name	Nothing
director	Vincenzo Natali
producer	Steven Hoban
story	Vincenzo NataliAndrew MillerDavid Hewlett
screenplay	Andrew LoweryAndrew Miller
narrator	Maurice Dean Wint
starring	David HewlettAndrew Miller
music	Michael Andrews
cinematography	Derek Rogers
editing	Michele Conroy
studio	49th Parallel Productions
distributor	Alliance Atlantis
released	September 9, 2003 December 7, 2004
runtime	90 minutes
country
language	English }}

''Nothing'' is a 2003 Canadian black philosophical comedy film, directed by Vincenzo Natali. It stars David Hewlett and Andrew Miller.

Plot

The film tells the story of two good friends and housemates, Andrew (Andrew Miller), an agoraphobic travel agent who works from his home, and Dave (David Hewlett), a loser who works in an office where he is treated with contempt. As unpleasant as their lives are, things get much worse within the span of one day: Dave is fired from his job after his girlfriend frames him for embezzlement, Andrew is falsely accused of attempted child molestation by a young girl extorting cookie sales, and both are informed by a city building inspector that their house is to be demolished by day's end. Both of them hide inside the house as police, city officials, and outraged neighbors surround it, clamoring for them to come out. The two frantically seek some means of escape until suddenly all goes quiet. Confused, Dave and Andrew open their front door and discover that the entire world beyond their house is gone, replaced with a featureless white void.

Though initially frightened about their new circumstances Dave and Andrew quickly adapt to their new-found isolation. Eventually, after a simple test reveals that the nothingness surrounding them holds a flat, featureless, and somewhat springy surface "like tofu", they set out across the empty plane in order to explore their new surroundings, leaving a trail of household items behind as a means of getting back. The trek nearly becomes a permanent exile when, after running out of items to leave as a trail, Dave and Andrew panic and lose track of their path. Wandering leads them to what appears to be another house, but when they "sneak" up on it they discover they have simply wandered back home.

Panic begins to set in again when Andrew realizes that the house is completely out of food, resulting in a frantic scramble for food sources, argument, and finally depression. As the two lounge weakly in the front room, hungry, Andrew glances around the room, eventually stopping and glaring at a noisy clock on the wall; within a few seconds it disappears. Andrew comes up with a theory, which he puts to the test: dropping a stack of overdue bills in front of Dave, Andrew asks him to concentrate on how much he dislikes them, and within seconds the bills abruptly disappear. The two realize that they can "hate away" things, as Dave "hated away" the bills, Andrew "hated away" the clock, and (remembering the moment before the world disappeared) they both "hated away" the entire world outside. Dave puts one last theory to test, managing to hate away his need for food.

Dave still expresses some concern over Andrew's remaining phobias, questioning why the phobias still exist when there's nothing left to fear. Reluctantly, Andrew reveals that he was abused and tormented by his parents as a child. With some urging from Dave he hates away the memory of each traumatic childhood event as he recounts it; when he is finally done he is no longer phobic and much more confident in himself. Unfortunately this change alters Andrew's personality and leads to friction between the two friends, finally building into an outright confrontation. They decide they can no longer share the same house, and opt to determine who keeps it by playing a match of their favorite fighting game. Dave loses, and is exiled with his possessions to reside out in the nothingness.

Things become very tense with Dave's departure. Dave attempts to engage Andrew in conversation repeatedly, even performing the national anthem for his self-created nation (its borders marked by a line of his possessions), all to no avail. After several days Dave comes into Andrew's house much happier and explains his sudden change of mood: he has hated away his anger at Andrew; all Andrew needs to do is hate away his anger at Dave and things will be back to normal. Andrew refuses, quite content to be angry at Dave. Dave hates away his anger several times as Andrew rebuffs and outright insults him, but his patience finally wears thin, leading Dave to hate away one of Andrew's possessions. Andrew retaliates by hating away one of Dave's possessions, and the situation escalates until everything including the house is hated away.

Dave walks away, assuming the argument is finished, but falls over suddenly as his feet begin to disappear; Andrew is hating them away. He turns and retaliates, hating away Andrew's legs, and the situation escalates again until all that is left of the two are their disembodied heads. Refusing to give up the fight, Andrew and Dave manage to turn themselves and (by bouncing) charge at each other, headbutting each other repeatedly until they finally stop, exhausted. Their anger abated, Dave and Andrew make up, agree to be best friends again, and set off to explore the nothingness. As they bounce away into the white void they remark how they both had always thought that their bodies were somehow holding them back.

In a post-credits scene, an obviously older Dave and Andrew - still disembodied heads - are sleeping when they are awakened by a popping sound, followed by a loud clamoring of voices and noise. As the unseen source of the clamoring gets louder and closer the two scream, possibly meaning that their hating the world away was not permanent and things will go back to the way things were.

Cast

David Hewlett as Dave

Andrew Miller as Andrew

Gordon Pinsent as Man In Suit

Marie-Josée Croze as Sara

Andrew Lowery as Crawford

Elana Shilling as Little Girl

Soo Garay as Little Girl's Mother

Martin Roach as Co-worker

Angelo Tsarouchas as Foreman

Rick Parker as Mounted Police Officer

Maurice Dean Wint as Narrator

Bobby the Turtle as Stan

Production notes

}} In an interview with Troy Riser of ''The Trades'', director Vincenzo Natali described ''Nothing'' as "an experimental film" and called it "the comic flipside" of his earlier ''Cube''. According to Natali, ''Cube'' and ''Nothing'' are the first two installments of "an informal trilogy of minimalist films," the third of which will be ''Echo Beach''.

Natali, who considers ''Nothing'' "a story about friendship" at its core, originally envisioned Stan the turtle as the film's narrator. Due to budget constraints, however, the idea of a talking turtle could not be realized. Natali also associated Stan with a metaphorical significance: "He's a turtle because that's what David and Andrew are -- creatures who carry their home on their back and hide from the world."

In an email interview with Patrick Douglas of ''The Culture Shock'', Natali attributed his desire to make ''Nothing'' to a fascination with the "notion of editing reality." He explained the decision to keep the leading actors' real names in the script as "Creative bankruptcy."

David Hewlett, Andrew Miller and Natali grew up and went to high school together. In an interview with Ian Caddell of ''The Georgia Straight'', Natali recalled how Hewlett and Miller had to enact many of the scenes in ''Nothing'' hanging from the ceiling on wires. But, he said, they enjoyed the abuse because they knew it could be the last opportunity the three would have to work together. In an interview with Jason Anderson of ''Eye Weekly'', Hewlett, describing the suspension apparatus as a 30-foot atomic wedgie, commented, "[Natali]'d hang us from the ceiling like puppets and literally place us where he wanted us." Miller spoke of similar hardships: "It was really ridiculous."

Natali credited colleague Terry Gilliam as an influence to whom ''Nothing'' owes "a real debt."

The movie featured Squigglevision-like scenes produced by Head Gear Animation.

Reception

''Nothing'' received mixed reviews, currently earning a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 50%.

Film critic Dan Schneider called ''Nothing'' "not a bad film," but "not good either," remarking that "its essential silliness and triviality are what keep this from reaching the existential level of a good The Twilight Zone episode, or something more akin to George Lucas's THX 1138." Schneider also criticized the soundtrack, arguing that "the film would have been much more effective if the music had suggested darker undertones." He concluded his review saying, "Nothing is one of those films that will stick with a viewer for a while, if only because it will leave scenarios open to be reworked in each viewer's mind."

