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Jedi Mind Tricks Artist: Vinnie Paz Interviewer: Darrell Nance |
Jedi Mind Tricks
Vinnie Paz interviewed by Darrell Nance 11-30-08
AmalgamDigital.com: Please explain the meaning behind your JMT symbol?
Vinnie Paz: The JMT logo is from the “I Ching”. It means the spiritual rebirth, uh yea, so that’s what it means.
AmalgamDigital.com: Vinnie, I know in the past you and Jus Allah had a few problems, and I don’t want to go into all of that, but what has changed to allow you to work together again?
Vinnie Paz: I mean we were friends first and foremost so you know in regards to the friendship it was you know we were young when the records were successful we didn’t really know what we were doing, you know what I’m saying, so we just had problems on how to handle our business. But you know once we grew up, got older, deaded that it went back to where it was before.
AmalgamDigital.com: I know a lot of the inspiration for you music comes spiritually, but is there or are there particular artists you listened to growing up that you take inspiration from, and more importantly, are there artists you’ve worked with that had more impact than others?
Vinnie Paz: Yea I’d say that single handedly the biggest influence on me was Kool G Rap, both before and now. You know and I got to work with him so you know in regards to someone influencing me hip hop wise it was Kool G but I grew up listening you know to Slayer and King Diamond, Immersible Fate and things like that and all that shit sort of influences what I do as well so you know.
AmalgamDigital.com: It seems like in a transitional period in the music industry even your most recent album (Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell) sold more copies then previous releases. Would you attribute this to the digital age and the ability to reach more fans easier especially coming from an independent label?
Vinnie Paz: I think the reason we’re able to sustain sales and success and touring is because unlike most groups it seems like we continue to regenerate fans whereas most groups, their fans grow with them and as they get older you know people become less interested. But it seems like the kids continue to stay young at our shows so I don’t know if it’s attributed to digital stuff or anything like that I think it’s more you know the ability to regenerate fans and if that’s what keeps us relevant and why we’re able to stay successful. I mean the digital shit is a double edged sword cuz’ it expands your fan base but at the same time with the illegal downloading you know there’s people stealing your shit so it’s double edged.
AmalgamDigital.com: I’ve yet to hear “A History of Violence” that was released Nov. 11th, what should fans expect?
Vinnie Paz: I mean, you know we’re not really a group that changes our formula man or really switches up what we do or how we do it so, I mean if you’ve been a fan you know you can expect the same shit that we’ve been doing for over 15 years, you know we just make east coast rap music, you know hardcore shit.
AmalgamDigital.com: What’s the inspiration of the names of songs on your albums, they went from revolving generally around the hook to abstract interpolations of the songs (ala Wu-Tang) to your more recent release “Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell” where the title sounds befitting of a metal album.
Vinnie Paz: Yeah I mean it’s heavily metal influenced. The reason of the titles or the artwork or the imagery just in general is I think traditionally hip hop whether it’s artwork, song titles or you know album names or even art work designs has typically been bored and uh you know really cliché so we just wanna make shit different and you know not as traditional as typical rap records.
AmalgamDigital.com: When do you think were the golden years for Philly hip hop or do you think that pinnacle has been reached yet?
Vinnie Paz: That’s a hard question I don’t think I can predict whether or not it’s at it’s pinnacle yet, I mean the golden years for me were like you know 85-95 like you know cuz Philly had a lot to do with a lot of records coming out of everywhere whether it’s New York or you know Philly was putting out New York records on pop art records back in the mid to late 80’s so I mean that’s when I grew up and that’s the shit that affected me.
AmalgamDigital.com: Your 3rd album: “Visions of Ghandi” was influenced by the need for a leader that promoted non-violent social change. Do you believe President Elect Obama will have the ability to influence the masses in this way?
Vinnie Paz: I can’t pretend to be smart enough to know whether or not he’s capable of that yet, I mean it’s November he’s the president elect, he’s not even in yet but I’d like to believe that you know. I think that if you have hope in your heart then that’s what you hope for but you know whether or not he’s the one capable of that you know remains to be seen I guess you’d have to ask me that question in another year.
AmalgamDigital.com: How did you celebrate the Phillies winning the World Series?
Vinnie Paz: (Laughs) That was great man you know we finally got a championship again 25 years after the Sixers in ‘83 but you know we were on tour, we were actually in the middle of nowhere in Nebraska but we parked up and made sure we all watched the game together you know we went crazy and had mad complaints from the other people in the hotel but we had a ball.
AmalgamDigital.com: In the song “Into the Arms of Angels” is everything you’re rapping about based on experience?
Vinnie Paz: Actually all 3 versions, Phaze1, Crypt The Warchild from Outerspace and myself, on everyone’s version we made it a point to write a autobiographical verse so yeah, all that shit is pretty much how it went down.
Make sure to get a copy of A History Of Violence by Jedi Mind Tricks
