Vinnie Paz

Infobox musical artist
Name = Vinnie Paz
Background = solo_singer

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Img_capt = In Philadelphia, June 2006
Landscape =
Birth_name = Vincento Luveniri
Alias =
Origin = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Born = birth date and age|1977|08|19
Genre = Hip hop
Occupation = Rapper
Years_active = 1996 – present
Label = Babygrande
Associated_acts = Jedi Mind Tricks
Army of the Pharaohs
URL = http://www.jmthiphop.com

Vincenzo Luvineri, better known as Vinnie Paz, is an American rapper and the lyricist behind the Philadelphia underground hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. He is also a part of hip hop supergroup Army of the Pharaohs.Originally taking the pseudonym of Ikon the Verbal Hologram, he later changed his name to Vinnie Paz, after the Rhode Island boxer Vinny Paz. Paz originally started rapping with fellow Jedi Mind Tricks member Stoupe in his basement. Paz is known for his raw and gritty lyrical delivery. This is partly due to the metal plates inserted inside his mouth, visible in several videos, such as "Heavy Metal Kings feat. Ill Bill". This gritty style of Paz became apparent with the release of the now classic "Violent by Design", and has gotten progressively more defined since its release. Vinnie Paz has a number of aliases, including Louie Doggs, The Pazmanian Devil, Frank Vinatra (as told in On the Eve of War with GZA), and Vin Laden.

Raised Roman Catholic, Vinnie Paz now practices the Islamic faith. [Gloss, Jason. [http://www.philaflava.com/vinnie_paz.htm Philly should have been its own state] . Philaflava. Accessed June 13 2008.] He has also made several appearances on other artists' tracks, such as Canibus, Sabac Red, Pumpkinhead, and Block McCloud, to name a few.

Paz was instrumental in forming the Army of the Pharaohs, an underground, East Coast hip hop group featuring himself, Apathy, Celph Titled, Chief Kamachi, 7L & Esoteric, Planetary & Crypt the Warchild (Outerspace), King Syze, Faez One, Jus Allah, Doap Nixon, Reef the Lost Cauze and Des D, although not every artist is on every track.

Recently, Vinnie appeared on Percee P's 2007 release, "Perseverance". Paz along with Guilty Simpson are featured on the track "Watch Your Step" which was also released as the albums first single, having an instrumental and a cappella version along with it.

References

External links

* [http://media.www.vermontcynic.com/media/storage/paper308/news/2004/04/13/Arts/A.Conversation.With.Vinnie.Paz-658057.shtml Interview with Vinnie Paz in the Vermont Cynic.]
* [http://www.jmthiphop.com/ Jedi Mind Tricks' Official Website.]