How Scarface Changed The Culture
On December 9th, 1983, Scarface, starring Al Pacino, hit theatres and would go on to change the trajectory of Pop culture forever.
The story centered on a Cuban immigrant named Tony Montana, who made his way to Miami in the 80s and eventually became a larger-than-life figure with his own drug empire.
Whether you’ve seen it or not, and whether you like it or not, Scarface has a cultural impact that is only rivaled by the likes of Star Wars. The quotes, the style, and even the aesthetic of the promo items have reached every corner of culture, from fashion to art and, of course, Hip-hop.
With the anniversary of Scarface’s debut having just passed, there’s no better time to talk about the impact of the movie. So, with that said…
Let’s get into it.
A QUICK PRIMER ON SCARFACE…
Scarface was directed by Brian De Palma, and it was a career-defining role for Al Pacino, who at one point almost lost the role to Robert De Niro.
Allegedly, De Niro told Al Pacino that if he didn’t take the role, he would, and Pacino couldn’t have made a better choice.
Initially, the movie was met with mixed (and bad) reviews, and it wasn’t really heralded as that great of a film by viewers.
However, like most classics, it took a few years for Scarface to really catch on, and once the right audience found it, Scarface became a cult classic.
THE IMPACT OF TONY MONTANA
The main character of Scarface, Tony Montana, is ruthless and the epitome of a narcissist. Naturally, that means you can’t help but root for him.
Seriously though, the reason his character was so impactful wasn’t because of the qualities above, it was because he symbolized something bigger than being a gangster.
He represented the American Dream.
Scarface starts with Tony being held at a transfer facility for Cuban immigrants who are waiting to gain access to America. After making it Miami, him and his right hand man, Manny get jobs as dishwashers at a local restaurant (seen below).
By the end of the film, Tony’s fortune has changed immensely.
After a few moves, he’s got the money, power, and the respect. He lives in a mansion and doesn’t take orders from anyone. And all of it is done through hard work and taking risks when others wouldn’t.
Tony climbed the ranks from worker to boss without skipping steps, but more than anything, he showed everyone it was possible.
AND…
He showed them the downside of having unfettered access to all of your vices and the true cost of ego.
Tony wasn’t a hero in any regard, and the writers don’t go out of their way to make him a flattering character. However, his flaws made him that much better.
SCARFACE REFERENCES IN CULTURE
One of the biggest ways that movies, in general, make their mark on culture is through Iconic lines. Much in the same way that Nike has Just Do It, Tony Montana had phrases that changed the culture.
Perhaps the most widely recognizable is the line Pacino delivers at the final standoff where Tony faces off against a militia. Before blasting through the door, he says:
“Say Hello to my little friend.”
This line would go on to be spoofed multiple times over the decades in films like Demolition Man and Super-bad. More than anything, this line crossed generational boundaries and shows how strong the lore of Tony Montana.
Other lines that' get quoted frequently include:
The world is yours
First, you get the money, and then you get the power
My balls & my word are all I have… I don’t break em for nobody
SCARFACE INFLUENCE IN MUSIC
Scarface’s impact is probably most present in Hip-hop culture, where it’s been heavily referenced since the 90s.
Specifically, the style/sub-genre generally referred to as Mafioso rap in the early 90s was inspired by mobster films. In fact, Wu-Tang members, at one point, intended to name an album after an alleged criminal organization in New York before they were respectfully asked not to do so.
Nevertheless, Scarface references appear in their early 90s work, as do other rappers too throughout each decade.
Here are some of the most recognizable Scarface references in song form:
A. THE 90S
RAEKWON - CRIMINOLOGY
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx was so iconic that it cemented Raekwon in the pantheon of Hip-hop greats. Many publications hail it as an undisputed classic, and one of the most cherished songs on the album is “Criminology.”
Scarface’s impact is really apparent in Criminology. As soon as you press play, you’re greeted by two familiar voices from a turning point in the film.
Take a listen below, for reference:
B. Nas - The World Is Yours
Another infamous quote from Scarface happens in a conversation between Tony Montana and Manny where he says he wants the world and everything in it. As Tony ascends the ranks he even creates a fountain installation in his home where a globe rests. Across the globe is the phrase “The World Is Yours.”
