Scarface — Tiny Desk Concert (NPR), 2023

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Why this recording

Three days before the taping, producer Bobby Carter recalls, Scarface's camp asked whether they could bring Mike Dean. The keyboardist, whose synths run through Scarface's classics and the Rap-A-Lot catalogue, joins a ten-piece band under bassist and music director Anthony “Antboogie” Nicholson. Carter sees Scarface as a conductor here, in a half-hour set spanning several eras. Directed by Maia Stern; the standout marker, per Carter, is “I Seen a Man Die”, the fourth song.

— Simon Janvier, live-sound professional and editor of the catalogue

Recording technical sheet

Rights-holding channelNPR Music
Source statusOfficial — broadcaster or organiser
Uploaded
Exact runtime
ResolutionHD (720p+)
Directed byMaia Stern
Source qualityProfessional (multi-camera)

Metadata checked on YouTube on 29 September 2026; direction, camera setup and sound documented by the editors.

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Published on August 10, 2026 by Simon Janvier

Filmed live concert by Scarface for NPR Music’s Tiny Desk, recorded in 2023 at the radio’s offices in Washington. A founding member of the Geto Boys and then a major solo figure of Southern rap out of Houston, Scarface is recognised as one of the most influential storytellers in American hip-hop. For this live concert he is joined by producer Mike Dean on keys — whose signature synths marked many of his classics and the Rap-A-Lot catalogue. The multi-song live format runs through six tracks spanning several eras of his career: “On My Block”, “Mary Jane”, “Smile”, “I Seen a Man Die”, “F**k Faces” and the Geto Boys classic “Mind Playing Tricks on Me”. Shortly before, Scarface had received the inaugural Hip-Hop Grandmaster Award. A live, instrumented version of his repertoire, this filmed live concert confirms the standing of an essential rap storyteller. Captured by NPR Music (editorial production: Bobby Carter). Hip-hop to watch as a filmed live concert. Year: 2023.

Setlist

  1. On My Block
  2. Mary Jane
  3. Smile
  4. I Seen a Man Die
  5. F**k Faces
  6. Mind Playing Tricks on Me

Personnel & credits

  • Scarface — vocals, guitar
  • Mike Dean — keyboards
  • Steven "Spud" Howard — vocals
  • Takai "Cookie" Hicks — vocals
  • Bobby Carter — editorial producer (NPR Music)
Category

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