Vinnie Paz – “God Sent Vengeance” review

Here we have the 9th full-length solo LP from Philadelphia underground veteran Vinnie Paz. Breaking out as the MC of Jedi Mind Tricks & the leader of the Army of the Pharaohs collective, he put out his first 2 solo albums Season of the Assassin & God of the Serengeti in 2010 & 2012 respectively until returned in 2016 with The Cornerstone of the Corner Store. The Pain Collector would become my favorite of his since his first 2 but since as above so below, Paz has been staying consistent by delivering a new solo effort every year. Tortured in the Name of God’s Unconditional Love spawned a trilogy & All Are Guests in the House of God continued it, only for it to come to a close on God Sent Vengeance.

After the “Abudadein” intro, the first song “Shepherd’s Rod” is this soulful boom bap opener courtesy of Hobgoblin talking about slapping a few rappers because of them moving backwards whereas “2 Knights Forced” produced by Evidence asks if he has to tell anyone time & time again that they’re flat out wack. “Bulldozer” featuring Young Buck darkly makes it clear neither one of them are trying to be righteous in any way thanks to Stu Bangas while “Head of David” ruggedly talks about being the real bad man.

Ill Bill & Lord Goat joins Paz on “Acid Teeth” aggressively venting what it was like for them to be born into pain just before the August Fanon-laced “Timetravel_0” talks about everyone adapting if it comes down to him having to drop a body. “Megaton Swords” featuring Cappadonna teams up to take aim at sucka MCs together leading into “Rafiki Books” talking about learning to take a stand instead of taking THE stand.

“Perfect Enemy” reunites with C-Lance behind the boards referencing former 2-time NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Héctor Guerrero and 3-time NWA National Heavyweight Champion, WCW World Television Champion, 3-time WCW World Tag Team Champion & WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff just before “Battle Scars (Pharaoh Overlords)” comes through with this raw ass AotP posse cut making reference to the 2025 NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “Chico’s Bail Bonds” ominously continues forward having the feeling that somebody’s gonna end up dying tonight, but then “All Guns Full Ammo” featuring Onyx finds the trio shooting shit up together.

Sick Jacken appears on the rugged “Sacrificio (De Muerte)” to send shots towards any man’s way while “Heavy Chains” hauntingly talks about being afraid of himself. “Wings of Azrael” featuring Napoleon da Legend suggests for everyone to dance with the wolves while “Mao’s War on Sparrows” talks about there less Indians & more thieves these days. “Noise Drug” featuring Boob Bronx & Recognize Ali ends with all 3 of them coming for the weak.

Although the Jacinto’s Praying Mantis EP from last summer was a minor step down from the previous installments of the God trilogy, I still enjoyed it as a prelude & the final chapter of the saga finishes it off the way it started. The production is a mix of established veterans & lesser known beatsmiths on the come up focusing less on the trap elements of its predecessors in favor of a general hardcore hip hop direction.

Score: 4/5

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Vinnie Paz – “Jacinto’s Praying Mantis” review

Philadelphia underground veteran Vinnie Paz following up his 8th album All Are Guests in the House of God roughly 7 months after with his 2nd EP. Breaking out as the MC of Jedi Mind Tricks & the leader of the Army of the Pharaohscollective, he put out his first 2 solo albums Season of the Assassin & God of the Serengeti in 2010 & 2012 respectively until returned in 2016 with The Cornerstone of the Corner Store. The Pain Collector would become my favorite of his since his first 2 but since as above so below, Paz has been staying consistent by delivering a new solo effort every year. Something he’s continuing to do by dropping Jancinto’s Praying Mantis almost 5 months after 2-time AJPW三冠ヘビー級王座, 4-time AJPWタッグ王座, MLW World Tag Team Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, NWA World Tag Team Champion, 2-time IWGPヘビー級王座, 7-time IWGPタッグ王座, NEVER無差別級6人タッグ王座, GHCヘビー級王座 & GHCタッグ王座小島聡 became a record 2-time MLW World Heavyweight Champion in his city.

“Contra Cocaine” is a boom bap opener talking about killing every chance he gets whereas my favorite cut on the EP “Blood Bank Affair” produced by The Czar-Keys & Scott Stallone hooking him up with some guitars, kicks & snares so he can in his Boxcutter bag lyrically. “Ghost Limb” has a futuristically eerie approach instrumentally thanks to Nickel Plated assuring you prolly a saw a body in Pack Pistol Pazzy’s city leading into “Bullet in the Head” incorporating sampling talking about being an animal.

The song “Brainscan Exorcism” featuring Boob Bronx & Recognize Ali brings the trio together on top of a grisly piano/boom bap crossover wanting everyone to enjoy them while they’re still alive while “Funeral Pyre” has to be another standout track complexly taking y’all to a different level over a sample-woven Shuko beat. “Zoë Lund” wraps up Jacinto’s Praying Mantis mixing woodwinds, kicks, snares & a scratch hook from 7L to get outrageous.

