Vincenzo Luvineri, better known as
Vinnie Paz (formerly known as
Ikon the Verbal Hologram), is a Italian-American rapper and the lyricist behind the Philadelphia
underground hip hopUnderground hip hop is an umbrella term for hip hop music outside the general commercial canon. It is typically associated with independent artists, signed toindependent labels or no label at all....
group
Jedi Mind TricksJedi Mind Tricks is a hip hop duo with Vinnie Paz from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Jus Allah from Camden, New Jersey. The group was founded by two high school friends, rapper Vinnie Paz and former producer/DJ Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind...
. He is also the frontman of the hip hop
supergroupIn the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Army of the PharaohsArmy of the Pharaohs is a hip hop supergroup originating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed by Jedi Mind Tricks MC, Vinnie Paz in 1998.-Recording history:...
.
Biography
Originally taking the pseudonym of Ikon the Verbal Hologram, he later changed his name to Vinnie Paz, after the
Rhode IslandThe state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
boxer Vinny Pazienza. Paz originally started rapping with fellow Jedi Mind Tricks member Stoupe in his basement. Paz is known for his raw and gritty lyrical delivery. He is also known for his extensive use of studio punch-ins, seldom recording a verse in one take. His lyrics frequently contain references to religion, war, politics, mythology, conspiracy theories, the paranormal, and ufo's. His more recent albums such as
Servants in Heaven Kings in Hell show a more obvious approach to politics and world issues. This gritty style of Paz became apparent with the release of
Violent by Design, and has become progressively more defined since its release. Vinnie Paz has a number of aliases, including Louie Doggs, Vinnie P, The Pazmanian Devil, Pazienza, Frank Vinatra, Vin Jong Ill, Rumplestiltsvin, Muhammad Al Vinejahd, and Vin Laden.
Raised
CatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, Vinnie Paz is now
MuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, which plays a major role in many of his lyrics. Vinnie is also a
heavy metalHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
fan, and occasionally uses song titles and band names in JMT tracks and lyrics.
Army of the Pharaohs
Paz formed
Army of the PharaohsArmy of the Pharaohs is a hip hop supergroup originating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed by Jedi Mind Tricks MC, Vinnie Paz in 1998.-Recording history:...
, an underground East Coast hip hop group featuring himself,
ApathyChad Bromley , better known as Apathy is an underground rapper and producer from Willimantic, Connecticut. He attended high school at various schools in Connecticut. He is a re-founding member and unofficial leader of the Demigodz crew...
,
Celph TitledCelph Titled is an American hip hop solo artist, record producer and member of the hip hop supergroup Army of the Pharaohs, as well as the Demigodz Crew.-Biography:...
, Chief Kamachi,
7L & Esoteric7L & Esoteric are a Boston-based hip-hop duo, notorious for battle rhymes and boom-bap production. 7L is the duo's DJ/Producer and Esoteric the emcee.-History:...
, Planetary & Crypt the Warchild (Outerspace), King Syze, Faez One, Jus Allah, Doap Nixon,
Reef the Lost CauzeSharif Talib Lacey, better known as Reef The Lost Cauze, is a prominent underground hip hop artist based in Philadelphia. Aside from being a solo artist, Reef is a member of the hip hop group The JuJu Mob as well as the hip-hop collective, Army of the Pharaohs.-Career:Reef started battling other...
, Demoz, Block Mccloud, and Des Devious, although not every artist is on every track.
Collaborations
Vinnie appeared on
Percee PPercee P is a hip hop artist from the Patterson Projects in The Bronx, New York City, United States. Percee P has been writing and performing since 1979, yet his debut album Perseverance was not released until September 18, 2007, produced entirely by Madlib.He was known in the underground for...
's 2007 release,
PerseverancePerseverance is the official debut album by Percee P a New York-born underground rapper signed to Stones Throw Records. All tracks are produced by Madlib.- Track listing :#"Intro"#"The Hand That Leads You"#"The Man To Praise"...