References

External links

Category:2003 films Category:Canadian films Category:English-language films Category:Canadian comedy films Category:Canadian science fiction films Category:Comedy science fiction films Category:Films set in Toronto Category:Films directed by Vincenzo Natali Category:Article Feedback 5

es:Nothing (película) fr:Nothing it:Nothing (film) ja:NOTHING ナッシング pl:Wielkie nic ru:Пустота (фильм)

name	Jedi Mind Tricks
img size	150px
background	group_or_band
alias	JMT
origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
genre	Hip hop
years active	1993–present
label	Enemy Soil
associated acts	Army of the Pharaohs, Outerspace, Ill Bill, R.A. The Rugged Man, Apathy
website	jmthiphop.com
current members	Vinnie Paz (1993 – present)Jus Allah (1998–2002, 2009 – present)DJ Kwestion (1997 – present)
past members	Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind (1993–2011) }}

Jedi Mind Tricks (JMT) is a hip hop duo with Vinnie Paz from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Jus Allah from Camden, New Jersey. The group was founded by two high school friends, rapper Vinnie Paz (Vincenzo Luvineri) and former producer/DJ Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind (Kevin Baldwin). In 1999 the New Jersey rapper Jus Allah (James Bostick) joined the group to record the second studio album by JMT, ''Violent by Design'' but left shortly after for reasons that remain unexplained. The track "The Rebuilding" (2006) marked his unofficial return to JMT since the split, but made a full fledged return aside Vinnie Paz for the sixth studio album, ''A History of Violence'' (2008). In September 2011, Vinnie Paz officially announced the departure of Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind from the group, because "his heart wasn't in making JMT records anymore".

DJ Kwestion is also a part of the group, mainly scratching choruses on the turntable. Kwestion (or Kwes) is also a part of the group Skratch Makaniks. Kwestion was a replacement for JMT's previous tour DJ, Drew Dollars, who is no longer affiliated with the group.

JMT has collaborations with both regional MCs and rap veterans, including GZA, Kool G Rap, 7L & Esoteric, Sean Price, Ras Kass, Canibus, Percee P, Killah Priest, Immortal Technique, Virtuoso, Louis Logic, R.A. the Rugged Man, Tragedy Khadafi, and Ill Bill. The group has sold over 250,000 albums in the United States and 450,000 albums worldwide, all of which were released independently.

History

Amber Probe EP and Psycho-Social LP

JMT officially debuted with the ''Amber Probe EP''.

"The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological, And Electro-Magnetic Manipulation Of Human Consciousness" known as "The Psycho-Social" for short was released under Babygrande Records and is JMT's first full length LP. It featured 12 tracks and 6 bonus tracks. It is considered JMT's most groundbreaking and influential album.

Five Perfect Exertions EP and Violent By Design

Prior to the release of their first LP, Vinnie Paz had conceived the idea of forming a rotating, collaborative super-group of underground East Coast artists called the Army of the Pharaohs (AotP). 1998 saw the first result of these efforts in The Five Perfect Exertions EP. The release featured Virtuoso, 7L & Esoteric, Chief Kamachi and Bahamadia as well as Vinnie Paz himself. The EP was later remixed for JMT's next LP, ''Violent by Design'' (2000), albeit without Chief Kamachi's verse.

The LP was originally titled "Nyugha Reincarnation of the Hologramic Christ". Vinnie Paz became noticeably more aggressive, abandoning his cosmic, paranoid rhyme style from The Psycho-Social CD for more violent lyrics. The LP also introduced Jus Allah, a founding member of JMT who had left for college but dropped out a short while after. A self-proclaimed five-percenter, Jus was present on every non-AotP track on ''Violent by Design'' as JMT's unofficial third member. Most of the lyrics in Violent By Design show Jus and Paz describing exaggerated ways of killing people as well as their metaphorical superhuman powers. Typically, they do this by combining themes of hardcore/gangsta rap with mythological or fantasy imagery.

The list of guest artists on this album was also their longest, including Mr. Lif, Planetary of OuterSpace, Louis Logic, Diamondback, Philip King Rappah,Coffee Gangsta Child L-Fudge, B.A. Barakus, J-Treds, Killa Sha, C-Baz and Tragedy Khadafi, plus a couple of odd phone-call interludes by Mr. Len.

During the course of ''Violent by Design's'' 1999–2000 recording period, Paz changed his alias to Vinnie Paz, inspired by the boxer of the same name. The reason for this has been reported to be the result of a short-lived rivalry instigated by fellow Philly underground rapper iCON the Mic King. Vinnie Paz decided to settle on his new moniker in order to prevent any further confusion. It was also around this time that he formally declared himself to be a follower of Islam, alluding to this fact several times on record.

Visions of Gandhi

In late 2001, JMT was made an offer by Babygrande Records founder Chuck Wilson to sign a deal. Jus Allah's uncertainty caused him to leave the group on good terms. Stoupe and Vinnie Paz closed their homegrown Superegular label and migrated to Babygrande. Before his ''White Nightmare'' EP on Virtuoso's "Omnipotent Records" label, Jus was somewhat isolated from the entire Philadelphia underground scene; the two sides wouldn't talk to each other for over three years. Virtuoso was also estranged from JMT and AOTP for his support of Jus, among other reasons.

Mid-2003 saw the release of JMT's third LP, ''Visions of Gandhi''. In an interview, Vinnie Paz said the title was inspired by Foxy Brown's verse in Nas's song "Affirmative Action", and expresses the need for a prominent figure of non-violent social change such as Gandhi in a post-9/11 world.

Stoupe, now supplied with a professional studio in New York, also expanded his variety of production, incorporating grand orchestral samples and a stronger Latin feel. In response, some longtime fans felt let down by Vinnie Paz's lyricism and delivery, as well as the abundance of slick, upbeat loops adopted by Stoupe . Nevertheless, the album helped expand the group's audience as its popularity and commercial success continued to grow.

Legacy of Blood and Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell

A little over a year later, JMT continued their creative streak with ''Legacy of Blood'', this time intentionally keeping guest artists to a minimum. Carrying with them their lessons from Gandhi, Stoupe and Vinnie tried to strike a balance between the past two albums. Vinnie Paz also added a more personal aspect to his lyrics, most notably in the last song "Before the Great Collapse".

In February, 2005, Babygrande officially announced that Jus Allah had signed on to the label after reconciling with his former partners. Babygrande released his long-awaited debut LP, ''All Fates Have Changed'', in May of that year. However, after a dispute with label CEO Chuck Wilson soon after the album's release, Jus left Babygrande and denied any new association with JMT.

In March, 2006, a reunited Army of the Pharaohs released ''The Torture Papers'' LP. The crew now consisted of Vinnie Paz, Chief Kamachi, 7L & Esoteric, Apathy, Celph Titled, Planetary & Crypt the Warchild of Outerspace, King Syze, Faez One, Reef the Lost Cauze, and new Jedi Mind Tricks hype-man Des Devious. This time, however, Virtuoso and Bahamadia were not featured and are no longer associated with the Army.

The fifth Jedi Mind Tricks album, titled ''Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell'', was released on September 19, 2006. The release coincided with the beginning of the album's supportive tour, which kicked off in New York City's Time Square. The album was widely acclaimed, unlike the group's two previous albums, which both received mixed reviews. A large part of the acclaim was due to the album's lyrical and musical diversity, both missing from their previous efforts. The album featured the single "Heavy Metal Kings" with Ill Bill, the Shara Worden-assisted "Razorblade Salvation", and the storytelling track "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story" with R.A. The Rugged Man. A day after the release of the album, Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks did an interview with The Breakdown, a show on ItsHipHop.tv where he discussed the album and his thoughts on Jus Allah.

