Vinnie Paz
God of the Serengeti
Release Date: Oct 23, 2012
Genre(s): Rap, Gangsta Rap, Alternative Rap, Underground Rap, Hardcore Rap
Record label: Enemy Soil
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Album Review: God of the Serengeti by Vinnie Paz
Great, Based on 5 Critics
Based on rating 8/10
Vinnie Paz :: God of the SerengetiEnemy Soil RecordsAuthor: Steve 'Flash' Juon"God of the Serengeti" is the second solo album from Vinnie Paz, a follow-up to the well received "Season of the Assassin" in 2010. It's not surprising that it would be critically acclaimed given his long history as the frontman of Jedi Mind Tricks, and they dropped an equally acclaimed album between these two. At this point in Pazienza's career, the only thing he should fear is not fear itself, it's simply finding a way to stay near the apex of underground hip-hop after having been there for so damn long.
Based on rating 8/10
Gruff and grandiose like a true boss should be, rapper and Jedi Mind Tricks member Vinnie Paz is a pro at making conspiracy theories and party time sound equally important. Both topics are covered by his rapid-fire rhymes on God of the Serengeti, an album that, like his 2010 solo effort Season of the Assassin, is sure to please fans while challenging newcomers with its over-stuffed track list and ying ("I'm indestructible, my acts are those of a Mason") with yang ("I don't want to hit the bitch, but the dame trippin'/I call the shots and remove the rock like Lane Kiffin") attitude. That said, the album is as reckless and rowdy as the Paz himself, with those extra injections of smart, snide, and clever that make confrontational grinders like "Razor Gloves" ("I'm an assassin and my passion is bursting your mind") so attractive.
Based on rating 4.0/5
Vinnie Paz has been a chief of hardcore Rap for almost 20 years, and it’s easy to see why: he knows how to serve his audience, and he works well in numbers. The Philadelphia native has been an active member of a dozen projects between the two groups he founded, Jedi Mind Tricks and Army of the Pharaohs, and his 2010 solo debut Season of the Assassin was further opportunity to hammer down blistering bars alongside a roster of other able lyricists. His sophomore solo set, God of the Serengeti, sticks to the script, and that’s not a bad thing.
Based on rating 7/10
The sophomore solo album from Vinnie Paz (Jedi Mind Tricks) is surprisingly satisfying. Yeah, he's still a raspy-voiced goon bragging about his skills, with violent and religious imagery, but intelligence and wit win out over try-hard shock value. Vinnie P needs more songs like "You Can't Be Neutral On A Moving Train," which breaks down the history of Western racism and tyranny, backed by factual statements, rather than burying the little bits of information among all his bullshit braggadocio.
Opinion: Fairly Good
In the opening moments of God of the Serengeti, Vinnie Paz, the voice behind Jedi Mind Tricks, reminds us who’s in charge with a sample from what sounds like an old Hollywood epic involving a newly crowned King scolding his followers for questioning the authority of his predecessor. It sets the stage appropriately for the veteran MC’s trademark rugged, paternalistic, even Pharoah-like vocal presence on his sophomore effort. Like his debut Season of the Assassin, God of the Serengeti is a hip-hop star-studded affair, with appearances by the likes of Immortal Technique, DJ Premier, Kool G Rap, Mobb Deep, Scarface, La Coka Nostra, Marco Polo, and R.A.
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