Jedi Mind Tricks

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For the concept in Star Wars, see Jedi mind trick.
Jedi Mind Tricks
Background information
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre(s) Hip Hop
Years active 1996 – Present
Label(s) Babygrande Records
Associated
acts		 Army of the Pharaohs
Website http://jmthiphop.com
Members
Vinnie Paz
Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind
Jus Allah

Jedi Mind Tricks (JMT) is a hip-hop duo from Philadelphia. The duo is composed of high school friends Vinnie Paz (born Vincenzo Luvineri, formerly known as Ikon the Verbal Hologram) as rapper and Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind (born Kevin Baldwin) as producer and DJ. The group is known for Stoupe's unique production and Vinnie's edgy, violent lyrics. Vinnie's trademark is his use of poignant and poetic similes. They have a long list of collaborations with both regional MC's and rap veterans, including Kool G Rap, 7l & Esoteric, Sean Price, Ras Kass, Canibus, Percee P, Killah Priest, Louis Logic, GZA, R.A. the Rugged Man and Tragedy Khadafi.

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] Amber Probe EP and Psycho-Social LP

JMT officially debuted with the Amber Probe EP in 1996. The B-side of that album was also included in their first LP, The Psycho-Social LP, which was released a year later. On this album Vinnie Paz called himself Ikon the Verbal Hologram.

The album contained themes of conspiracy theories and ancient Middle-Eastern mythology. It also featured the recording debut of fellow Philly rap-group Lost Children of Babylon and Connecticut's Apathy of the Demigodz on multiple songs. However the Lost Children of Babylon soon parted ways with JMT, and in a 2001 interview member Cosmic Crusader cited that while Vinnie Paz had assured them that his cause was all for spiritual hip-hop, he soon saw "that [Vinnie Paz] was not really spiritual at all, but only interested in tapping that fan base."[citation needed]

[edit] Five Perfect Exertions EP and Violent By Design

After the release of their first LP, Vinnie Paz conceived the idea of forming a rotating, collaborative super-group of underground east coast artists called the Army of the Pharaohs (abbreviated to AotP). 1998 saw the first result of these efforts in The Five Perfect Exertions EP. The release featured Virtuoso, 7L & Esoteric, and Bahamadia as well as Vinnie Paz himself. The EP was later remixed for JMT's next LP, Violent by Design (2000).

JMT with Jus Allah
JMT with Jus Allah

The LP, originally titled Polymatrix: Reincarnation of the Hologramic Christ, became seen as the group's best work. Vinnie Paz became noticeably more aggressive. The LP also introduced Jus Allah, a friend and fledgling rapper who had left for college but dropped out a short while after. A self-proclaimed five-percenter, Jus was present on every non-AotP track on Violent by Design as JMT's unofficial third member.

The list of guest artists on this album was also their longest, including Mr. Lif, Planetary of Outerspace, Louis Logic, Diamondback, L-Fudge, B.A. Barakus, J-Treds, Killa Sha, and Tragedy Khadafi, plus a couple of odd phone-call interludes by Mr. Len.

During the course of Violent by Design's 1999-2000 recording period, Paz changed his alias to Vinnie Paz, inspired by the boxer of the same name. The reason for this has been reported to be the result of a short-lived rivalry instigated by fellow Philly underground rapper "Icon the Mic King." Vinnie Paz decided to settle on his new moniker in order to prevent any further confusion. Also it was around this time he formally declared himself to be a follower of Islam, and references this numerous times on record.

[edit] Visions of Gandhi

In late 2001, JMT was made an offer by Babygrande Records founder Chuck Wilson to sign a deal. Jus Allah's uncertainty caused him to leave the group on good terms. Stoupe and Vinnie Paz closed their homegrown Superegular label and migrated to Babygrande. Before his White Nightmare EP on Virtuoso's "Omnipotent Records" label, Jus was somewhat isolated from the entire Philly underground scene; the two sides wouldn't talk to each other for over three years. Virtuoso was also estranged from JMT and AoTP for his support of Jus, among other reasons.[citation needed]

Mid-2003 saw the release of JMT's third LP, Visions of Gandhi. In an interview, Vinnie Paz said the title was inspired by Foxy Brown's verse in Nas's song "Affirmative Action," and expresses the need for a prominent figure of non-violent social change such as Gandhi in a post-9/11 world.[citation needed]

Stoupe, now supplied with a professional studio in New York, also expanded his variety of production, incorporating grand orchestral samples and a stronger Latino feel. In response, some longtime fans felt let down by Vinnie Paz's lyricism and delivery, as well as the abundance of slick, upbeat loops adopted by Stoupe. Nevertheless, the album helped expand the group's audience as its popularity and commercial success continued to grow.