In early 2006, rumors spread that the group had reunited with estranged member Jus Allah, and that he would be featured on ''Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell'', but no collaboration appeared. However, on September 20, 2006 a newly-recorded Jedi Mind Tricks/Jus Allah collaboration, produced by Brods, titled "The Rebuilding" appeared online. Jus is also planning to release his second album, ''The Colossus'', in the summer of 2007. In a January 2007 interview Paz stated that Jus will be featured on the group's upcoming sixth album, titled ''A History of Violence''. Jus Allah, Doap Nixon and Demoz were added to the AotP roster in 2007, and will contribute verses to the group's second studio album ''Ritual of Battle'', scheduled for release on September 25, 2007. Also, in summer 2008, Jedi Mind Tricks' Label, Babygrande, will be releasing a JMT DVD. "With a 12+ year career under their belt and a continually growing rabid fan base, the history of Jedi Mind Tricks has never been officially documented…until summer 2008, “Divine Fire: The Story of Jedi Mind Tricks DVD,” promises an insightful excursion into the roots of an underground empire." This is from Babygrande's Newsletter.

Reunion with Jus Allah and A History of Violence

In an interview conducted in September 2007 on the Art of Rhyme website, Jus Allah announced that he has rejoined Jedi Mind Tricks. In the interview he states that "I'm back in the group [and that] I'm focused on... putting out the next Jedi Mind Tricks album... a History of Violence." A History of Violence (album) was released on November 11, 2008. This album would be the last JMT album released on Babygrande Records.

Enemy Soil, Violence Begets Violence, and the departure of Stoupe

After a long time dispute with Babygrande Records, JMT decided to part ways and form their own record label entitled Enemy Soil. Enemy Soil features artists such as JMT, Reef the Lost Cauze, Dutch (the side group of Stoupe The Enemy Of Mankind), and Army of the Pharaohs.

Vinnie Paz released his first solo album Season of the Assassin (album) on June 22, 2010. Jus Allah is in the works of releasing his second solo album entitled MMA (Meanest Man Alive). Stoupe released the album for his group, Dutch, (which features Liz Fullerton on vocals) entitled A Bright Cold Day (album) on June 8, 2010. Army of the Pharaohs released their third album as well entitled The Unholy Terror on March 30, 2010.

It was announced that JMT would be creating a new title called ''Violence Begets Violence''. This album marks the first album without Stoupe behind production. Vinnie Paz stated in a blog on the JMT website that Stoupe has lost the inspiration for Hip-Hop and decided to focus on other things in his career, such as his sidegroups, and that Stoupe would not be producing any of the tracks on the new JMT album. Vinnie Paz stated that there is no conflict between the two and if Stoupe wants to be part of the next album, Paz would welcome him back. JMT has since gotten numerous producers to fill in the slot and released a new single from the album entitled "Target Practice". The new album was released on October 25, 2011.

Public opinions on piracy

At the same day as Violence Begets Violence was released, a post at the official Jedi Mind Tricks Facebook page addressed copyright infringements and the early leaked album online. An upset Vinnie Paz condemned downloading the leaked copy calling it an act of stealing.

Discography

Albums

{| |- style="background:#ccc;" !align="left"|Album information |- |align="left"|''The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness''

Released: November 4, 1997 (Re-released May 6, 2003 on Babygrande Records)

Label: Superegular Records

Sales: 25,000 copies

Singles: "I Who Have Nothing"

|- |align="left"|''Violent by Design''

Released: October 3, 2000 (Re-released May 25, 2004 on Babygrande Records)

Label: Superegular Records

Sales: 50,000 copies

Singles: "Heavenly Divine"/"Trinity", "Genghis Khan", "Retaliation"/"Blood Runs Cold"

|- |align="left"|''Visions of Gandhi''

Released: August 26, 2003

Label: Babygrande Records

Sales: 50,000 copies

Singles: "Animal Rap", "Kublai Khan", "Rise of the Machines"

|- |align="left"|''Legacy of Blood''

Released: August 24, 2004

Label: Babygrande Records

Sales: 50,000 copies

Singles: "Before the Great Collapse"/"On the Eve of War", "The Age of Sacred Terror"/"Saviorself"

|- |align="left"|''Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell''

Released: September 19, 2006

U.S. Sales: 75,000 copies

Label: Babygrande Records

Singles: "Heavy Metal Kings"

|- |align="left"|''A History of Violence''

Released: November 11, 2008

U.S. Sales: 11,205

Label: Babygrande Records

Singles: "Monolith","Godflesh"

|- |align="left"|''Violence Begets Violence'' Release Date: October 25, 2011

U.S. Sales: 10,652

Label: Enemy Soil

Singles: "Target Practice","When Crows Descend Upon You","Design In Malice"

|}

EPs/Singles

{| |- style="background:#ccc;" !align="left"|Album information |- |align="left"|''Amber Probe EP''

Released: 1996

Label: Superegular Records

|- |align="left"|''"Heavenly Divine"''

Released: 1999

Label: Superegular Records

B-Side: "Trinity" (featuring Louis Logic & L-Fudge), "Heavenly Divine (Remix)"

|- |align="left"|''"Raw is War"'' (Vinnie Paz)

Released: 2000

Label: Direct Records

B-Side: "Language is Fatal" (featuring Doap Nixon, Jus Allah & Planetary)

|- |align="left"|''"Genghis Khan"'' (featuring Tragedy Khadafi)

Released: 2000

Label: Superegular Records

B-Side:

|- |align="left"|''"Retaliation"''

Released: 2001

Label: Superegular Records

B-Side: "Blood Runs Cold" (featuring Sean Price)

|- |align="left"|''"Animal Rap" (Arturo Gatti Mix)'' (featuring Kool G Rap)

Released: 2003

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side: "Animal Rap" (Micky Ward Mix)

|- |align="left"|''"Kublai Khan"'' (featuring Goretex & Tragedy Khadafi)

Released: 2003

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side:

|- |align="left"|''"Rise of the Machines"'' (featuring Ras Kass)

Released: 2004

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side:

|- |align="left"|''"Before the Great Collapse"''

Released: 2004

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side: "On the Eve of War" (Julio César Chávez Mix) (featuring GZA),"On the Eve of War" (Meldrick Taylor Mix) (featuring GZA) |- |align="left"|''"The Age of Sacred Terror"''

Released: 2005

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side: "Saviorself" (featuring Killah Priest)

|- |align="left"|''"Heavy Metal Kings"'' (featuring Ill Bill)

Released: August 1, 2006

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side:

|}

Compilations

{| |- style="background:#ccc;" !align="left"|Album information |- |align="left"|''The Greatest Feature''

Released: June 23, 2009

Label: Babygrande Records

|}

Jus Allah discography

{| |- style="background:#ccc;" !align="left"|Album information |- |align="left"|''"White Nightmare"'' (EP/Single)

Released: 2002

Label: Omnipotent Records

B-Side: "Reign of the Lord"

|- |align="left"|''"All Fates Have Changed"'' (Full-length album)

Released: May 10, 2005

Label: Babygrande Records

Singles: "Pool of Blood"/"Hell Razors", "G-O-D"/"Supreme"

|- |align="left"|''"Pool of Blood"'' (featuring GZA) (Single)

Released: 2005

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side: "Hell Razors" (featuring Evil Dead)

|- |align="left"|''"G-O-D"'' (Single)

Released: 2005

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side: "Supreme"

|- |align="left"|''"MMA (Meanest Man Alive)"'' (Second full-length album)

Released: 2011

Label: Enemy Soil

|}

References

External links

Official Jedi Mind Tricks website

Official Babygrande website

Official CrackSpace page

Category:People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:Musical groups from Pennsylvania Category:Musical groups from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:East Coast hip hop groups Category:Rappers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:Horrorcore groups Category:Underground rappers

da:Jedi Mind Tricks de:Jedi Mind Tricks es:Jedi Mind Tricks fr:Jedi Mind Tricks it:Jedi Mind Tricks pl:Jedi Mind Tricks ru:Jedi Mind Tricks simple:Jedi Mind Tricks fi:Jedi Mind Tricks sv:Jedi Mind Tricks tr:Jedi Mind Tricks

name	Jedi Mind Tricks
img size	150px
background	group_or_band
alias	JMT
origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
genre	Hip hop
years active	1993–present
label	Enemy Soil
associated acts	Army of the Pharaohs, Outerspace, Ill Bill, R.A. The Rugged Man, Apathy
website	jmthiphop.com
current members	Vinnie Paz (1993 – present)Jus Allah (1998–2002, 2009 – present)DJ Kwestion (1997 – present)
past members	Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind (1993–2011) }}

Jedi Mind Tricks (JMT) is a hip hop duo with Vinnie Paz from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Jus Allah from Camden, New Jersey. The group was founded by two high school friends, rapper Vinnie Paz (Vincenzo Luvineri) and former producer/DJ Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind (Kevin Baldwin). In 1999 the New Jersey rapper Jus Allah (James Bostick) joined the group to record the second studio album by JMT, ''Violent by Design'' but left shortly after for reasons that remain unexplained. The track "The Rebuilding" (2006) marked his unofficial return to JMT since the split, but made a full fledged return aside Vinnie Paz for the sixth studio album, ''A History of Violence'' (2008). In September 2011, Vinnie Paz officially announced the departure of Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind from the group, because "his heart wasn't in making JMT records anymore".

