Czarface

Inspectah Deck told Paul Meara of HipHopDX in February 2013, that the album had no goals, but to "create something worth listening to".^[4] Inspectah Deck had worked with 7L & Esoteric on tour and two previous tracks: the duo's song "Speaking Real Words" from the 2001 album The Soul Purpose and "12th Chamber" from their 2010 album 1212. From 2013 onward, the trio decided to release further collaborations under the singular “Czarface” moniker. Esoteric spoke of the album's origin as fun between friends, which ultimately led to a character that represented all three members.^[4]

Czarface is noted not only for its hip-hop sound but also for its distinctive comic-book aesthetic. From the group’s inception, artist L'Amour Supreme has been responsible for creating and developing Czarface’s visual identity.^[5] The self-titled debut album, Czarface (2013), introduced a striking silver-masked character bursting through a comic panel, reflecting the group’s retro-inspired, superhero themes.^[6] This illustrated persona, envisioned by L’Amour Supreme, became central to the group’s brand and continues to feature prominently in music videos, live performances, and album art. Subsequent releases—including Every Hero Needs a Villain (2015), A Fistful of Peril (2016), Czarface Meets Metal Face (2018, featuring MF DOOM), and Czarface Meets Ghostface (2019, with Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah)—further expanded the comic-inspired universe. Each album cover portrays the titular character, designed by L’Amour Supreme, in vivid and often action-packed scenarios, replete with references to classic comics. The artwork routinely appears in mini-comics or liner notes packaged with the group’s vinyl releases, reinforcing Czarface’s cohesive style.^[7] In addition to album illustrations, Czarface often incorporates L’Amour Supreme’s art into promotional comics and costumes for stage use, bridging the gap between 2D comic visuals and live performance. In 2021, the group issued a limited comic book titled Czar Noir, featuring his cover art and character designs.^[8] Most recently, Czartificial Intelligence (2023) showcased another futuristic twist on the Czarface aesthetic, again underscoring L’Amour Supreme’s role as the conceptual force behind the group’s visual storytelling.^[9] Collectors of Czarface vinyl often cite the imaginative album covers as a major draw, and multiple variant covers (standard, deluxe, or special editions) have been released to showcase additional artwork. Art dealers such as House of Roulx have highlighted the ongoing appeal of L’Amour Supreme’s process sketches, noting their significance in shaping the Czarface mythos.^[10]

Inspectah Deck shared with Vice that the character's name intentionally draws a parallel to "Scarface," as they intend for their collaborative rap persona to elicit the same respect as cult followers do for the movie's titular character.^[11]