I’m unable to speak for where the Ikon the Verbal Hologram will go from here whether it’s a 9th solo LP or a new Jedi Mind album, but he gave the underground a solid prelude EP until that time comes. Production-wise, I’m personally leaning more towards his last couple full-lengths although Scott nailed the engineering. Squatdeadface furthermore doing the artwork makes me happy as a Griselda head who’s been following him since FLYGOD is an Awesome God & lyrically, Odrama vin Laden remains one of the greatest from the City of Brotherly Love.

Score: 3.5/5

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Vinnie Paz – “All Are Guests in the House of God” review

This is the 8th full-length solo LP from Philadelphia underground veteran Vinnie Paz. Breaking out as the MC of Jedi Mind Tricks & the leader of the Army of the Pharaohs collective, he put out his first 2 solo albums Season of the Assassin & God of the Serengeti in 2010 & 2012 respectively until returned in 2016 with The Cornerstone of the Corner Store. The Pain Collector would become my favorite of his since his first 2 but since as above so below, Paz has been staying consistent by delivering a new solo effort every year. And to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of Tortured in the Name of God’s Unconditional Love, the Verbal Hologram is assuring that All Are Guests in the House of God.

“Drug Church” is an ominously drumless start to the album that K-Nite 13 helped cook up calling out those who be sleeping while the feds are watching them whereas “Oil Drums” featuring Freeway works in a soulful boom bap instrumental from Leaf Dog talking about taking them to the ocean to throw them overboard. “Koresh Babylon” fuses this beautiful loop with kicks & snares provided by Giallo Point trying to get away from those who be tailing Paz leading into “The Jungle’s a Shapeshifter” featuring Trxstworthy finding the 2 joining forces for a rugged hardcore anthem.

The lead single “2000 Shot Barrage (Return of Hell’s Messenger)” produced by C-Lance is an incredibly raw sequel to a highlight off The Thief & The Fallen just before the flute/boom bap hybrid “Nero Caesar” featuring Smif-n-Wessun that Farma G laced continuing to get on their battle rap shit. Meanwhile, the suspenseful atmosphere that Vic Grimes brings to “Impaler” is absolutely perfect advising not to play with these kids prior to “Swift Chancellor” experimenting with trap a bit talking about his squad really gunning out here.

“Slow March to the Burial” featuring Ransom brings the 2 wordsmiths together over dusty kicks & snares spitting more hardcore lyricism, but then “Peace Means Violence” featuring Saigon begins the 2nd leg of All Are Guests in the House of God with an eerie boom bap beat from Stu Bangas getting murderous. “Terry Funk Ain’t Wear a Mouthpiece” continues to offer offering that pain remembering the titular WWE Hall of Famer, former 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, ECW Television Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, the oldest JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion & the oldest 3-time WCW Hardcore Champion who gave FMW founder 大仁田厚 the best match of his career over more kicks & snares that is until “Yemeni Telephone Number” featuring the Timbo King ruggedly talking about the aura of hell-gazers.

Moving on from there, “Balla Ejj” mixes pianos with a foreign vocal sample comparing himself to that of a craftsmen while “Beausoleil Wiretaps” by the Heavy Metal Kings featuring Lord Goat sees the trio over a Middle Eastern/boom bap blend spitting the aggressive lyricism that all 3 of them have made themselves known for. “Praise the Witch” featuring Young Z locks in with EYEKETYSON to grimily tell those that if they’re gonna do something, they should do it properly & Young Bangas whips up the best trap instrumental on the album with “La Pulga” talking about Vinnie meaning what he says.

“Valentino Dueling Gloves” weaves a flute into the fold admitting that there ain’t a whole lot of time here & that nobody else is moving as long as the Ikon’s still around, but “Murder is an Artform” featuring the late Blacastan & Tha God Fahim officially ends the LP with the 3 over a somber boom bap instrumental continuing to deliver further down the murderous rabbit hole referencing WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE Champion, 11-time WWE tag team champion, the inaugural WWE Hardcore Champion, CWA World Tag Team Champion & TNA World Champion Mick Foley.

Odrama vin Laden never disappoints as his solo output accompanied by the number of group material he has in his back pocket are generally consistent within the underground & hip hop heads at large. Needless to say: I like All Are Guests in the House of God more than the one we got almost a year to the day ago in Tortured in the Name of God’s Unconditional Love. There are some occasional trap elements to the production even though it’s grounded in his traditional hardcore boom bap sound & a bit less misses with the guest performances.

Score: 4/5

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Vinnie Paz – “Tortured in the Name of God’s Unconditional Love” review

Vinnie Paz is a 45 year old underground veteran from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania known for being the MC of Jedi Mind Tricks & the leader of the Army of the Pharaohs collective. He put out his first 2 solo albums Season of the Assassin & God of the Serengeti in 2010 & 2012 respectively, but returned in 2016 with The Cornerstone of the Corner Store. The Pain Collector would become my favorite of his since his first 2, but as above so below & Burn Everything That Bears Your Name were both almost as great, so I had no worries going into his 7th album considering his consistency.