DJ Kwestion is also a part of the group, mainly scratching choruses on the turntable. Kwestion (or Kwes) is also a part of the group Skratch Makaniks. Kwestion was a replacement for JMT's previous tour DJ, Drew Dollars, who is no longer affiliated with the group.

JMT has collaborations with both regional MCs and rap veterans, including GZA, Kool G Rap, 7L & Esoteric, Sean Price, Ras Kass, Canibus, Percee P, Killah Priest, Immortal Technique, Virtuoso, Louis Logic, R.A. the Rugged Man, Tragedy Khadafi, and Ill Bill. The group has sold over 250,000 albums in the United States and 450,000 albums worldwide, all of which were released independently.

History

Amber Probe EP and Psycho-Social LP

JMT officially debuted with the ''Amber Probe EP''.

"The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological, And Electro-Magnetic Manipulation Of Human Consciousness" known as "The Psycho-Social" for short was released under Babygrande Records and is JMT's first full length LP. It featured 12 tracks and 6 bonus tracks. It is considered JMT's most groundbreaking and influential album.

Five Perfect Exertions EP and Violent By Design

Prior to the release of their first LP, Vinnie Paz had conceived the idea of forming a rotating, collaborative super-group of underground East Coast artists called the Army of the Pharaohs (AotP). 1998 saw the first result of these efforts in The Five Perfect Exertions EP. The release featured Virtuoso, 7L & Esoteric, Chief Kamachi and Bahamadia as well as Vinnie Paz himself. The EP was later remixed for JMT's next LP, ''Violent by Design'' (2000), albeit without Chief Kamachi's verse.

The LP was originally titled "Nyugha Reincarnation of the Hologramic Christ". Vinnie Paz became noticeably more aggressive, abandoning his cosmic, paranoid rhyme style from The Psycho-Social CD for more violent lyrics. The LP also introduced Jus Allah, a founding member of JMT who had left for college but dropped out a short while after. A self-proclaimed five-percenter, Jus was present on every non-AotP track on ''Violent by Design'' as JMT's unofficial third member. Most of the lyrics in Violent By Design show Jus and Paz describing exaggerated ways of killing people as well as their metaphorical superhuman powers. Typically, they do this by combining themes of hardcore/gangsta rap with mythological or fantasy imagery.

The list of guest artists on this album was also their longest, including Mr. Lif, Planetary of OuterSpace, Louis Logic, Diamondback, Philip King Rappah,Coffee Gangsta Child L-Fudge, B.A. Barakus, J-Treds, Killa Sha, C-Baz and Tragedy Khadafi, plus a couple of odd phone-call interludes by Mr. Len.

During the course of ''Violent by Design's'' 1999–2000 recording period, Paz changed his alias to Vinnie Paz, inspired by the boxer of the same name. The reason for this has been reported to be the result of a short-lived rivalry instigated by fellow Philly underground rapper iCON the Mic King. Vinnie Paz decided to settle on his new moniker in order to prevent any further confusion. It was also around this time that he formally declared himself to be a follower of Islam, alluding to this fact several times on record.

Visions of Gandhi

In late 2001, JMT was made an offer by Babygrande Records founder Chuck Wilson to sign a deal. Jus Allah's uncertainty caused him to leave the group on good terms. Stoupe and Vinnie Paz closed their homegrown Superegular label and migrated to Babygrande. Before his ''White Nightmare'' EP on Virtuoso's "Omnipotent Records" label, Jus was somewhat isolated from the entire Philadelphia underground scene; the two sides wouldn't talk to each other for over three years. Virtuoso was also estranged from JMT and AOTP for his support of Jus, among other reasons.

Mid-2003 saw the release of JMT's third LP, ''Visions of Gandhi''. In an interview, Vinnie Paz said the title was inspired by Foxy Brown's verse in Nas's song "Affirmative Action", and expresses the need for a prominent figure of non-violent social change such as Gandhi in a post-9/11 world.

Stoupe, now supplied with a professional studio in New York, also expanded his variety of production, incorporating grand orchestral samples and a stronger Latin feel. In response, some longtime fans felt let down by Vinnie Paz's lyricism and delivery, as well as the abundance of slick, upbeat loops adopted by Stoupe . Nevertheless, the album helped expand the group's audience as its popularity and commercial success continued to grow.

Legacy of Blood and Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell

A little over a year later, JMT continued their creative streak with ''Legacy of Blood'', this time intentionally keeping guest artists to a minimum. Carrying with them their lessons from Gandhi, Stoupe and Vinnie tried to strike a balance between the past two albums. Vinnie Paz also added a more personal aspect to his lyrics, most notably in the last song "Before the Great Collapse".

In February, 2005, Babygrande officially announced that Jus Allah had signed on to the label after reconciling with his former partners. Babygrande released his long-awaited debut LP, ''All Fates Have Changed'', in May of that year. However, after a dispute with label CEO Chuck Wilson soon after the album's release, Jus left Babygrande and denied any new association with JMT.

In March, 2006, a reunited Army of the Pharaohs released ''The Torture Papers'' LP. The crew now consisted of Vinnie Paz, Chief Kamachi, 7L & Esoteric, Apathy, Celph Titled, Planetary & Crypt the Warchild of Outerspace, King Syze, Faez One, Reef the Lost Cauze, and new Jedi Mind Tricks hype-man Des Devious. This time, however, Virtuoso and Bahamadia were not featured and are no longer associated with the Army.

The fifth Jedi Mind Tricks album, titled ''Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell'', was released on September 19, 2006. The release coincided with the beginning of the album's supportive tour, which kicked off in New York City's Time Square. The album was widely acclaimed, unlike the group's two previous albums, which both received mixed reviews. A large part of the acclaim was due to the album's lyrical and musical diversity, both missing from their previous efforts. The album featured the single "Heavy Metal Kings" with Ill Bill, the Shara Worden-assisted "Razorblade Salvation", and the storytelling track "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story" with R.A. The Rugged Man. A day after the release of the album, Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks did an interview with The Breakdown, a show on ItsHipHop.tv where he discussed the album and his thoughts on Jus Allah.

In early 2006, rumors spread that the group had reunited with estranged member Jus Allah, and that he would be featured on ''Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell'', but no collaboration appeared. However, on September 20, 2006 a newly-recorded Jedi Mind Tricks/Jus Allah collaboration, produced by Brods, titled "The Rebuilding" appeared online. Jus is also planning to release his second album, ''The Colossus'', in the summer of 2007. In a January 2007 interview Paz stated that Jus will be featured on the group's upcoming sixth album, titled ''A History of Violence''. Jus Allah, Doap Nixon and Demoz were added to the AotP roster in 2007, and will contribute verses to the group's second studio album ''Ritual of Battle'', scheduled for release on September 25, 2007. Also, in summer 2008, Jedi Mind Tricks' Label, Babygrande, will be releasing a JMT DVD. "With a 12+ year career under their belt and a continually growing rabid fan base, the history of Jedi Mind Tricks has never been officially documented…until summer 2008, “Divine Fire: The Story of Jedi Mind Tricks DVD,” promises an insightful excursion into the roots of an underground empire." This is from Babygrande's Newsletter.

