Actor Tom Hardy has surprised fans with the release of a rap album, "Czarface Meets Frankie Pulitzer," on Friday. Under his alias Frankie Pulitzer, Hardy collaborated with the underground hip-hop group Czarface, which includes 7L & Esoteric and Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck.
The unexpected career move has generated significant buzz online, with fans expressing disbelief and amusement. One social media user remarked, "Tom Hardy and Inspectah Deck collab album is a sentence I never thought I would say," while another commented that the actor "really unlocked a secret rap persona."
The album features guest appearances from artists such as Busta Rhymes and Method Man. Lyrically, the project includes references to Marvel characters like the Green Goblin and Thor, as well as literary works and other cultural touchstones. In the track "Raw Forever," Hardy, 48, raps, "I be somewhat of a scientist / like Willem Dafoe / If you know, then you know / Goblin up crumbs," alluding to the actor who famously portrayed the Green Goblin.
Another track, "Grim-Visaged War," features Hardy performing a monologue in a voice reminiscent of Bane, his character from the 2012 film "The Dark Knight Rises," echoing Shakespeare's "Richard III."
Despite the surprise, Hardy has spoken in the past about his long-standing passion for rap music. He shared in a 2011 interview that he began rapping around the age of 14 or 15 and had recorded numerous songs that were never released. He admitted at the time that his background made it a difficult sell and that he "wasn’t very good."
This is not the first time a prominent actor has ventured into music recently. In the past month, Anthony Hopkins released a classical music album titled "Life is a Dream," featuring his own compositions. Nicole Kidman also revealed earlier this year that she is studying to become a death doula, inspired by her mother's passing.