That’s where Nas comes in.
If you look closely at the imagery at the beginning of the video for his classic record “The World Is Yours” you’ll notice that he’s paying homage to Scarface with the hot tub scene that was referenced earlier. This was another concrete testament to just how impactful Scarface was to Hip-hop culture.
But these aren’t only records that reference Scarface. There’s a ton of other uses that include artists like Biggie, the Geto Boyz, and many more.
THE 2000S
A. JAY Z - IGNORANT SHIT
On Jay' Z’s classic album American Gangster he dropped a line that really encapsulates the effect that Scarface had on the culture. He said:
“Scarface the movie did more than Scarface the rapper to me. So that ain’t to blame for all the sh*t that’s happened to me.”
That means while Gangsta rap usually gets the blame for the condition of the youth it was really movies like Scarface that impacted him more. Do whatever you want with that information, but just know that Hip-hop’s top figure also affirms that he was inspired by Tony Montana.
THE 2010S
A. FUTURE - TONY MONTANA
Future breathed new life into the myth of Tony Montana with the song of the same name. Although the movie is undoubtedly a cult classic, a new generation of Hip-hop fans were introduced the the movie by proxy.
Fun fact: Tony Montana was Future’s breakout single and it would mark the first time him and Drake worked together on a record (Drake appeared on the remix).
B. CHIEF KEEF - LOVE SOSA
A newer generation of Hip-hop fans still hold reverence for Scarface as evidenced by songs like “Love Sosa” by Chief Keef (he also calls himself Sosa from time to time as well).
For those who’ve never seen Scarface, Sosa was the plug — many fans saw the perils of being like Tony Montana, who’s ego and greed led to his demise and they wanted to be Sosa instead.
Sosa was more or less the boss, and so far removed from the process that it’d be hard for the law to ever catch up with him.
THE 2020S
I. BENNY THE BUTCHER, THE PLUGS I MET
The legend of Scarface continues going into this generation as well courtesy of the Griselda crews very own, Benny The Butcher.
Benny dropped several projects that helped build his buzz but the one that seemed to really grab The Culture was “The Plugs I Met” — The art direction in itself became iconic.
Below the is the cover featuring a newly rich Tony Montana conversing with Sosa. Their eyes are blocked out as to conceal their identities much like you see in old school documentaries/police photos.
When paired with the grimey street rap of Benny The Butcher, and the occassional Scarface vocal sample, this became more tangible evidence of Scarface’s impact.
SCARFACE INFLUENCE IN GAMING
Scarface also had a heavy impact on the gaming scene and is widely considered as the source material for one of the most iconic games in the Grand Theft Auto franchise: Vice City
A. Vice City
The game takes place in “Liberty City” in the 80s — a clear knockoff of Miami in that same era, which is the setting for Scarface.
The main character in Vice City Tommy Vercetti lives in a mansion that is eerily similar to Tony Montana and the final mission (spoiler alert) plays out a lot like the ending of Scarface — a shootout at the mansion (except in this case you arise victorious).
This video below does a good job at outlining a lot of the references from the game to the movie:
B. Scarface, The Game
In the early 2000s, Radical Entertainment developed a game based on the movie which allowed every generation of fans from Gen X’ers to Millennials to embody the story of Tony Montana in an entirely new way.
**Spoiler alert about the game below**
The story picks up right where the end of the movie leaves off, except Tony survives the assassination attempt at his mansion and begins his work to take over Miami again.
EPILOGUE
Scarface was a cultural phenomenon that changed the trajectory of pop culture, Hip-hop culture, and Black Culture.
While it is worth highlighting because of its historical significance, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that it was also very damaging to the mindset of many youth and likely more damaging than Gangsta rap as Jay-Z noted in his lyrics on Ignorant Sh*t.
It’s kinda hypocritical to say knowing that I still indulge and owned the Scarface game growing up, but still, gotta keep it real.
I imagine that Gen Z is aware of Scarface, if only anecdotally. It seems like the grails of the past are losing steam with them so who knows. Regardless, I’m sure they’re somehow referencing it without even knowing it.
One.