The Geto Boys Breakup

Long before Eminem invented his schizophrenic Slim Shady persona, to say what even he was afraid to say, Houston rap group, The Geto Boys, were using alternate personalities to express their opinions. At many times these visions were woven into tales of violent fantasy and bravado pushed to the limit. The group’s members, Willie D, Bushwik Bill and Scarface didn’t just tell tales about the street, they lived them to the fullest. Now after fifteen years of keeping it real the Geto Boys are leaving the game on top with one last album, The Foundation due later this month, for their longtime label Rap-A-Lot records. When the Geto Boys released their first album, The Geto Boys, many people were speechless. The group’s tales of dope, women and guns were filled with obscenities and depictions of violence that made N.W.A.'s Straight out of Compton sound like an episode of Sesame Street. In fact the song Mind of a Lunatic was to much for the album’s distributor David Geffen and Geffen Records refused to ship the album for Rap-A-Lot. The album was eventually picked up and distributed by famed producer Rick Rubin’s Def Jam imprint. The most prolific, and in turn famous, member of the Geto Boys has always been Brad Jordan whose Scarface MC persona is almost as memorable as the Al Pachino movie it’s named after. As Scarface, Jordan voiced his take no prisoners stance with songs like Gangsta of Love and Assassins. Over the years Scarface has enjoyed a lot more successes as a solo artist something that created jealousy, animosity and even physical threats between the group’s members over their carrer. The most stable group member, Willie D, despite his increadible talent, has been the most reclusive. Being the ladies man of the group Willie D’s rhymes on songs like Life in the Fast Lane and The World is a Ghetto are stunning in their rationalization of the inner workings of ghetto life. So, it’s no surprise that after the release of The Foundation Willie D plans to move his family to the Middle East to pursue real estate ventures. Of course, the Geto Boys wouldn’t be complete without the mad genius of Bushwik Bill. Standing only four feet tall, Bushwik Bill is instantly recognized by friend and foe alike. With his “Chucky” persona Bushwik Bill single handedly created horror based rap, something that would be imitated but never matched by groups like The Gravediggers, and two cent hacks, Insane Clown Posse. Bushwik Bill, an MC who has been plagued with suicidal thoughts, and even shot out his own eye early in the group’s career, is easily one of the most intriguing figures in rap. The Geto Boys will be missed. Brandon Daviet