Philadelphia underground veteran Vinnie Paz continues his 8th album Everyone is a guest in God's House about 7 months later with his 2nd EP. Breaking out as the MC of Jedi Mind Tricks & the leader of the Army of the Pharaohs collective, he released his first 2 solo albums Season of the Assassin & God of the Serengeti in 2010 and 2012 respectively until the return in 2016 with The Cornerstone of the Corner Store. The collector of pain would become my favorite of his first 2 but since then as above so belowPaz remains consistent by making a new solo effort every year and continues the tradition by making Jacinto's Praying Mantis a physical exclusive.
“Contra Cocaine” is a boom bam opener that talks about killing every chance it gets, while my favorite track on the EP “Blood Bank Affair” produced by Czar-Keys & Scott Stallone ties it in with some guitars, kicks and snares to be able to in his Boxcutter bag lyrically. “Ghost Limb” takes a futuristically eerie approach instrumentally thanks to Nickel Plated assuring you with a saw a body in the city of Pack Pistol Pazzy leading into “Bullet in the Head” incorporating sampling that speaks to an animal.
“Brainscan Exorcism” featuring Boob Bronx & Recognize Ali brings the trio together over a freaky piano/boom bam crossover, wanting everyone to enjoy it while they're still alive, while “Funeral Pyre” has to be another standout track in a complicated way. All at a different level on a Shuko beat sample. “Zoë Lund” comes to an end Jacinto's Praying Mantis mixing woodwinds, kicks, snares and a hook from 7L to make it outrageous.
I can't speak to where Ikon the Verbal Hologram will go from here, whether it's a 9th solo LP or a new Jedi Mind album, but he's given the underground a solid prelude EP until that time comes. Production-wise, I personally lean more towards his last two full-lengths, although Scott nailed the engineering. Squatdeadface, moreover, doing the artwork makes me happy as the head of Griselda who has been following him ever since FLYGOD is an awesome God & lyrically, Odrama vin Laden remains one of the greatest from the City of Brotherly Love.
Rating: 7/10