Rapper aims to win council runoff
As a member of pioneering rap group the Geto Boys, Brad Jordan co-wrote the early 1990s hip-hop anthem Mind Playing Tricks on Me. Now the 49-yearold, better known as Scarface, is working to ensure Houston voters that their minds are not playing tricks on them: he is running for the city council, and is a serious candidate.
Jordan says he knows his celebrity carried him into a runoff election scheduled for today, but he’s hoping he can persuade the voters who got him there to turn out again so he can represent the council’s District D.
‘‘You can sit back and point out the problems or you can address them and bring solutions to the table,’’ Jordan said, referring to the chronic poverty and crime that afflicts his neighbourhood.
With more than 200,000 residents, District D stretches into the south and southeast sides of Houston. AfricanAmericans make up 53 per cent of its population.
While campaigning, voters ask Jordan what he plans to do if elected – but many can’t help themselves, and ask to take a smartphone photo with him.
Though name recognition is his chief asset, Jordan insists that his Scarface persona is part of his past, not his future.
The Geto Boys earned notoriety for lyrics about controversial topics such as misogyny, psychotic experiences and necrophilia. They are considered pioneers of the southern rap genre.
Michael Adams, a political scientist at Texas Southern University, a historically black college that is in the district Jordan wants to represent, said the rapper had to convince the most dependable voting bloc in his neighbourhood what attracted him to campaign for the rapper.
‘‘We have a serious gang issue in District D,’’ Monroe said. ‘‘Who can go into one of these rough, gang-infested neighbourhoods and have a conversation with gang members to put guns down? I’m gonna ride with Brad, because I’ve seen him do it.’’
There have been lighter campaign moments. Evans-Shabazz’s husband, upon seeing his wife’s opponent, also asked for a selfie. ‘‘Everything’s cordial,’’ Jordan said.