Reunion with Jus Allah and A History of Violence

In an interview conducted in September 2007 on the Art of Rhyme website, Jus Allah announced that he has rejoined Jedi Mind Tricks. In the interview he states that "I'm back in the group [and that] I'm focused on... putting out the next Jedi Mind Tricks album... a History of Violence." A History of Violence (album) was released on November 11, 2008. This album would be the last JMT album released on Babygrande Records.

Enemy Soil, Violence Begets Violence, and the departure of Stoupe

After a long time dispute with Babygrande Records, JMT decided to part ways and form their own record label entitled Enemy Soil. Enemy Soil features artists such as JMT, Reef the Lost Cauze, Dutch (the side group of Stoupe The Enemy Of Mankind), and Army of the Pharaohs.

Vinnie Paz released his first solo album Season of the Assassin (album) on June 22, 2010. Jus Allah is in the works of releasing his second solo album entitled MMA (Meanest Man Alive). Stoupe released the album for his group, Dutch, (which features Liz Fullerton on vocals) entitled A Bright Cold Day (album) on June 8, 2010. Army of the Pharaohs released their third album as well entitled The Unholy Terror on March 30, 2010.

It was announced that JMT would be creating a new title called ''Violence Begets Violence''. This album marks the first album without Stoupe behind production. Vinnie Paz stated in a blog on the JMT website that Stoupe has lost the inspiration for Hip-Hop and decided to focus on other things in his career, such as his sidegroups, and that Stoupe would not be producing any of the tracks on the new JMT album. Vinnie Paz stated that there is no conflict between the two and if Stoupe wants to be part of the next album, Paz would welcome him back. JMT has since gotten numerous producers to fill in the slot and released a new single from the album entitled "Target Practice". The new album was released on October 25, 2011.

Public opinions on piracy

At the same day as Violence Begets Violence was released, a post at the official Jedi Mind Tricks Facebook page addressed copyright infringements and the early leaked album online. An upset Vinnie Paz condemned downloading the leaked copy calling it an act of stealing.

Discography

Albums

{| |- style="background:#ccc;" !align="left"|Album information |- |align="left"|''The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness''

Released: November 4, 1997 (Re-released May 6, 2003 on Babygrande Records)

Label: Superegular Records

Sales: 25,000 copies

Singles: "I Who Have Nothing"

|- |align="left"|''Violent by Design''

Released: October 3, 2000 (Re-released May 25, 2004 on Babygrande Records)

Label: Superegular Records

Sales: 50,000 copies

Singles: "Heavenly Divine"/"Trinity", "Genghis Khan", "Retaliation"/"Blood Runs Cold"

|- |align="left"|''Visions of Gandhi''

Released: August 26, 2003

Label: Babygrande Records

Sales: 50,000 copies

Singles: "Animal Rap", "Kublai Khan", "Rise of the Machines"

|- |align="left"|''Legacy of Blood''

Released: August 24, 2004

Label: Babygrande Records

Sales: 50,000 copies

Singles: "Before the Great Collapse"/"On the Eve of War", "The Age of Sacred Terror"/"Saviorself"

|- |align="left"|''Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell''

Released: September 19, 2006

U.S. Sales: 75,000 copies

Label: Babygrande Records

Singles: "Heavy Metal Kings"

|- |align="left"|''A History of Violence''

Released: November 11, 2008

U.S. Sales: 11,205

Label: Babygrande Records

Singles: "Monolith","Godflesh"

|- |align="left"|''Violence Begets Violence'' Release Date: October 25, 2011

U.S. Sales: 10,652

Label: Enemy Soil

Singles: "Target Practice","When Crows Descend Upon You","Design In Malice"

|}

EPs/Singles

{| |- style="background:#ccc;" !align="left"|Album information |- |align="left"|''Amber Probe EP''

Released: 1996

Label: Superegular Records

|- |align="left"|''"Heavenly Divine"''

Released: 1999

Label: Superegular Records

B-Side: "Trinity" (featuring Louis Logic & L-Fudge), "Heavenly Divine (Remix)"

|- |align="left"|''"Raw is War"'' (Vinnie Paz)

Released: 2000

Label: Direct Records

B-Side: "Language is Fatal" (featuring Doap Nixon, Jus Allah & Planetary)

|- |align="left"|''"Genghis Khan"'' (featuring Tragedy Khadafi)

Released: 2000

Label: Superegular Records

B-Side:

|- |align="left"|''"Retaliation"''

Released: 2001

Label: Superegular Records

B-Side: "Blood Runs Cold" (featuring Sean Price)

|- |align="left"|''"Animal Rap" (Arturo Gatti Mix)'' (featuring Kool G Rap)

Released: 2003

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side: "Animal Rap" (Micky Ward Mix)

|- |align="left"|''"Kublai Khan"'' (featuring Goretex & Tragedy Khadafi)

Released: 2003

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side:

|- |align="left"|''"Rise of the Machines"'' (featuring Ras Kass)

Released: 2004

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side:

|- |align="left"|''"Before the Great Collapse"''

Released: 2004

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side: "On the Eve of War" (Julio César Chávez Mix) (featuring GZA),"On the Eve of War" (Meldrick Taylor Mix) (featuring GZA) |- |align="left"|''"The Age of Sacred Terror"''

Released: 2005

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side: "Saviorself" (featuring Killah Priest)

|- |align="left"|''"Heavy Metal Kings"'' (featuring Ill Bill)

Released: August 1, 2006

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side:

|}

Compilations

{| |- style="background:#ccc;" !align="left"|Album information |- |align="left"|''The Greatest Feature''

Released: June 23, 2009

Label: Babygrande Records

|}

Jus Allah discography

{| |- style="background:#ccc;" !align="left"|Album information |- |align="left"|''"White Nightmare"'' (EP/Single)

Released: 2002

Label: Omnipotent Records

B-Side: "Reign of the Lord"

|- |align="left"|''"All Fates Have Changed"'' (Full-length album)

Released: May 10, 2005

Label: Babygrande Records

Singles: "Pool of Blood"/"Hell Razors", "G-O-D"/"Supreme"

|- |align="left"|''"Pool of Blood"'' (featuring GZA) (Single)

Released: 2005

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side: "Hell Razors" (featuring Evil Dead)

|- |align="left"|''"G-O-D"'' (Single)

Released: 2005

Label: Babygrande Records

B-Side: "Supreme"

|- |align="left"|''"MMA (Meanest Man Alive)"'' (Second full-length album)

Released: 2011

Label: Enemy Soil

|}

References

External links

Official Jedi Mind Tricks website

Official Babygrande website

Official CrackSpace page

Category:People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:Musical groups from Pennsylvania Category:Musical groups from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:East Coast hip hop groups Category:Rappers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:Horrorcore groups Category:Underground rappers

da:Jedi Mind Tricks de:Jedi Mind Tricks es:Jedi Mind Tricks fr:Jedi Mind Tricks it:Jedi Mind Tricks pl:Jedi Mind Tricks ru:Jedi Mind Tricks simple:Jedi Mind Tricks fi:Jedi Mind Tricks sv:Jedi Mind Tricks tr:Jedi Mind Tricks

name	Helmut Lotti
background	solo_singer
birth name	Helmut Barthold Johannes Alma Lotigiers
birth date	October 22, 1969
origin	Ghent, Belgium
genre	Classical, Pop, Rock & Roll, Easy Listening
occupation	Singer-songwriter
years active	1988–present
label	Universal Music Belgium
website	www.helmutlotti.be
notable instruments	}}

Helmut Lotti (born Helmut Barthold Johannes Alma Lotigiers on 22 October 1969), is a Flemish Belgian tenor and singer-songwriter. Lotti performs in several styles and languages: Once an Elvis impersonator, he has sung African and Latino hit records, and he crossed over into classical music in the 1990s.