. Paz along with Guilty Simpson arets' tracks, including
Paul WallPaul Michael Slayton , better known by his stage name Paul Wall, is an American rapper. He is currently affiliated with Swishahouse Records, having released several albums under the label as well as...
,
CanibusGermaine Williams , better known by his stage name Canibus, is a Jamaican-born American rapper. He is a part of supergroup The HRSMN. Canibus rose to fame in the mid-nineties...
,
Sabac RedSabac Red, also known as Sabac, is an Sicilian-Puerto Rican rapper from New York, US, and a former member of Non Phixion.-Biography:Sabac was born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico along with his twin sister. His family moved to Brooklyn, NY when he was 4 years old. Sabac was raised by his mom and...
,
PumpkinheadPumpkinhead is a 1988 supernatural horror film. It was the directorial debut of noted special effects artist Stan Winston. While Pumpkinhead received mixed reviews, the film has built up a cult following in the years since its release.-Plot:...
,
NumbersA number is a concept used to describe and assess quantity.Number may also refer to:* Numeral system, a writing system for expressing numbers* Number , a number-guessing computer game* Number , a Japanese sports magazine...
, and Block McCloud.
Solo Albums
Vinnie released his first solo album
Season of the Assassin-Samples:*"Drag You to Hell"**Last Dayz by Onyx*"End of Days"**Beyond Cutting Edge* by David Icke*"Aristotle's Dilemma"**"Mister Kingdom" by Electric Light Orchestra*"No Spiritual Surrender"...
on June 22, 2010, which peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard rap charts. The album featured guest appearances from
Paul WallPaul Michael Slayton , better known by his stage name Paul Wall, is an American rapper. He is currently affiliated with Swishahouse Records, having released several albums under the label as well as...
,
Ill BillWilliam Braunstein, better known as Ill Bill, is a American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York. Having gained notoriety in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his hardcore lyrics and as the producer, founder and CEO of Uncle Howie Records...
,
ClipseClipse is a Virginia Beach, Virginia-based hip hop duo. Formed in 1992 by brothers Malice and Pusha T , the group is heavily affiliated with production team The Neptunes and signed to Star Trak Entertainment.- Exclusive Audio Footage :The Thornton brothers were born in The Bronx, New...
among others.
Vinnie is currently working on his next solo album God of the Serengeti, which is set to feature production from DJ Premier, The Beatminerz, The Beatnutz among others.
Solo albums
- Season of the Assassin
-Samples:*"Drag You to Hell"**Last Dayz by Onyx*"End of Days"**Beyond Cutting Edge* by David Icke*"Aristotle's Dilemma"**"Mister Kingdom" by Electric Light Orchestra*"No Spiritual Surrender"...
(2010)
- God of the Serengeti (2012)
Collaboration albums
- Heavy Metal Kings
Heavy Metal Kings is a group featuring veteran rappers Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz . In 2006, Ill Bill was featured on the single "Heavy Metal Kings" by hip hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks, released through Babygrande Records...
(2011) (with Ill BillWilliam Braunstein, better known as Ill Bill, is a American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York. Having gained notoriety in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his hardcore lyrics and as the producer, founder and CEO of Uncle Howie Records...
)
- Heavy Metal Kings
Heavy Metal Kings is a group featuring veteran rappers Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz . In 2006, Ill Bill was featured on the single "Heavy Metal Kings" by hip hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks, released through Babygrande Records...
vs. DJ MuggsLawrence Muggerud , better known as DJ Muggs, is Cypress Hill's DJ and producer. He also produced tracks for Funkdoobiest on the albums Which Doobie U B? and Brothas Doobie.-Cypress Hill :...
album (2012)
Mixtapes and EPs
- Pazmenian Devil (2005)
- The Sound and the Fury (2006)
- Before the Assassin (2010)
- Prayer for The Assassin (2010)
- Fires of the Judas Blood (2010)
External links