Jedi Mind Tricks - Visions Of Ghandi

[Vigilante]

Pros
Great original production, and skilled MC's.

Cons
Not as good as Violent By Design.

The Bottom Line
JMT walk a slightly different path, but end up at the same place - brilliance.

 
Full Review
Let’s get straight to the point. If you don’t have Jedi Mind Tricks ‘The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological, and Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness’ and ‘Violent By Design’ albums, than you have slept on two of the best hip hop albums to come out in the last 6 years.

Jedi Mind Tricks (consisting of Stoupe and Vinnie Paz) make mind bending hip hop with grimey sampled beats, visually descriptive complicated rhymes, all mixed with movie cut scenes, and a moody feel. Finally they have come out with their third album, the highly anticipated “Visions Of Ghandi”. Stoupe is like the Rza, a visionary producer, who samples the absurd, with strong beats. Vinnie is across between Necro and Killah Priest, spitting hardcore rhymes with clever word play.

On to the tracks…

1. Intro – N/A

2. Tibetan Black Magicians – 4/5
Where Rip The Jacker finishes off, this song continues. Canibus and Stoupe team up again for another track of high voltage encyclopedia rhymes over an epic beat. The beat sounds like its from a hollywood movie (it probably is) and is a good amped up start to the album. Canibus revels under Stoupes production and takes control on this track, while Vinnie Paz seems more of a bit player.

3. Blood In Blood Out – 3.5/5
Softer guitar driven beat opening, has that spanish feel to it, that Stoupe is using quite a lot these days, it than leads in to a strange humming beat. The beat is comical but Vinnie spits hard battle rhymes, preventing this becoming a novelty joint. Ok.

4. The Rage Of Angels – 4.5/5
Nice dark Stoupe beat, with that gothic feel that was so strong on ‘Violent By Design’. This track will make JMT fans happy, great beat, deep rhymes, and sublime moody feel.

5. Demonwomb – N/A
Interlude.

6. Animal Rap – 5/5
Everyone should know this track; it’s one of the highlight songs of 2003. Featuring Kool G Rap, this song has some wicked rhymes. The beat is classical, an unlike anything I’ve heard before. Brilliant. I’m a big fan of the Mickey Ward remix version of Animal Rap (which is whoa!!), however I like this version almost as much. Mike Tyson guests at the end, with his funny run off the mouth s**t.

7. Nada Cambia – 4/5
More flamenco style beats, with Vinnie Paz spraying more wanna be gangsta lines. Some JMT fans might not like this song for those reasons. The tracks dope though, and while Vinnie is being a little to ‘thuggish’ his lyrics are on point, making this a great hardcore rap song.
“I’m Aya Tolla Kimini,
I love to rage war,
I love anything that’s raw”

8. A Storm Of Swords – 4/5
Stoupe must of visited the 18th century, because this is the second track (the other is Animal Rap) that feels like the beat is directly from that era. That’s not a bad thing though, because it all sounds so fresh. The chorus on this track is a bit corny though “yall can’t f**k with us…”. Planetary of Outer Space give some much needed support to Vinnie, who’s voice can wear a little thin after a while.

9. Boondock Saints – N/A
Interlude.

10. The Wolf – 4.5/5
The beat on this track is so mean it’s scary. Wicked dark oscillating synth is absolutely pumping, with Stoupes trademark, movie lines inserted. Ill Bill also stars on this joint, with his typical macabre lines. Nice.

11. Walk With Me – 3.5/5
A cornier beat, with some cool voice sample manipulation. Vinnie Paz lays some political lines on this song. The beat is a grower.

12. Rise Of The Machines – 4.5/5
This track is dope. A softer guitar driven beat with bouncing snare, and plenty of mixing. The rhymes are on point, and it all has such a good feel.

13. Pity Of War – N/A
Interlude.

14. Kublain Khan – 4/5
Louder more epic beat. Vinnie Paz comes out firing with his wild battle lyrics that rips wholes through the listener. I’m not sure about the beat on this track, as it’s all over the place, but the rhyming is hungry and keeps the t joint moving well. Tragedy Khadafi is as dope as always on this as well.

15. What’s Really Good – 2/5
More classical type beat sampling. This track is probably the albums weakest. I really didn’t like the beat, and there is a stupid corny chorus.

16. The Heart Of Darkness – N/A
Interlude.

17. Raw Is War 2003 – 4/5
Remixed track

This album definitely has a different feel to JMT’s previous efforts. For a lot of people that’s a bad thing. That dark grimey feel that drenched Psycho-Social and Violent By Design is not as strong on Visions Of Ghandi. Stoupe is experimenting with grander style sounds, mixing classical and spanish, to create a fusion that is quite original. Some may ask why divert to a different sound when the last two albums were so good? That is unfair however. Rather than rehash what JMT have already done, JMT have given their fans a new world, with an original infectious sound. It takes a couple of listens but the beats really begin to grow on the listener (just like they did on Canibus’ Rip The Jacker’). If I could compare this album beat wise to anything, than Wyclef Jeans ‘The Carnival’ comes to mind. Like Wyclef’s joint, this album has a fresh experimental sound, that actually delivers on both a sonic level and is so original, that its bound to be influential in the music industry. Stoupe should be applauded for pushing boundaries, and I think it’s fair to now place him with other great hip-hop producers like Premo, Rza and Dr. Dre.

Lyric wise is a different matter however. The lyrics on this album are not too different from Violent By Design, with hardcore quotables, deep lines, and even moments of absurdity. JMT have got the right amount of underground guests (Canibus, Ill bill, Tragedy Khadafi etc…) to help support Vinnie Paz. Vinnie seems to be more ‘thuggish’ on this album, and they may disappoint some, but his lyrics are still tight overall, and for a man with arguably average flow, Vinnie gives a strong showing, even rescuing some of Stoupes more out there beats, with his straight gruffly rhymes.

I’ve listened through this album about 5 times now, and I know its going to receive some hate. Personally I like JMT, but I’m not one of there d**riding fans. However I can honestly say this is a damn fine album. JMT have delivered for the third time, with another journey of mystical beats and live wire rhymes. JMT succeed in giving us there dark insights with a fresh angle, knocking the world over with another, dare I say… classic (time will tell). This is a must buy 2003 album for all hip hop fans, JMT fans don’t really have to be told, but all other music fans need to know. Highly Recommended.



Recommended
Yes
 
http://www.epinions.com/content_109996969604

[T.J.]

nice review man....if only i could find this album anywhere....
props

[white Boy]

Blood In Blood Out (3.5/5)

this song was hot as shit, i loved the guitar part, and the second part with the rapping, that 2nd beat was awesome, but everything else seems right, album is hot as shit,

[OsnasFinest]

Nice Review, Blood In Blood out is also one of my favorites.

[OpTiCaL]

Its all over the net to buy and on irc to download n try..



..top kwality album


Nice review !

[Kill]

Its all over the net to buy and on irc to download n try..



..top kwality album


Nice review !

[Twentytwofifty]

I wish I could just listen to the instrumental of this album cause Vinnie Paz is awful.  This is this first JMT album I've heard and from the sounds of this I can't believe Stoupe doesn't ditch him.  He just ruins songs like "Blood In Blood Out" & "Nada Cambia", and with guests like Kool G Rap, Canibus and Ras Kass, he gets outshined at every turn.

[KURUPTION-81]

think i will try and get myself a copy of this