Life and music

The son of Luc Lotigiers and Rita Lagrou, Lotti was born Helmut Lotigiers in Ghent, Belgium, and began his singing career with a visual and singing style in an obvious imitation of Elvis Presley, and was described as "De Nieuwe Elvis" (in Dutch) or "The New Elvis". His first two albums were ''Vlaamse Nachten'' ("Flemish Nights", 1990) and ''Alles Wat Ik Voel'' ("All That I Feel", 1992). After a few more albums, he changed direction in 1995 with the first of what became a long series of "Helmut Lotti Goes Classic" albums, which proved to increase his popularity. Since 2000 he has also made successful recordings in traditional Latino, African and Russian-style music.

Helmut Lotti sings fluently in his mother language Dutch, as well as Afrikaans, English, French, German, Russian, Ukrainian, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, and Spanish. He has sold over 13 million albums worldwide and received over 90 platinum and 70 gold albums.

Lotti does volunteer work as an ambassador for UNICEF. Lotti took part in the ''0110'' concerts against racism and the extreme right, organised by Tom Barman.

Discography

Out Of Africa (Helmut Lotti)

In his 'Out of Africa' album, African and African themed songs are arranged for symphony orchestra, choir, and soloist. It was recorded with the Golden Symphonic Orchestra at the Bosotho Cultural Village in the Maluti Mountains in South Africa.

Track Listing:

1.Out Of Africa

2.Asimbonanga

3.Malaika

4.Circle Of Life

5.Qongqothwane

6.The Lion Sleeps Tonight

7.Shosholoza

8.Umakoti

9.Jikela Emaweni Hamba

10.Tula Tula

11.Sarie Marais

12.Kumbaya My Lord

13.Pata Pata

14.African Sunrise

15.Minapendawe

16.My Angel

17.Nkosi Sikelele Africa

Links

Helmut Lotti official site, English version

The Best Of Helmut Lotti

References

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:Flemish musicians Category:Belgian musicians Category:Belgian male singers Category:Belgian songwriters

cy:Helmut Lotti da:Helmut Lotti de:Helmut Lotti eo:Helmut Lotti fr:Helmut Lotti hr:Helmut Lotti it:Helmut Lotti lt:Helmut Lotti nl:Helmut Lotti pl:Helmut Lotti fi:Helmut Lotti sv:Helmut Lotti vi:Helmut Barthold Johannes Alma Lotigiers

Paul Brandon Gilbert (born November 6, 1966 in Illinois, USA) is an American guitarist. He is well known for his technical guitar work with Racer X and Mr. Big, as well as many solo albums and numerous collaborations and guest appearances with other musicians.

He has been voted number 4 on a list in GuitarOne magazine of the "Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All Time", as well as a spot in ''Guitar World's'' 50 Fastest Guitarists of All Time list.

Shrapnel Records

Gilbert was raised in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Around 1981-82, he first contacted Mike Varney, founder of Shrapnel Records, asking for a gig with Ozzy Osbourne. At the time, Varney couldn't think why Osbourne would want a 15 year old guitarist, but after listening to his demo he changed his mind. Gilbert was featured in ''Guitar Player'' magazine at the age of fifteen. They talked for the next 3 years, until Paul went to L.A. for the GIT (Guitar Institute of Technology), and then was ready to record Racer X's debut album Street Lethal.

Racer X

Formed in Los Angeles in 1985, Racer X originally comprised Paul Gilbert (guitar), Juan Alderete (bass), Harry Gschoesser (drums) and Jeff Martin (vocals). They were heavily influenced by Judas Priest and Gilbert's playing was reminiscent of Yngwie Malmsteen, displaying fast-driven solos with extreme-level technique. Gschoesser was replaced by Scott Travis (later known for being the drummer for Judas Priest) in 1986, and Bruce Bouillet was added as a second guitar player. Bouillet was a very skilled player, as he had to play over Gilbert's always difficult and challenging phrases. Paul Gilbert gained recognition as one of the fastest guitar players in the world due to incredibly technical pieces like "Technical Difficulties" "Frenzy", "Scarified", "Y.R.O." and "Scit Scat Wah". Gilbert left Racer X in 1988. Racer X carried on for a short time with guitarist (and fellow GIT alum) Chris Arvin and vocalist Oni Logan (later of George Lynch's Lynch Mob) when singer Jeff Martin departed to play drums in Jake E. Lee's Badlands, in which he replaced Eric Singer who left to join Alice Cooper. Shortly thereafter, the members of the re-invented Racer X went their separate ways. The original band would eventually reform (although without Bruce Bouillet, who in-turn did produce the first reunion record).

Paul contacted the members of Racer X, and all agreed to return, with the exception of Bruce Bouillet. In mid-1999 the band recorded the album Technical Difficulties. Technical Difficulties went gold in Japan, and Racer X's new record label requested a follow-up. In late 2000, the band released another album, Superheroes. The record was mixed by former Racer X guitarist, Bruce Bouillet.

In order to further capitalize on their new-found success in Japan, Universal Japan requested that the band record a live show for another live CD and DVD. On May 25, 2001, the band played their first live performance in thirteen years to a sold-out crowd at the famed Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. The show was recorded for both audio and video, and in 2002, both the CD and DVD were released under the name Snowball of Doom.

In January 2002, in support of Superheroes and Snowball of Doom, Racer X toured Japan and Taiwan. The band performed these shows in their Superheroes costumes, and the final show, in Yokohama, was hastily recorded in two tracks on the sound board and was to be later released as Snowball of Doom 2. Later that year, Universal Japan pushed for another Racer X release. In October 2002, all four members of Racer X gathered at Gilbert's house in Las Vegas to record ''Getting Heavier'', which was sold alongside ''Snowball of Doom 2'' in a package deal. Although the album was a successful release in Japan, some fans were disappointed with the lighter tracks, which resembled a Paul Gilbert solo album more so than a traditional Racer X album.

Racer X performed at the 2009 NAMM show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Andy Timmons and his band opened the show, followed by a solo set from Paul Gilbert, and finally Racer X. The Racer X lineup consists of Paul Gilbert, Scott Travis, Jeff Martin and John Alderete.

Mr. Big

When Billy Sheehan left David Lee Roth's band in 1988, he joined with Paul Gilbert, who had left his former band, Racer X. They founded Mr. Big, with Pat Torpey on drums and singer Eric Martin. The band was initially a huge success in Japan, and became famous internationally in 1991, with the release of their second album, ''Lean Into It''. This album featured the ballad "To Be With You", which received strong media play and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Gilbert continued playing in Mr. Big until the late 1990s. He left the band in 1997 to pursue a solo career, and was replaced by Richie Kotzen. Mr. Big disbanded in 2002.

In June 2009, Paul Gilbert reunited with original Mr. Big members; Eric Martin (vocals), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Pat Torpey, for a world wide reunion tour. They recorded a new album with producer Kevin Shirley. titled ''What If...''. The album was released in Japan on Dec. 15th, 2010, in Europe on Jan. 21st, 2011 and in the USA in Feb. 2011. A tour to support the album kicked off at The House of Blues, in Hollywood, CA on April 2, 2011, followed by several dates in Japan in the same month. In May and June 2011, the tour continues in China, Korea, The Philippines and Europe.

Projects

In May 2003 he played in an only twice-performing project called Yellow Matter Custard, a Beatles cover band consisting also of Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater), Neal Morse (ex-Spock's Beard), and Matt Bissonette. In February 2011 Yellow Matter Custard re-formed for 3 Nights Across America. Kasim Sulton replaced Matt Bissonette in the 2011 shows due to other commitments. They took their name from a Beatles lyric in "I Am the Walrus": "Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye".

