Jedi Mind Tricks

Underground hip-hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks started out in the streets of Philadelphia in early 1996. Producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind and MCs Vinnie Paz (aka Ikon the Verbal Hologram) and Jus Allah (aka Megatron) released the Amber Probe EP in 1996 and later gained a cult following with 1997's Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro Magnetic Manipulation full-length, which was reissued in 2003 courtesy of Babygrande. In 2000, Violent by Design came out, the last album before the group signed to Babygrande, and the last before Jus Allah left. Their new label began distributing new material from JMT, including 2003's Visions of Gandhi -- which included the song "Animal Rap," featuring Paz's idol Kool G Rap -- and 2004's Legacy of Blood (plus a compilation of early 12" records titled Outerspace). The duo also began featuring an army of rappers on their albums, with regular guests including 7L, Esoteric, Apathy, Tragedy Khadafi, and Louis Logic. Army of the Pharaohs: The Torture Papers and Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell followed in 2006.