[edit] Legacy of Blood and Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell

Audio samples of Jedi Mind Tricks

Little over a year later, JMT continued their creative streak with Legacy of Blood, this time intentionally keeping guest artists to a minimum. Carrying with them their lessons from Gandhi, Stoupe and Vinnie tried to strike a balance between the past two albums. Vinnie Paz also added a more personal aspect to his lyrics, most notably in the last song "Before the Great Collapse."

In February, 2005, Babygrande officially announced that Jus Allah had signed on to the label after reconciling with his former partners. Babygrande released his long-awaited debut LP, All Fates Have Changed, in May of that year. However, after a dispute with label CEO Chuck Wilson soon after the album's release, Jus left Babygrande and denied any new association with JMT.

In March, 2006, a reunited Army of the Pharaohs released The Torture Papers LP. The crew now consisted of Vinnie Paz, Chief Kamachi, 7L & Esoteric, Apathy, Celph Titled, Planetary & Crypt the Warchild of Outerspace, King Syze, Faez One, Reef the Lost Cauze, and new Jedi Mind Tricks hype-man Des Devious. Virtuoso and Bahamadia were not featured and are no longer associated with the Army.

The fifth Jedi Mind Tricks album, titled Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell, was released on September 19th, 2006. The release coincided with the beginning of the album's supportive tour, which kicked off in New York City's Time Square. The album was widely acclaimed, unlike the group's two previous albums, which both received mixed reviews. A large part of the acclaim was due to the album's lyrical and musical diversity, both missing from their previous efforts. The album featured the single "Heavy Metal Kings" with Ill Bill, the Shara Worden-assisted "Razorblade Salvation", and the storytelling track "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story" with R.A. The Rugged Man. In early 2006, rumors spread that the group had reunited with estranged member Jus Allah, and that he would be featured on Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell, but no collaboration appeared. However, on September 20, 2006, a newly recorded Jedi Mind Tricks/Jus Allah collaboration, titled "The Rebuilding", appeared online. Jus is also planning to release his sophomore album, The Colossus, in the summer of 2007. In a January 2007 interview, Paz stated that Jus will be featured on the group's upcoming sixth album, tentatively titled A History of Violence [1].

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Album cover Album information
The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness
Violent by Design
Visions of Gandhi
Legacy of Blood
Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell

[edit] EPs/Singles

Album cover Album information
Amber Probe EP
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Superegular Records
"Heavenly Divine"
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: Superegular Records
  • B-Side: "Trinity" (featuring Louis Logic & L-Fudge), "Heavenly Divine (Remix)"
"Raw is War" (Vinnie Paz)
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Direct Records
  • B-Side: "Language is Fatal" (featuring Doap Nixon, Jus Allah & Planetary)
"Genghis Khan" (featuring Tragedy Khadafi)
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Superegular Records
  • B-Side:
"Retaliation"
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Superegular Records
  • B-Side: "Blood Runs Cold" (featuring Sean Price)
"Animal Rap" (Arturo Gatti Mix) (featuring Kool G Rap)
"Kublai Khan" (featuring Goretex & Tragedy Khadafi)
"Rise of the Machines" (featuring Ras Kass)
"Before the Great Collapse"
"The Age of Sacred Terror"
"Heavy Metal Kings" (featuring Ill Bill)

[edit] Jus Allah discography

Album cover Album information
"White Nightmare" (EP/Single)
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Omnipotent Records
  • B-Side: "Reign of the Lord"
All Fates Have Changed (Full-length album)
"Pool of Blood" (featuring GZA) (Single)
"G-O-D" (Single)

[edit] Army of the Pharaohs discography

Album cover Album information
"The Five Perfect Exertions" (EP/Single)
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Superegular Records
  • B-Side: "War Ensemble"
Rare Shit, Collabos & Freestyles (Compilation mix CD)
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: N/A
The Torture Papers (Full-length album)
"Tear it Down" (Single)

[edit] External links

 v • d • e Jedi Mind Tricks
Members
Vinnie Paz | Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind | Jus Allah
EPs/Albums
The Amber Probe EP | The Psycho-Social CD | Violent by Design | Visions of Gandhi | Legacy of Blood | Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Singles
"Heavenly Divine" | "Genghis Khan" | "Retaliation" | "Animal Rap" | "Kublai Khan" | "Rise of the Machines" | "Before the Great Collapse" |
"The Age of Sacred Terror" | "Heavy Metal Kings"
Collaborative albums
Jedi Mind Tricks presents Army of the Pharaohs: The Torture Papers
See also
"Verses of the Bleeding" | "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story" | Army of the Pharaohs | Outerspace | Babygrande Records
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