Legendary actor and star of the iconic 1983 film Scarface, Al Pacino, recently revealed that hip-hop culture played a huge role in the film’s enduring popularity.

During an appearance on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast to promote his memoir Sonny Boy, Pacino discussed the movie’s transformation from a critically panned release to a cultural phenomenon.

The Scarface remake, originally adapted from a 1932 film, received significant criticism from Hollywood insiders when it first hit theatres. However, Pacino admitted to being “surprised” by the audience’s eventual embrace of the movie, especially within hip-hop circles.

TRAILER

“The audience liked it. It took a while. Hip-hop just got it. They understood it. They embraced it, the rappers,” he explained.

He noted how the film’s popularity surged with the release of VHS tapes, further boosted by its integration into hip-hop music. “We’re on the records, these rappers,” Pacino added about the lasting influence of Scarface on rap lyrics and culture. The character of Tony Montana, played by Pacino, has become a staple figure in hip-hop, symbolising ambition, wealth, and power.

Over the years, Scarface and its central character, Tony Montana, have been referenced in rap music over 200 times, making it one of the most mentioned films in the genre. Artistes such as Nas, Jay-Z, and The Notorious B.I.G. have all incorporated the film’s themes of survival and success into their lyrics, Scarface’s place in hip-hop history.