Jedi Mind Tricks
Album: Army of the Pharaohs: the Unholy Terror
Release Date: 3/26/2010

review:
The Unholy Terror is a return to form for true Jedi Mind Tricks and Army Of The Pharaohs fanatics. AOTP, the ever-evolving crew of Hip Hop’s heaviest hitters, is the culmination of a vision devised by Jedi Mind Tricks’ frontman Vinnie Paz. Initiated over twelve years ago, the group (following in the long-standing tradition of crews like Wu Tang and The Juice Crew) has thrived for over a decade. Past members and contributors have included Bahamadia, Chief Kamachi, 7L, Virtuoso, Shuko, and Undefined, to name a few. With two full-length albums and a slew of singles under their collective belt, AOTP has established itself as the premier collective of diverse MCs showcasing viciously precise and dynamic skills. Lead by the inimitable Paz, AOTP is a reflection of the volatile MC’s staunch belief in the tradition of Hip hop’s most sacred tenets and aesthetics. Individually the styles of the Pharaohs compliment each other, ranging from strictly lyrical to bloodthirsty battle rhymes, all fused within a construct based on energy and sonic power.

"The Unholy Terror," delivers the same disemboweling brand of hard-core boom-bap and battle rhyming that this veteran crew is known for. Constant touring through Europe and the United States has primed the outfit for their third full-length release. As tradition dictates, the new face of the unit is comprised of a potent arsenal of formidable MCs and producers. It is a unique mixture of Philadelphia’s best home-grown talent and outside affiliations, with verses from the likes of like Vinnie Paz, Outerspace, Reef the Lost Cauze, Des Devious, Demoz, Doap Nixon, Jus Allah, King Magnetic and King Syze teaming up with Apathy, Celph Titled, Esoteric, Block McCloud and Journalist. The Pharaohs’ sound is guided by the deft hands of well-known and heavily respected beat-makers like Philly’s own DJ Kwestion, while Apathy and Celph also show their production chops on this album. Contributions also come from producers Vanderslice, Crown, Undefined, DC the Midi Alien, Grand Finale, Hypnotist, JBL the Titan and MTK.

With their continuing success, the last few years have seen new and debut solo efforts from various group members, but now, they throw their lots in together again, to give the fans what they have been craving. The Unholy Terror continues on in the same vein as AOTP’s earlier efforts: epic, grimy beats and raw rhymes. Having spent their entire existence as a self-contained unit, AOTP exhibits a tightness and a complexity that only comes with years of crafted experience. Once again the Army proves itself to be more than the sum of its parts. Seasoned by the road and their respective careers outside AOTP, the members return with focused intensity to what has become more than just a collection of rappers: it is now a tradition.

Track listing

1. Agony Fires feat. Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks), Planetary (of Outerspace), Celph Titled, Apathy (Produced By: Crown)


2. Ripped To Shreds feat. Celph Titled, Demoz, Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks) (Produced By: Aktone)


3. Bust ’Em In feat. Reef The Lost Cauze, Apathy, Celph Titled (Produced By: Celph Titled)


4. Prisoner feat. Planetary (of Outerspace), Doap Nixon, Demoz, Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks) (Produced By: Undefined)


5. Godzilla feat. Celph Titled, Apathy, Planetary (of Outerspace), King Magnetic, Jus Allah & Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks) (Produced By: Grand Finale)


6. Suplex feat. Dex Devious, Demoz, King Syze, Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks) (Produced By: Vanderslice)


7. Contra Mantra feat. Crypt The Warchild (of Outerspace), Esoteric, Celph Titled (Produced By: DC The MIDI Alien)


8. Drenched In Blood feat. Outerspace, Demoz, King Syze, Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks) (Produced By: MTK)


9. Spaz Out feat. Apathy, King Magnetic, Esoteric, Celph Titled (Produced By: JBL The Titan)


10. 44 Magnum feat. Crypt The Warchild (of Outerspace), Des Devious, Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks), Demoz (Produced By: Vanderslice)


11. Dead Shall Rise feat. Demoz, Celph Titled, Planetary (of Outerspace), Reef The Lost Cauze, Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks), Apathy (Produced By: Crown)


12. Cookin’ Keys feat. Doap Nixon, Des Devious, Outerspace, Demoz, Reef The Lost Cauze (Produced By: DJ Kwestion)


13. Burn You Alive feat. Block McCloud (of Brooklyn Academy), Doap Nixon, Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks), Planetary (of Outerspace) (Produced By: Triple Z)


14. Hollow Points feat. Planetary, Demoz, Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks), Doap Nixon (Produced By: Hypnotist Beats)


15. Suicide Girl feat. Planetary (of Outerspace), Doap Nixon, Apathy (Produced By: Apathy)


16. The Ultimatum feat. King Magnetic, Des Devious, Reef The Lost Cauze, King Syze, Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks), Celph Titled, Outerspace, Apathy, Journalist (Produced By: DJ Kwestion)

No profanity, or inaproppriate remarks.