He rejoined Portnoy along with Dave LaRue and Daniel Gildenlöw for a Led Zeppelin tribute band called Hammer of the Gods in November 2003. The same year, he toured Japan with Linus Of Hollywood, TJ Helmerich, and Scot Coogan in support of his solo albums Burning Organ, Paul the Young Dude/The Best of Paul Gilbert, and Gilbert Hotel. In September 2005, he joined Portnoy, Sean Malone, and Jason McMaster in the Rush tribute band Cygnus and the Sea Monsters. In May 2006, he joined Portnoy, Gary Cherone, and Billy Sheehan to form Amazing Journey: A Tribute to The Who, playing three shows. The band (excluding Sheehan) destroyed their equipment after the show in homage.

He was also revealed to be the guest guitarist on the Neal Morse solo album, ''Sola Scriptura''. In 2007, Paul Gilbert toured with Bruce Bouillet for promotion of his first instrumental album, ''Get Out of My Yard'', which was released in 2006. Also joining him was his wife, Emi Gilbert, on keyboards. Paul Gilbert also joined Joe Satriani and John Petrucci in the 2007 G3 tour. This was the 5th North American G3 run and the 12th tour worldwide since its inception.

On January 23, 2008, Paul released an instrumental CD titled ''Silence Followed By A Deafening Roar''. It was released in Europe on March 31, 2008, and in America on April 8, 2008. This is Paul's second instrumental album.

On October 22, 2008, Paul released an album with vocalist Freddie Nelson entitled United States. The collaboration has been described as a cross of Queen and Mr. Big.

Paul with Racer X performed at the 2009 NAMM show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Andy Timmons and his band opened the show, followed by a solo set from Gilbert, and finally Racer X. This Racer X lineup consisted of Gilbert, Scott Travis, Jeff Martin and John Alderete.

Gilbert also joined George Lynch and Richie Kotzen on the Guitar Generation tour.

On June 30, 2010, Gilbert's new album ''Fuzz Universe'' was released in Japan, with a release in America and Europe soon after. It is Paul's 3rd solo album being entirely instrumental. A cover of Johnny Cash's "Leave That Junk Alone" is featured as a Japanese bonus track.

Influences and Style

Talking about his influences, Paul mentions many different artists, including: Randy Rhoads, Kim Mitchell, Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, John J Kirby, Tony Iommi, Alex Lifeson, Jimmy Page, Robin Trower, Ritchie Blackmore, Pat Travers, Gary Moore, Michael Schenker, Judas Priest, Akira Takasaki, Steve Clark, Jimi Hendrix, Kiss, and The Ramones. Paul has stated many times that he was heavily influenced by his uncle Jimi Kidd who was instrumental in getting Paul interested in playing the guitar. He is also a great fan of The Beach Boys and The Beatles. He states on the Space Ship Live DVD that George Harrison is one of his favorite guitar players. ''Guitar World'' magazine declared him one of 50 of the world's fastest guitarists of all time, along with Buckethead, Eddie Van Halen, and Yngwie Malmsteen.

Gilbert composes music in a wide variety of styles including pop, rock, metal, blues, funk and european classical music, but is perhaps best known for his versatility and speed. He is noted in particular for his efficient picking and his tendency to pick many notes rather than relying on legato for fast passages.

Instructor

Paul Gilbert wrote his own section of the British guitar magazine, ''Total Guitar'', where he normally demonstrated guitar techniques in the magazine and accompanying CD. Even before that, he contributed instructional articles to Guitar Player Magazine in a late 1980s/early 1990s series entitled "Terrifying Guitar 101". His period of working with ''Total Guitar'' spanned thirty-one issues until the November 2006 issue. Paul also teaches at the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) regularly, and is also an "honorary dean" of the GIT division in Japan. Paul visits Japan, enjoying the lifestyle like his Shrapnel labelmate Marty Friedman, who still lives in Japan and speaks Japanese fluently. Gilbert is known for his instructional videos, which are often comical in nature. One of his instructional videos includes him pulling a rabbit out of his guitar, putting his guitar in a straightjacket and having presents thrown at him by members of the film crew. Paul also was, for a short time, the guitar teacher of Buckethead, Russ Parrish (A.K.A. Satchell from Steel Panther), Michelle Meldrum (The late wife of Europe guitarist John Norum) and Nicole Couch of Phantom Blue. Gilbert now writes a column for ''Premier Guitar'' entitled "Shred Your Enthusiasm".

Gear

Paul Gilbert primarily uses his Ibanez PGM signature series guitars, identified by the unique painted on "F-holes". Although earlier PGM models featured the Ibanez Lo-Pro/Edge double locking tremolo system, many of his guitars (such as his main PGM300) were modified to accommodate a fixed bridge after he stopped using whammy bars in the early 90s, hence the Ibanez PGM301 guitar. Along with his signature guitars, Gilbert often uses his sticker-covered "Dino" Ibanez RG750, in addition to a wide variety of Ibanez solidbody and semi-hollow electric guitars. Recently, Gilbert has been using Ibanez "Fireman" (a reversed-body Ibanez Iceman with single-coil pickups and an extra cutaway) guitars, which he designed himself. A red version The Ibanez Fireman is to be mass-produced for consumers at a more affordable price than the Ibanez PGMFRM1 (current Paul Gilbert signature Fireman) in Fall 2011.

Regarding amplifiers, Gilbert used A/DA preamps (A/DA MP-1) and rack effects units early in his career prior to switching to Laney amplifiers. He praised the Laney amps as having ''"the best natural distorted sound of any tube amp ever heard"'' Since the G3 2007 tour however, Gilbert stated that playing with Joe Satriani and John Petrucci inspired him to take a closer look at his own guitar sound. As a result of his search he found the Marshall Vintage Modern series. He currently uses the Marshall Vintage Modern 2266c combo amps. Paul now uses the Marshall JMD:1 (specifically JMD501) amplifier along with his Vintage Modern amplifier. Paul uses Jim Dunlop Tortex picks, of which he prefers the orange (.60mm) picks. As far as cables Paul uses Bullet Cable 30' Coiled Cables, Bullet Cable SLUG DIY solderless patch cables for his pedalboard and effects.

Paul has been known to use the following effects:

Home Brew Electronics Bajo Mos

Home Brew Electronics Detox EQ

TC Electronic Nova Delay

Home Brew Electronics Compressor Retro

MXR Phase 100

MXR Phase 90

BOSS DD-3 Digital Delay

Ibanez AF2 Airplane Flanger

MXR Blue Box

Home Brew Electronics THC Chorus

Robert Keeley Nova Wah LE

Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress

Korg Pitchblack tuner or Boss Chromatic Tuner (depending which is more visible in stage lighting)

Majik Box Fuzz Universe (as of 2010)

X-otic AC Booster

Jim Dunlop 535Q Crybaby (as of 2010)

Paul also used a modified vintage A/DA Flanger from the 1980s (source: Berlin VIP session interview). You can hear it on tracks like 'Bucket of Rocks', and he also uses it on the 'Snowball of Doom' DVD. Paul stated the flanger had been modified. He would set the flanger to self oscillate, which would make the pitch of the resulting signal alternate up and down to create a sound similar to a dive bomb or a pull up on a whammy bar. Unfortunately, during Paul's 2008 European tour, his trusty A/DA Flanger broke. Thankfully, before the pedal broke, he and Ibanez collaborated to make a similar pedal, with both a regular flanger mode and a mode which can be set to create a close approximation of the A/DA pedal's sound, and the pedal has been released as the Ibanez Paul Gilbert AF-2 Airplane Flanger. He also uses the Psilocybe phaser and THC chorus pedals from Home Brew Electronics.

