Al Pacino Credits Hip-Hop Culture With Boosting Popularity Of ‘Scarface’

Al Pacino‘s role as Tony Montana in the 1983 film Scarface is one of the most iconic portrayals of an anti-hero in the history of cinema. A pop culture staple, Scarface‘s impact and influence on Hip-Hop can’t be understated, as Pacino’s performance, along with the film’s ethos, have been ingrained in the minds of listeners and artists alike in the wake of its release. Pacino recently appeared on the WTF podcast with Marc Maron, during which he discussed Scarface being panned by critics in spite of its popularity among viewers. “I was surprised that it had that reaction,” the 84-year-old said of pundits’ initial reception of the film. “The audiences liked it. Took a while.” Dominik Bindl/Getty Images Directed by Brian De Palma, Scarface arrived at a time when Hip-Hop was coming into its own, with Tony Montana’s ambition and rags-to-riches story resonating with a number of its artists, as well as fans of the music. “Hip-hop just got it,” Pacino said of the culture’s embrace of the film. “They understood it. They embraced it, the rappers. And then the next thing you know, VHS is going out and more people are seeing it. Plus, we’re on the records, these...