Music

Taken to Jabba

Jedi Mind Tricks' Brain Warp

by Marjorie Skinner

Jedi Mind Tricks is a misleading name. The underground hiphop group, composed mainly of rapper Vinnie Paz and producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind, may pepper their songs with geeky references to Star Wars, but the juvenility is a cover for what they're really all about. Based in Philadelphia, they're touring in support of their just-released third album, Visions of Gandhi, which is perhaps their weightiest collection of dark, violent rap to date.

Although Paz's slightly lispy, rapid-fire delivery is solidly thuggish, the subject matter of his lyrics is increasingly spiritual and political. Jedi Mind Tricks' newer work is antiwar, and protests the increasing discrimination against Muslims since September 11. Which is not to say that it's PC or "faggot"-free. On "Nada Cambia," Paz lets loose a string of threats and insults that sound almost careless: "Then I'll whap you with razors, guns, knives, and what have you." Paz's natural, casual cadence and the simplicity of the lyrics make many of the songs' violent images more clever than intimidating, like verbal martial-arts choreography. Much of it is gleefully immature, and as is philosophically stated on "Blood In Blood Out," Jedi Mind Tricks "like anything that's related to death."

Another recent evolution is the overall diversification of the Jedi sound. They've always leaned towards the macabre, with heavy, lurking beats that seem to drag slightly behind the lyrics, but the newer material is more danceable. An infusion of Latin influence is also audible in their songs, incorporating guitar fingerpicking, brass, and more Spanish lyrics.

Jedi Mind Tricks have taken some flak recently for slicking up their production, a development that's partially the result of their collaboration with hotshot engineer Chris Conway, who's also worked with Eminem. Jedi's alpha, childishly violent posturing is in fact pretty ridiculous, but they don't seem as though they honestly expect or desire to be taken too seriously. Rather than betraying any underground authenticity for a cleaner, smoother sound, Jedi appear to be growing increasingly comfortable in their own skin. Their recent experimentation may be easier to nail down on record, but the tight backbone of their music bodes well for the live version, too.

editor@thestranger.com

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