In the intro to "Get Out Of My Yard" Paul uses a Boss DD-3 Delay pedal to achieve the altered pitch looped effect at the beginning of the track. This was also demonstrated by Paul on the instructional DVD of the same name.

He is also famous for using a Makita cordless drill with three picks mounted on the end of it, which he used most famously on the Mr. Big track "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy".

In 2009, Ibanez released a new PGM model, the Ibanez PGM401, which is rather different from most of Paul's previous models, with an ash body (most of his previous models were made of basswood, although his PGM800 guitar was made of lightweight ash, a similar but different wood than that used in the PGM401), Trifade Burst finish, Cosmo Black hardware and a regular headstock replacing the reversed one of the previous models. Also, rather than the DiMarzio PAF Pro, Tone Zone and Super Distortion pickups used in his previous models, the PGM401 comes with Paul's favorite humbucker model for the past five years, the DiMarzio Air Classic, arranged in a dual humbucker arrangement. Paul has stated that he had the bridge pickup moved 1mm closer to the neck, which he said results in a warmer and thicker sound, particularly for the high notes he often uses in soloing. The F-holes are 3% smaller, to make the look more balanced with the pickup mounting rings. But perhaps the biggest difference from other current Ibanez guitar models, is that the PGM401 uses the old late-1980s neckjoint, which is thicker than the current neckjoints on other Ibanez guitars.

In 2011, Ibanez released a new model for Gilbert the FRM100. The design of the FRM100 was inspired by many hours of playing and performance by Paul Gilbert with the original Ibanez Fireman model featuring a distinctive reverse Iceman body outline

Discography

Racer X

''Street Lethal'' (1986)

''Second Heat'' (1987)

''Extreme Volume Live'' (1988)

''Extreme Volume II Live'' (1992)

''Technical Difficulties'' (1999)

''Superheroes'' (2000)

''Snowball of Doom'' (2002)

''Getting Heavier'' (2002)

''Snowball of Doom 2'' (2002)

Mr. Big

''Mr. Big'' (1989)

''Raw Like Sushi'' (1990)

''Lean Into It'' (1991)

''Raw Like Sushi II'' (1992)

''Bump Ahead'' (1993)

''Japandemonium: Raw Like Sushi 3'' (1994)

''Channel V at the Hard Rock Live'' (1996)

''Hey Man'' (1996)

''Big Bigger Biggest: Greatest Hits'' (1996)

''Next Time Around'' Best Of (2009)

''Back To Budokan'' Live (2009)

''What If...'' (2011)

Solo Albums

''Tribute to Jimi Hendrix'' (EP) (1991) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #59)

''King of Clubs'' (1998) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #28)

''Flying Dog'' (1998) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #23)

''Beehive Live'' (1999) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #72)

''Alligator Farm'' (2000) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #24)

''Raw Blues Power With Jimi Kidd'' (2002) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #94)

''Burning Organ'' (2002) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #27)

''Paul the Young Dude/The Best of Paul Gilbert'' (2003) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #31)

''Gilbert Hotel'' (2003)

''Acoustic Samurai'' (2003) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #94)

''Space Ship One'' (2005) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #53)

''Get Out of My Yard'' (2006) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #52)

''Tough Eskimo'' (limited edition EP) (2007)

''Silence Followed By A Deafening Roar'' (2008) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #39)

''United States'' With Freddie Nelson (2009)

''Fuzz Universe'' (2010) (Japan Oricon Album Chart #57)

Other appearances

''Trouble In The Streets''- Black Sheep(1985)

''Atomic Basement Tapes'' - Missing Lynx (1985)

''Revelation'' - Darrell Mansfield Band (1985)

''Pump It!' - Jeff Berlin (1986)

''Out of the Sun'' - Joey Tafolla (1990)

''Humanary Stew'' - A Tribute to Alice Cooper

''Guitars That Rule the World'' (1992)

''Smoke On The Water: A Tribute'' (1994)

''Samad: Samad'' Lead Guitar on "Joget" and "Animo" (1994)

''Jeffology: A Guitar Chronicle'' (1996)

''Carmine Appice's Guitar Zeus'' (track "Dislocated") (1996)

''Akira Takasaki - Wa'' (1996)

''Merry Axemas - A Guitar Christmas'' (1997)

''Mikazuki "In Rock" Sound Track, Guitar on tracks "Crescent Moon" & "Theme for Kazeo" (2000)

''Becker 2001, Warmth in the Wilderness -A Tribute to Jason Becker''(Guitar and vocals for ''Hawkin'')

Hughes Turner Project'' - HTP (2002)

''Battle Gear III: The Edge'' (played on "Charge and Discharge," "Morning View," and "The Machine of Rage" bonus tracks) (2003)

''Kim Fox'' Return to Planet Earth (2003) Guitar on track 4

''Guitar Wars'' (2003)

''Return to the Planet Earth'' - Kim Fox (2003)

''One Night in New York City'' - Yellow Matter Custard (2003) Available @ MikePortnoy.com

''Mieze'' - Marco Minnemann (2004)

''Five Feet...No Inches'' - Pintsize (2005)

''Contraire de la chanson'' - Marco Minnemann (2006)

''Parador'' (track "Joke") - Wisely (2006)

''Light at the End of the Tunnel'' - War and Peace (2006) (with Richie Kotzen, John Norum, Jeff Pilson)

''Two Nights In North America'' - Hammer of the Gods (2006) Available @ MikePortnoy.com

''One Night in Chicago'' - Cygnus and the Sea Monsters (2006) Available @ MikePortnoy.com

''Live with Sex Machineguns - Tokyo (2005)

''One Night in New York City'' - Amazing Journey (2007) Available @ MikePortnoy.com

''Spin The Bottle'' - An All Star Tribute To Kiss (guitars on "I Want You") (2004)

''Numbers from the Beast'' - An All Star Tribute to Iron Maiden (guitars on "The Evil That Men Do") (2005)

''Evil Lives: A True Metal Tribute to Black Sabbath'' (with Racer X on Track 4: "Children of the Grave") (2006)

''The Fool'' - Jeff Martin solo album (2006)

''Sola Scriptura'' - Neal Morse (2007)

''G3 Tour'' (2007)

''Lifeline'' - Neal Morse (2008)

''Guitar Hero Hero (Beating Guitar Hero Doesn't Make You Slash)'' - MC Lars (2008)

''Bowling for Soup - Merry Flippin' Christmas Volume 1 (I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause) (2009)

Videography

''Intense Rock Jams - Sequences & Techniques'' VHS version

''Intense Rock II featuring Paul Gilbert'' VHS version

''Guitars from Mars'' Japanese DVD release

''Guitars from Mars II'' Japanese DVD release

''Terrifying Guitar Trip'' VHS version

''Eleven Thousand Notes'' DVD

''Guitar Wars'' DVD

''Space Ship Live DVD (2005)

''Complete Intense Rock DVD (2006)

''Terrifying Guitar Trip DVD (2006)

''Get Out Of My Yard Guitar Instructional (string skipping) DVD (2007)

''Get Out Of My City Guitar Instructional DVD/VCD (2007)

''One Night In New York City'' - Yellow Matter Custard (2003)

''Two Nights In North America'' - Hammer Of The Gods (2006)

''One Night In Chicago'' - Cygnus And The Sea Monsters (2006)

''One Night In New York City - Amazing Journey (2007)

''Silence Followed By A Deafening Roar Guitar Instructional DVD And Shred Annex (2008)

''The Last Note of Freedom

References

External links

The official Paul Gilbert site

The official Racer X site

Paul Gilbert - Rock Squad Interview

Gilbert's solo on Mr Big site

Paul Gilbert on Last.fm

Paul Gilbert artist page at Guitar Video Channel

Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:American rock guitarists Category:Lead guitarists Category:Racer X members Category:Mr. Big members Category:G3 (tour) Category:Musicians from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Category:People from Carbondale, Illinois

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