“Pistol Opera” is a creepy boom bap opener with some piano chords talking about respecting violence including a reference to WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Champion, 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion, 2-time NWA National Heavyweight Champion & AJPW世界タッグ王座 Ted DiBiase until Method Man comes into the picture for the unsettling “Invisible Ether” produced by Stu Bangas talking about what happens when they start to flow. “Faith Healer” goes into trap territory thanks to longtime Enemy Soil Entertainment in-house producer C-Lance cautioning that shit’s all fun & game till the drum-magazines are empty, but then “Be Wise as Serpents” is a rap metal boom bap fusion with a ghostly hook & Vinnie acknowledging that motherfuckers think it’s cool to behave stupid.

Continuing from there with “Heroin on a Harpoon”, we have Geechi Suede talking about becoming rich as soon as his mom gave birth to him & Pazzy referencing the late WWE Hall of Famer Luna Vachon over a boom bap instrumental with a blaring guitar & some jazzy undertones until “Curse of Canaan” with Kurupt finds the 2 talking about keep pushing the lines & the main loop throughout sounds like video game sound effects to me. I also love the lines referencing Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and Rick & Morty since those are some of my favorite shows. “Rambo Knife” however has some amazing vocal samples throughout speaking on cutting coke & causing panic, but then “3 Levels of Hikmah” is a triumphant jazz rap cut laced by Oh No with some incredible ad-libs talking about people shooting at him like paparazzi & a line referring to WWE superstar Mustafa Ali.

“Killpoint” returns to the boom bap with some horn sections courtesy of Vic Grimes as Vinnie & M.O.P. get malicious lyrically while the piano-trap joint “Deadman’s Hand” calling himself the most ignorant of all-time while “Winged Assassins” with Boob Bronx & Ras Kass ruthlessly compare their rhymes to black hand-grenades including a reference to former 3-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 5-time WWE tag team champion, 7-time WWE Hardcore Champion & NWA World Tag Team Champion Dustin Rhodes. “A War Chest & a Propaganda Machine” has a more delirious quality to it provided by DJ Muggs being straight up & telling anyone who wants smoke with him to say his name while “Gunpowder Plot” with O.T. the Real spit some drug trafficking tales.

“Slight Rebellion Off Madison” is a woodwind/boom bap hybrid talking about how his shooters don’t die while “Father Yod” by the Heavy Metal Kings & Lord Goat finds the trio over some grim piano chords to spit that gun talk. The song “Spoils of War” with Big Twins aggressively talk about stomping on motherfuckers heads when they be outside over some ominous production while the penultimate track “Loro Pianas Robes” with Thirstin Howl III discuss being the upmost & being left cut in half over a glistening boom bap beat. “Zafiro Añejo” with Boob Bronx & Recognize Ali ends the album with the 3 referring to this as beautiful architecture with a flute hanging behind them.

Ikon the Verbal Hologram has always remained consistent with his music & even though God of the Serengeti is my personal favorite album of his, I definitely think this is the most I’ve enjoyed since The Pain Collector. The production has some more trap undertones to it this time around surprisingly, but best believe Paz & nearly every feature are absolutely catching bodies with their pens the whole damn time.

Score: 4/5

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Camouflage Regime – Self-Titled review

The Camouflage Regime is a newly formed hardcore hip hop duo consisting of 2 East Coast underground heavyweights: former Juice Crew member Tragedy Khadafi & Army of the Pharaohs leader Vinnie Paz. The 2 have collaborated with each other a couple of times in the past (most notably the iconic Jedi Mind Tricks joint “Genghis Khan”) but now, they’re teaming up for their highly anticipated debut.

The album kicks off with “Bloody Jungle”, where Paz & Tragedy get murderous over an eerie Stu Bangas beat. The next song “Canaan’s Bracelet” with Agallah sees the 3 spitting that gun talk referencing WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Champion & WWE Tag Team Champion The Iron Sheik over a piano-inflicted boom bap beat while the song “A Warrior’s Fate” is laced with vicious battle bars over a sinister beat. The track “Cinematic Echo” boasts about their skills over a soulful beat while the song “Jummah Rituals” gets back on the violence tip over an apocalyptic beat.

The track “Fibre Optic Weapons” with Ill Bill sees the 3 vividly describing life in the streets over an ominous beat while the song “Nocturnal Militia” talks about how they ain’t ready to die over another keyboard-inflicted boom bap beat. “The Most Gracious” pretty much speaks for itself over a piano & some strings while the song “Thought Machine” gets conscious over an abrasive beat. Lastly, the closer “Persian Legacy” talks about being military minded over a boom bap beat with some keys & a killer guitar.

It’s been a few years coming & at the end, I enjoyed it. Paz & Tragedy could’ve padded it out with a few more tracks, but their chemistry really shines & the raw production suits them fantastically.

Score: 4/5