Scarface is a legend. You've probably heard that. Maybe you've heard all his music, too. (Maybe you've even read his book—or at least the very interesting Noisey article about it). But maybe you haven't, and the idea of diving into the body of work of a rapper who's been making music for 25 years with his new single seems ridiculous. In this case, though, it's not.That song, "Steer," featuring singer Rush Davis, is a great lens through which to understand Scarface: It's a narrative triumph with an intense emotional core that manages to also be musically engaging. Davis's hook is gripping right from the beginning—"Staring down the barrel of a Colt .45 / I'm feeling mad suicidal so I think I'm gonna drive"—and Scarface is a consummately detailed storyteller. He's always had a gift for making the stakes of what he's talking about spring to life, and here it's no different.Continued below…One verse opens with "awakened by the sound of a siren / helicopter spotlights illuminate the crime scene," while later he paints the full scene, describing being "paranoid got me running for my life now / homicide questioning my mama and my wife now / parking lot full of cops got the dogs out / running, chest burning, out of breath about to fall out." It unspools effortlessly: Scarface is the rare veteran artist who's able to sound timeless rather than dated. As he astutely pointed out in a recent statement, "Who wanna bite some 19-year-old’s shit? You look like a dad that’s trying to chaperone at a fuckin’ school dance, bro!"The video, which Noisey is premiering below, brings it all vividly to life, telling the narrative in a disjointed loop, expanding the song's undertones of police abuse, and coming together in devastating fashion. It's the perfect fit for such a cinematic song. "Steer" is off Scarface's upcoming album Deeply Rooted, which is out September 4 on his label Let's Talk. It features Nas, Cee-Lo Green, John Legend, Z-Ro, and others. It will probably be great because Scarface is great. Watch "Steer" below to get prepared:Follow Kyle Kramer on Twitter.
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