Actor Tom Hardy has ventured into the music industry with the surprise release of a rap album, operating under the pseudonym Frankie Pulitzer. The 48-year-old star collaborated with the hip-hop group Czarface, which features Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck and the duo 7L & Esoteric, on the project titled "Czarface Meets Frankie Pulitzer."
The album and its lead single, "Mad Technology," were released on Friday, with Hardy adopting a masked persona for the music videos and promotional materials. This marks a significant pivot for the actor, though he has past connections to rapping, including portraying a rapper in the 1999 short film "Get A Grip" and rapping in his youth.
Hardy has previously explored music under various aliases, including Frankie Pulitzer and Face Puller. Czarface began featuring an anonymous rapper named Frankie Pulitzer around 2021, culminating in this full album collaboration. The "Mad Technology" music video includes lyrical references to Stephen King novels such as "Cujo" and "Misery," as well as a nod to Martin Scorsese's 1999 film "Bringing Out the Dead."
Further lyrical content draws parallels to Willem Dafoe's portrayal of the Green Goblin in the 2002 film "Spider-Man" and the 1975 film "Dog Day Afternoon." Hardy also incorporates comic book references, mentioning Doctor Doom and the "locker room" trope.
Upon the album's release, fans and commentators on platforms like Reddit expressed surprise and admiration for Hardy's multifaceted career. One user on The Ringer's The Big Picture subreddit noted his previous experimentation with music, stating that earlier tracks were "in the style of another rapper."
"Czarface Meets Frankie Pulitzer" is now available on all major streaming platforms.