Customer Reviews

Violent By Design (Bonus Dvd) (Dlx) (Dig)

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I just heard of JMT and I have to say they are an amazing group. They remind of Wu-Tang but more refined and the raps seems to flow better. I love Wu and lately I have been listening to too much commercial garbage. Picking up this cd got me back into underground. If you like real hip-hop or want to know what it is get this cd, you won't regret it.

I can't really stress how crucial it is to add VBD to your collection. When I first got this CD a few years ago, I played it to the point where none of the tracks even played correctly anymore; I rocked it to death. Luckily, they've re-released it, with a remix of Retaliation, a vicious new track with some tight back-and-forth emceeing on the third verse, and also finally putting Blood Runs Cold on CD. Thank you, hip hop gods. Vinnie Paz has since dipped a bit in his ferocity and mythical references in his verses, but JMT is still a huuge force to be reckoned with; go get Legacy of Blood to hear their new stuff (with GZA, Sean Price, Killah Priest... I don't need to say more).

OK. This is an awesome slice of hip hop, and it's a very rare find on vinyl which always adds to its collectability.

The production is the star of the show, but a lot of the rapping is genuinely top-shelf too.

Jedi Mind make that rare thing: mystical hip hop. It's second to none stuff, rousing you with haunting synths and eery vocals and rhymes alluding to religion, myth, spirituality and personal awareness. It's a rare find and the most effective form of hip hop, in my opinion.

"...possessing my peeps to walk streets with stolen heat like prometheus"

How many rappers would even know who Prometheus is or why that metaphor makes sense?

However, the reason I didn't, nay - couldn't - give it the full 5 stars like everyone else is cos of Jus Allah's pig-ignorant take on religious issues.

This is an important thing, especially in 2006, especially as he's rapping specifically about Islam "vs." Christianity, especially because the rest of the LP is worth a listen and might convince lesser minds that this clown is too.

He's a prime example of someone who appears not to get it. He'll make a worthwhile statement such as "Islam shouldn't be blamed for current problems", then he'll go and make an ignoramus out of himself and follow it with "Christianity should".

If you're not insightful enough to see through the religions and the excuses and arrive at the only worthwhile conclusion there is; namely that if you shift blame away from any religion you must shift it away from all religion and look for the culprit on a more personal level; don't be shouting violently your underdeveloped and vastly bigoted opinion.

Conscious hip hop is about the message, not just the beats and rhymes, so this one can't be a 5-star when you've got a spiritual deadweight acting like he's the second-coming of Yoda.

This is the BEST JMT album. All of the songs on this album are classics. Songs that stand out to me are Retaliation, I Against I (classic), Exertions, Heavenly Divine, Sacrafice, The Executioners Dream, Army of The Pharaohs, Untitled, and Blood Runs Cold. Just these tracks alone could create a timeless album. This album is worth the money, definately up there with the classics.

The DVD footage is good too. It just follows JMT around during their tour. The ending footage is tight, it interweaves a few different concerts of JMT during their tour performing "I Against I". Very well produced.

Definatly don't listen to the dude who slandered this album. I didn't and I am stoked I got it. The album has phat beats from Stoupe and Vinnie Paz has definatly got his own style, which is what I at least am looking for: novel Hip-Hop. Not the same old !@#$ that you get off of MTV. I have extreme ardor for this album, I hope others expose themselves to this quality.

First of all, Mr. Corcoran, Living Legends was opening for Jedi Mind Tricks, not the other way around. It was the Legacy of Blood tour, to promote the new jmt album, Legacy of blood. I did some research and the only reason jmt opened the show was b/c the legends are from california, so on that small leg of the trip (as your from the hip-hop haven of portland) they were the main attraction.
anyway, i normally don't do this, but you almost made me not buy this album, which would have been a catastrophe, as it is the quintessential example of what hip-hop should be. Or to use one of the many published reviews (these are not my own words or your unprofesional words, but one who actually reviews albums for a living) "Violent by Design will be the new measuring stick for all underground albums. It is a classic, not in some fake sense, but rather it deserves mention with classics such as Wu Tang and Nas." (mx reviews) Another wrote "Classic album. Heavenly divine has to be the scariest song I've ever heard. Stoupe is the next Gza" (all music guide).
Maybe it's just me, but I think i'll trust the writers who get paid to review albums, not some guy from portland. seriously man, your sitting on gold yet you don't even know it. EVERYONE I"VE READ CALLS IT CLASSIC, I URGE YOU TO FIND AN ACTUAL REVIEWER THAT DOESN'T. please, go back and listen to the rhymes. The beats are about as good as they get, and thr rhymes, well just listen to track 25 to the last verse - vinnies verse. Yea, he's ryhming about killing, but in a way no other has before. He brings it to life.
man i got nothing against you, but i don't want other people to make the same mistake i did and wait to buy this album. That includes you. I urge you to buy this album and go home tonight close your eyes and start the cd.
peace

This is a bad ass album. Great collaborations throughout the CD, bone-chilling beats from Stoupe and good lyrics from Paz. Yeah, this music isn't for everybody, i guess its an aquired taste but there is nothing else like it. Some of the better tracks include: Retaliatio, Contra, Heavenly Divine and Deer Hunter (one of the greatest rap songs ever). Overall this album is hot and you shouldn't sleep on it if you're a true raphead.

Intricate beats laced with sound bites from all kinds of movies from Antz to Trial at Nuremberg make for a distinctive euphonious sound. The cover and title say it all, this is hard-core War music. If you're bout to fight someone listen to this album to get hyped up and even if you're not listening to this album is a good release. VBD- Genius!

This is the best album I have heard since I first heard 36 chambers and All Eyes On Me. I like it better then 36 chambers because almost every track on the album is perfect. The beats are so innovative.. almost like some of the RZA's beats but a little more smooth.. and the lyrics are unmatchable, they are so smart and creative with a hardcore style. I'd pay 15 bucks just for the single gengis khan or trinity. I strongly recommend this album to anyone.. anyone who listens to real hiphop and not the commercial crap. I'm listening right now and i havent been able to put it down since i bought it. The DVD is dope too..

I didn't want to write a review for this, because anyone who appreciates raw, east coast hip-hop already knows about Jedi Mind Tricks, and their seminal underground smash that is Violent By Design. This album is by far their best, and personally one of my top 5 hip-hop albums of all time. The kid(and yes this kid is probably 13) who gave it 1 star and reccomended Swollen Members and Living Legends is a clown, plain and simple. His west-coast bias is obvious, and Del and Murs from Living Legends are the only cats he mentions that are really holding down the West Coast, and even their most acclaimed work has been with producers from different areas (Dan the Automator and 9th Wonder).

Back to the album. It is banger after banger, every single song on the album is good, especially Heavenly, Divine, Sacrifice, The Deer Hunter and Retaliation. Don't expect any politics or deep introspective lyrics because that isn't what this is about. Both Vinnie and Jus Allah rip these tracks with a sick flow, voice, and some ill ignorant punchlines. The beats are incredible, and on par with RZA and DJ Premier(seriously). I've been listening to this album for four years and haven't gotten tired of it--thats saying something. To all you cats that are just getting into hip-hop cop this album...philly at it's finest. PEACE.

After listening to the entire cd all I can say is "wow". The dvd is a great little add-on too, you get to see these guys perform live! Great production by Stoupe as always, Vinnie's lyrics are nice and raw, and some pretty sick cuts by Drew Dollars. To any underground rap fan this is a MUST have. Even if you've never heard of these guys, at least give it a chance! People that don't even like this type of music think JMT are dope. Get yours now!