After a few albums with his original group, it was obvious that Jordan was emerging as the popular face of the crew. Slowly, the other two were becoming background characters in the legendary career of this man. After success with the Geto Boys, and two relatively successful solo projects, Brad Jordan truly left his mark on rap music with his third studio album, The Diary. The album quickly reached platinum certification, and is one of the few albums to ever receive a perfect score from both XXL and The Source. In other words, it was obvious from day one that this album was going to be legendary. What no one could have known was how well it would pass the test of time. This album has fresh sounds, and has songs that still receive play to this day. Hell, have you ever seen the movie Office Space? That kick ass song playing in the car near the beginning of the film was the song "No Tears" from this album. This was a release that affected both the hip-hop culture, and pop culture in a humongous way.
All of that came from a bad ass mother fucker from Houston, Texas.
1. Intro
I love every bit of this album, including this intro which I find vital to this album. All we get hear are some marching drums, and some bad ass piano for just a few seconds over a minute. In other words, the classic boring ass rap intro. I'd like to repeat myself in saying I have no problems with this, but it is just an intro.
2. The White Sheet
If you have never heard a song by Jordan (shame on you), this is a perfect way to get acquainted with our host. The white sheet this song is describing is, of course, the sheet that covers a dead body. That's right, one track in and Face is already killing people. Face is so intimidating on the mic, that you are sure that he is describing murders that he actually has committed in life. He is able to mix braggadocios raps with killing, and he comes off someone you'd best not cross. The hook is nothing of note, but one track in and you know exactly what face is all about.
3. No Tears
Much like the last song, but amped up. This is an aggressive, intimidating track, that also really fucking bangs. The banging drums, mixed with Jordan's smooth flow sounds perfect in a car. There is also no denying how cool one feels when rolling through the city banging this song at ignorant levels. We get more of the same lyrics wise, which is exactly what we want from Face. Lyrical ass murder raps.
4. Jesse James
Ok, I'll admit that this song is a bit ridiculous, but I still love this shit. It has an old western saloon feel, which is appropriate given the name of this track. Face is comparing himself to one of the most famous outlaws in history, and doing so in the most explicit way possible. Not that the other tracks have been tame, but things get kinda out of hand on this one. In an attempt to sound angry and intimidating, Face says different variations of "mother fuck" about a million times on this track. It is just as awesome as the last couple songs, but may accidentally provoke a chuckle or two.
5. G's
This is the first song that isn't just talking about Jordan murdering people. Instead, we hear about the daily life of the environment and activities Face deals with. It talks about how to behave with all of the gangsters in the hood, so you don't fuck up and die. This is a vivid description of Jordan in his environment, and some of the things he may be doing on any given day. Close to social commentary, but Scarface's wordplay keeps it being a chore to listen to. Not that social commentary is a bad thing, but you know what I mean.
6. I Seen A Man Die
Face varies even further off of the strictly murder topics. This song rather, opens up with a short skit of a character getting out of prison. We then hear Jordan's deep, methodical flow begin to tell a story. His tale, over the span of three verses, not only describes the mistakes this young man makes when he gets out of prison, but then the actual process of killing a man, and even more interestingly, what the victim is feeling. You get to hear exactly what is going through the mind of the killer, and the victim, all while being entertained by Jordan's stellar lyricism over a simple, but awesome Rap-A-Lot provided beat. We even get to hear the story of the victim's journey to heaven once he lets go of life. Face's channeling of his inner Edgar Allan Poe makes for one of the more interesting listens you'll ever have.
7. One
More of the old western piano on this track (this shit would become so played out later in his career), and a really catchy, fun hook. Really the first hook with much substance on this album. This is like a gangster song about women, and even though that sounds lame as hell, it's pretty awesome. I guess Face is trying to find a bad ass girl to accompany him in his escapades. His respect towards women is minimal, but if you've make it this far, I doubt that's a shock. Plus, it makes for some entertaining ass rhymes. One thing Jordan manages to do is remain lyrical while being ridiculously gangster, and vulgar. The third verse on this track even describes Face having to hide his erection, and makes it somehow sound cool.
8. Goin Down
Talk about a twisted, gangster love song. This has a sweet, happy beat, that makes this song feel like a genuine ballad, but the lines contain a ridiculous lack of respect for women, and a horribly sung hook by face. When you hear that description, this song may sound bad, but I challenge you to listen to this shit and not enjoy it. Somehow, Face manages to make a "love" song, sound awesome. He still can't sing, though. Not even a little bit.
9. One Time
This is a little skit, with radio samples of descriptions of a murderer, which you assume is Face himself. Nothing else really happens here. It sounds like Face just switching channels on a radio/TV.
10. Hand Of The Dead Body (feat. Ice Cube & Devin The Dude)
This may just be the most violent lead single of all time, not to mention the least radio-friendly. Regardless, it led this album to a shit load of sales, so what the hell do I know? It sounds like the channel flipping from the previous skit landed us on the news, where a woman said that Brad Jordan must be stopped because his "literally dope lyrics" are promoting crime and drug use. Cube and Face are a match made in heaven. Predictably, the their chemistry clicks here, delivering even more aggressive murder raps while Devin The Dude offers a nice little hook. Really makes you sad that these two didn't collaborate more, because this is a thing of (twisted) beauty.
11. Mind Playin' Tricks '94
An adaptation of the classic Geto Boys track under the same name hits the mark nicely. The beat sounds much like the original, but updated and made to sound a little more fresh, I suppose. The first verse, for the most part, contains updated lines in comparison to the original track. The rest of the song is nothing like the '91 versionl. It is much more of a social commentary, while the original was literally about him and the Geto Boys seeing things that weren't there. Very good lyrics over the three verses, and homage is payed in a very tasteful way, without just doing the same thing again. This is no "Mind Playin' Tricks On Me" (I mean, where the hell is Bushwick Bill talking about punching concrete?), but that being said, it's still welcome.
12. The Diary
The title track is somewhat of a summary of the whole album. It has the braggadocios, murder raps, it brings up the intensity, and covers the bases of the entire album. Face leaves you with the impression that he wants to kill you, but you don't even care, because its Scarface. After a few tracks that moved away from his usual psychopathic ways, its fitting that the album ended in such a high intensity way. A great way to more or less end this classic album.
13. Outro
This album ends in nearly the same way it started. The epic piano and marching drums resonate through the track as triumphantly as possible, before you hear a maniacal giggle from our host as the track fades in to silence.
Rating: 5/5
The Diary didn't even have something that one could confuse as a bad track. This is the perfect gangster rap album, and anyone who hears it knows it. While rarely straying off topic, this album still never has a dull or monotonous moment. This is a bad ass album that makes you want to blast it at ignorant levels while riding through a suburban, white neighborhood, and make all of the soccer moms lock their doors in fear of you. Scarface is hip hop's greatest villain. He is the bad guy that we all loved, and we wanted to hear about every treacherous act he could conjure up into his lyrics. The Diary was a culmination of swagger, lyricism, and flat out gangster music that translated into one oft he best hip hop albums there is. Anything less than a classic score would be criminal.