What’s this? A new JMT album? But the last one came out only 12 months ago? What tha!!?!

That’s what I was thinking when I first seen this album coming. I mean it normally takes Stoupe and Vinnie Paz about 85 years just to confirm they are making another album, and yet here we have a new Jedi Mind Tricks album only 12 months after the ambitious Visions Of Ghandi. Hell, I had only just started getting into the new Outerspace album Blood And Ashes (produced by Vinnie Paz) and now I’ve gotta find some quality time to spend with my favorite Illadelph Hip Hop group.

2003’s ’Vision Of Ghandi’ was a superb studio album from JMT that unfortunately got as many thumbs down as it got up. The real reason for this, was not because the album itself was anything short of spectacular, but the fact it moved to far adrift from JMT’s revered ’Violent By Design’ LP. Rather the gritty dirty sounds that dominated VBD, Vision’s went for a grandeur more complete sound, that caused derision amongst JMT’s fans. Of course there was also Vinnie Paz, who people either love or hate as an MC. I myself still believe that album was one of 2003’s true highlights (even with Vinnies some times sloppy lyrics), but I can’t deny the prospect of another album in the vain of VBD would make me very happy.

And in 2004 Vinnie and Stoupe have decided to give us just that album (still minus Jus Allah though). A boom bap Hip Hop album with fierce lyrics, limited guests, and a grimey sound that will make your ears dirty for weeks. Close alumni Outerspace and also 7L & Esoteric have already given us albums loud albums of the boom bap variety in 2004, but can JMT improve on even these worthy efforts? Well lets check out the legacy they now want to leave us…

1. Intro - n/a

2. The Age of Sacred Terror - 4/5
After a typical haunting movie bite for an intro, Stoupe drops an equally haunting beat using a sped vocal sample with a heavy beat that features plenty of mixing and a ‘western’ feel to it. Vinnie Paz is well… Vinnie Paz, once again hitting us with violent wordy lyrics over his simplistic flow. This song never reaches any particular great heights, but those that like grimey metaphor ridden Hip Hop will lap it up.

3. Scars of the Crucifix - 4/5
Horrorcore edged Hip Hop filled with plenty of religious rhetoric with no real meaning. The deeper you look into tracks like this, the less you will find, but I always enjoy Vinnie in full verbal fury as he spits verses of biblical proportions. Most would want to approach this with caution though as it features plenty of anti-Christian lines and some what disappointingly Vinnie is still fixated with using homophobic expressions and discriminations on occasions.

4. Death Falls Silent - n/a
(Interlude)

5. Saviorself - 5/5
Slightly more chilled beat fits into Stoupes current penchant for string filled beats with a Latin feel. Killah Priest is a welcomed guest breaking up the hardcore flow of Vinnie with his more gentle and far superior rhymes. In fact Killah Priest makes this song, and also seemingly inspires Vinnie to slow down a little spit some intelligent lines. Great song all round.

6. On the Eve of War - 5/5
If Stoupe’s not experimenting with Latino beats, he’s giving modern interpretations of classic music. And once again he gets it working brilliantly. The legendary Gza is the guests on this track, and he makes you wish that we could hear more of him on a Stoupe beat. This is a whirlwind of a track using emotive verses, and a soundtrack to bring blood rushing to your head. Classy.

7. The Darkest Throne - n/a
(Interlude)

8. The Worst - 4/4
Stoupe conjures a simplistic almost childish beat on this one, and thankfully the end product isn’t corny but mesmerising. Vinnie is in full battle mode here dropping hurricane force lyrics. Hardly original lyric wise, but Vinnie still knows how to drop the impressive one liner, that you’ll be quoting impromptu for the next week.

9. Verses of the Bleeding - 3.5/5
Haunting piano beat is another great effort from Stoupe. Vinnie sounds a little more focused here, as he roars loud with battle cries in the name of god. Des Devious steals the show however with a particularly devastating battle verse, that would make the devil blush.
”I’ve got a vice grip,
On the mic, spittin’ sh*t,
My balls and arrogance alone be the cause of these hits,
Easily split your wig, with the flick of a wrist”

10. Beyond the Gates of Pain - 3/5
Sean Price guests here changing the tempo of the album little with his laid back gangsta flow, spitting about his place in Hip Hop. Vinnie Paz also drops a few octaves on this song, not sounding quite as obnoxious. Just above average.

