A Houston rapper’s iconic NPR Tiny Desk performance is now immortalized in vinyl form.

Southern rap pioneer and Houston rap legend Scarface made waves in 2023 when he appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Tiny Desk brings in musicians to perform with a live band in an intimate setting, leading to a very personal and stripped-down performance. Scarface’s appearance was almost immediately heralded as one of the series’ best entries, with Tiny Desk producer DJ Cussin B calling the set the best hip-hop Tiny Desk they had ever done before it was even released to the public. 

Scarface performed a six-song medley that encapsulated his entire career, including songs from his classic records such as “On My Block,” “I Seen A Man Die” and “Smile.” The set list was performed with a live band, along with legendary Houston producer Mike Dean on the keys. The performance showcased Scarface’s unmatched storytelling ability and his continued influence on rap music, as well as the rapper’s skills on the guitar, which he played throughout his performance. 

The vinyl edition of Scarface: NPR Tiny Desk Concert features an exclusive black-and-white performance photo of Scarface and Dean. There are multiple options of vinyl designs, including the standard “Live On Air” edition on clear vinyl with a unique color effect and the indie-exclusive “Smoke Signal” edition that features blue, red, and black smoke ribbons imprinted on the clear vinyl. The performance will also be available on CD and Cassette tape. 

Side A
01. On My Block (4:23)
02. Mary Jane (5:28)
03. Smile (3:58)
Side B:
04. I Seen a Man Die (6:38)
05. F*** Faces (2:41)
06. Mind Playing Tricks on Me (Geto Boys) (7:51)

The latest release coincides with Rap-A-Lot-Records’ continued celebration of its 40th anniversary. Founded in 1986 by James “J”  Prince and Cliff Blodgett, Rap-A-Lot was foundational to the rise of Houston and southern hip-hop, through its first major breakthrough with the Geto Boys. The label went on to pioneer the careers of artists including Scarface, Bun B and Pimp C of UGK, Z-Ro and more. 

The label has already released a digitally remastered version of the Geto Boys classic “Mind Playing Tricks on Me,” with Bun B’s trill and Pimp C’s Pimpalation also getting new physical releases.