Violence Begets Violence

iTunes Review

Representing for Philly, Jedi Mind Tricks have been unleashing ultra-rugged, relentlessly thuggish hip-hop since the mid-'90s and are probably best known for their classic 2000 album Violent by Design. Sonically they're a bit like a mix of Killarmy, Non-Phixion, and Killah Priest. Dark and dense production backs extremist rhymes heavy on the bloodshed and street storytelling, interspersed with conspiracy theories and lyrical attacks on enemies. Though their lineup has weathered changes over the years (producer Stoupe recently left the group), their sound remains as raw as ever, with blistering verses and over-the-top lyricism from Vinnie Paz and Jus Allah. This is their seventh full-length and continues their tradition of hyper-intense, no-holds-barred fight music, with standout joints like "Target Practice," "Willing a Destruction onto Humanity," and "The Sacrilege of Fatal Arms."