11. Farewell to the Flesh - n/a
Interlude.

12. And So it Burns - 4/5
Stoupe continues he’s experimentation sampling another classical piece of music, creating an audacious and exciting backdrop. These beats are unfortunately wasted when they feature just Vinnie like this one. Paz can’t hold up well for a whole song as he spits more thug rhymes that are starting to become increasingly more inane. I give this a 4 out of 5 for the production alone, I only wish another MC could have blessed this track.

13. The Spirit of Hate - n/a
Interlude.

14. Me Ne Sballo - 3.5/5
Vinnie does a better job rhyming on this track, with a more levelled effort, and some better constructed lyrics and plenty of cool references to modern culture. The beat is one of the albums weaker efforts however, lacking the passion that most seem to have.
”You just waiting for the bomb to rein,
Put your body in hole like Saddam Hussein,
So guard the freight, when the 45 shell drop,
Cause it’s dark and its hot like in hell hop”

15. On the Eve of War - 5/5
Remixed version of the JMT track featuring Gza gives the song a more chilled feel. Arguably as good as the original mix, and this is one song that is worth repeating on the album.

16. Winds Devouring Men - n/a
Interlude.

17. The Philosophy of Horror - 5/5
Another banger from Stoupe, this time combing some warped vocals with a beautiful string beat, creating an aerie feel that is smoking. Vinnie still doesn’t change posture spitting more Islamic lyrics combined with biblical and horror imagery. This song is the sum of its pieces, and for that it all adds up to near perfection. There are some really good lyrics here, which even the biggest Vinnie hater could not deny.

18. Of the Spirit and the Sun - n/a
Interlude.

19. Before the Great Collapse - 5/5
Arguably the best track on the album is the final act. Vinnie Paz finally switches subject matter as he gives an introspective offering of himself. He pulls it off superbly putting his heart and soul in this. Stoupe backs him up with a superb beat that fittingly gives the song the depth it needs, but never gets too sappy or sentimental. Note at the end of this song is a ten minute break and an extra bonus joint.


Another solid album from Jedi Mind Tricks, that sonically manages to fit somewhere in between Violent By Design and Visions Of Ghandi. Which is, I believe where JMT were looking for this album to fit. Quality wise though it falls behind both these albums, as it lacks both albums innovation and overall feel.

My biggest gripe with this latest offering is that it relies far to heavily on Vinnie Paz. As an MC he can be superb at times, and annoying at others. A full album of him with very few guests is going to be too much for a lot of people. Personally I don’t get to sick of him, but the lack of subject matter on this album is very disappointing. Barring the last song ‘Before The Great Collapse’, it would be hard to separate any of the songs by subject. Thankfully the few guests that do appear, are of the highest calibre, and all deliver great moments. Gza and Killah Priest in particular drop some gems to help disperse some of Vinnies weaker moments.

Stoupe deserve kudos again however, for once again blessing us with his masterful production talents, and dropping some of the best beats of 2004 in the process. We’ve seen him experiment with Canibus, but I really hope he gets the chance to produce for an MC that has true depth and versatility like the Gza, or Immortal Technique. However he can stand tall from ‘Legacy Of Blood’ as still one of the best producers working in Hip Hop today.

Ultimately the greatest asset to this album is the production and the mood generated within, which gels together every track and the brilliant interludes to make a solid moving soundtrack. Its real raw and rugged Hip Hop that pulls no punches, that lets the listener create with it what he/she may. If you don’t like JMT this won’t change your mind, if you’re are sick of, or getting sick of Vinnie Paz (and I don’t blame you) this will only make you hate him more. However if you want some of that Hip Hop that takes you on a journey into the darkest of dark crevices, and swallows you up, leaving you ragged in world of euphoria… then you need to become one with the ‘Legacy Of Blood’.


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Exercising