= No Tears, Jesse James, I Seen a Man Die, G's, Hand of the Dead Body and The Diary
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can't Nobody Change Us...I never understood why..., January 20, 2003
No doubt the man name Scarface has a way with words. His mic presence
is undeniable as he raps with thick growl and menacing lyrics. The beats to this album were just right; not overly flashy but not mundane and sleep inducing. Scarface always talks that realness...so there is no question to his authenticity...he paints vivid pictures of ghetto street life with ease and makes one of the dirty south's best offerings to date. He makes you feel his pain.Scarface definitely gets down on NO Tears where he claims of having a stoned heart. There is nothing soft on this album and aren't any gimmicks. Just that realness...the raw street lyrics...the raw beats. This is gangsta rap at its finest. Just Check Jesse James for more proof. Every song is banging on the real and there are no weak songs.
I Never Seen A Man Cry is a dirty south classic. Undeniable. Goin Down has that riding beat to it...straight gangsta. Hand Of The Dead Body, Mind Playin Tricks On Me...the classics never stop. This album is in the category with Illmatic, Doggystyle, Me Against The World and Ready To Die. You can listen to it repeatedly and not get tired with it. Scarface...one of the greatest ever...must buy.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Scarface - The Diary, February 14, 2006
They say you should never read another person's diary because you just might find something you won't like. A fact that is clearly true, Scarface will have most people hating on him after they hear this demon-like album.
After going to Hell and back on Mr. Scarface is Back, Scarface returns the "real n1gga" and attempts to finish what he started with his debut album. His street poetry and fantasies depict the life of a real O.G. and brings out the best of him on this CD. Its hard to choose which song would shine the most on here as there are countless classics that have the word, classic, written all over it. If you don't have this album and you consider yourself a Gangsta Rap fan, I highly suggest you go buy it.
Track Listing:
1. Intro (N/A, Chill Intro)
2. The White Sheet (4 1/2)
3. No Tears (5)
4. Jesse James (5)
5. G's (4 1/2)
6. I Seen a Man Die (5)
7. One (5)
8. Goin' Down (5)
9. One Time (not rated)
10. Hand of the Dead Body (5)
11. Mind Playin' Tricks '94 (5)
12. The Diary (5)
13. Outro (N/A)
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