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For more than fifteen years, the name Jedi Mind Tricks has become synonymous with raw, gritty underground hip-hop. From their debut album, The Psycho-social, in 1996 to their seminal sophomore release, Violent By Design, to their musical expansion heard on Servants and Heaven, Kings in Hell, JMT has made an indelible impression on the independent music scene (with over 400K units sold) while arguably forging its own subgenre of rap. Led by the fiery vocals of controversial front man, Vinnie Paz (who also released a critically acclaimed solo-LP, Season Of The Assassin in 2010 which featured the underground smash “Street Wars” f/Clipse & Block McCloud and also guest appearances from Paul Wall, Freeway and Beanie Sigel), and his venerable rhyme partner, Jus Allah, the group has built one of the most critically-acclaimed and commercially-successful careers in independent music.
Though JMT rarely appears on Billboard charts, their success is most accurately measured in the passion and respect of their growing legions of hardcore fans who have packed JMT shows around the world from Boston to Bogota to Bucharest. JMT’s music is defiant and their longevity is a testament to their blue-collar work ethic; born from the bloodlines of their hometown, Philadelphia, PA.
On October 25, 2011, JMT is set to drop its seventh studio album, “Violence Begets Violence”, through Vinnie Paz’s own imprint, Enemy Soil. Though JMT fans can expect more of the uncompromising, unrelenting brand of hardcore rap music that has become the group’s signature sound, “Violence Begets Violence,” marks a change (something the group has undeniably become accustomed to over the years) as long-time JMT producer, Stoupe, hands over production duties to a new wave of talented producers honed in on the JMT sound; but set on creating a fresh take on a classic formula.
Stoupe’s non-participation on “Violence Begets Violence” is addressed by Vinnie Paz “by now you have heard that this is the first Jedi Mind Tricks album we've made without Stoupe handling the production. Bottom line is at some point after making our last album, "A History of Violence," Stoupe lost his passion for making hip-hop and wanted to try new things. Through our career, we've always waited on him to get inspired to make a new album, but this time around we got tired of waiting out his creative drought. He tried to produce some things for this new album, but we could tell early on that his heart wasn't in making JMT records anymore. He's moved on as a producer to work in other genres with his side-projects, Dutch and Vespertina, and we've moved on with a new crop of talented producers to make the hardcore hip-hop we’ve always been known for.
We're reinvigorated and we feel like these younger, hungrier kids put a battery in our back. Our fans deserve the best music we can make. Stoupe made great albums with us, but he's moved in a different direction as a producer, so we decided this was the best move for us to make sure we give you guys the best music we can. Regardless, Jus and I feel like we made a great record. I've made plenty of other albums with other producers. You guys know AOTP. You know my solo shit. Some of you even said that my solo album was the best work I've done to date, including all of the JMT albums. Don't worry, that classic hardcore JMT shit is coming on October 25th. Just trust me. I've never let you down in 15 years. Give us the benefit of the doubt and listen with an open mind! The music business is crazy right now.
Most artists disappear after one album or one single. We've been fortunate to have a 15-year run, which could've never happened without our fans! The last thing we want to do is to try to pull the wool over your eyes, so we wanted to let you know upfront about Stoupe, but also let you know that we're still Jedi Mind Tricks. We still are, and always will be, making hardcore shit, no matter who man’s the boards.”
Jedi Mind Tricks “Violence Begets Violence” is available on CD, vinyl, and via digital download now.
“When Crows Descend Upon You” featuring Demoz is the first single and video from the album impacting December 2011.
- Genre
- Hiphop