Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind

Last updated
Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind
Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind.jpg
Stoupe in 2019
Background information
Birth nameKevin Baldwin
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Hip hop producer
Years active1993–present
Labels Babygrande, Enemy Soil

Kevin Baldwin, better known by his stage name Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind or simply Stoupe, is an American hip hop producer, DJ, and member of the underground hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. Stoupe has worked with only a limited number of artists outside of Jedi Mind Tricks, including 7L & Esoteric, Canibus, Virtuoso, Guru of Gang Starr and Switch.

Contents

About.com placed him on its list of the "Top 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Producers". [1]

Career

After years as a duo and then a trio, Baldwin left Jedi Mind Tricks in 2011 and Violence Begets Violence would be their only album to not feature Stoupe production. Vinnie Paz stated in a blog on the JMT website that Stoupe had lacked interest in the group and decided to focus on other things in his career, such as his side groups, and that Stoupe would not be producing any of the tracks on the new JMT album. [2] However, Stoupe returned to Jedi Mind Tricks in 2014 and Jus Allah left the group for the second time. Stoupe and Paz worked on a new album called The Thief and the Fallen, which was released on June 2, 2015. [3]

Stoupe's only full-length solo album Decalogue was released on March 31, 2009, under Babygrande Records. It featured a mixture of underground and popular rappers (for instance M.O.P.) performing over Stoupe's productions. In 2010, Baldwin and long-time associate Liz Fullerton formed a duo together called Dutch and they released their first album A Bright Cold Day on June 8 under Enemy Soil. Fullerton had previously contributed vocals to Jedi Mind Tricks' song Death Messiah.

In 2011, Stoupe released his follow-up album, this time with side project Vespertina, featuring songwriter Lorrie Doriza, who was previously featured in Decalogue, entitled The Waiting Wolf on May 10 under his label Dusty Pockets.

In November 2013, as one of the first acts on Stoupe's new production company, Bad Tape Music, [4] Red Martina released their debut Intransit with Stoupe as the producer on all thirteen tracks. Other band members are rapper Noesis (from Philadelphia Slick), multi-instrumentalist Ish Quintero, and vocalist Hayley Cass. [5] In November 2017, Red Martina released their second album, Come On Home.

In 2017, Stoupe teamed up with singer Eamon to co-produce a record called the Golden Rail Motel . Stoupe was not only responsible for the production on this record, but also holds writing credits on some of the songs. The album was well received with critics and songs from the Golden Rail Motel were featured in films and television. The song "You and Only You" was included on the original soundtrack of Ocean's 8 , other songs were featured in TV series like Black-ish and Netflix's On My Block . [6] [7]

On July 1, 2019, Stoupe released a cryptic concept album called they available only on a limited vinyl run. The project's focus is quoted as "[an] instrumental exploration into markov's dynamics and the human condition".[ citation needed ] This mostly instrumental album features co-production by C-Lance and performances by Recognize Ali and Lorrie Doriza.

Production credits

With Jedi Mind Tricks

Album information
The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness
  • Released: November 4, 1997
  • Label: Superegular
Violent by Design
  • Released: October 3, 2000
  • Label: Superegular
Visions of Gandhi
Legacy of Blood
  • Released: August 24, 2004
  • Label: Babygrande
Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
  • Released: September 19, 2006
  • Label: Babygrande
A History of Violence
  • Released: November 11, 2008
  • Label: Babygrande
The Thief and the Fallen
  • Released: June 2, 2015
  • Label: Enemy Soil
The Bridge and the Abyss
  • Released: June 22, 2018
  • Label: Enemy Soil
The Funeral and the Raven
  • Released: 19 November, 2021
  • Label: Iron Tusk

With Red Martina

Album information
Intransit
  • Released: November 5, 2013
  • Label: Bad Tape Music
Come On Home
  • Released: November 17, 2014 [8]
  • Label: Bad Tape Music

With Canibus

Album information
Rip the Jacker
  • Released: July 22, 2003
  • Label: Babygrande

Other projects

Album information
Decalogue (Stoupe)
  • Released: March 31, 2009
  • Label: Babygrande
A Bright Cold Day (Dutch)
  • Released: June 8, 2010
  • Label: Dusty Pockets/Enemy Soil
The Waiting Wolf (Vespertina)
  • Released: May 10, 2011
  • Label: Dusty Pockets
Golden Rail Motel (Eamon)
  • Released: September 15, 2017
  • Label: Huey Ave Music
"they." (Stoupe)
  • Released: July 1, 2019
  • Label: Mankind Music

EPs, singles and other production

Album information
Amber Probe EP (Jedi Mind Tricks)
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Superegular
"Trial by Stone" (Doublespeek)
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: OneSoul Productions
  • B-Side: "Remind Body", "Black China"
"The Move" (Neso)
  • Released: 1997
  • Label: Superegular
  • B-Side: "Mad Coolout", "The Balance"
"I Could Have Done More" (Reks)
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Raptivism
  • Track: "In Who We Trust"
"Raw Is War" (Vinnie Paz)
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Direct
  • Tracks: "Language Is Fatal"
Baldhead Slick & Da Click (Guru)
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Landspeed
  • Track: "War Tactics"
World War One: The Voice of Reason (Virtuoso)
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Brick
  • Track: "All We Know"
Dangerous Connection (7L & Esoteric)
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Brick
  • Track: "Terrorist's Cell"
Mic Club: The Curriculum (Canibus)
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Mic Club
  • Track: "Liberal Arts"
The Devil Never Dies (Slaine)
3 Assassins (Grindhouse Gang (Mark Deez, Powder aka Casey Jones, Dr. iLL)
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: iLL-Legit Records
  • Track: "Isolation" [9]
One Step Closer (Slaine, Switch)
  • Released: 2024
  • Label: URBNET Records

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jedi Mind Tricks</span> American hip hop group

Jedi Mind Tricks (JMT) are an American underground hip hop group from Philadelphia, founded in 1996 by two high school friends, rapper Vinnie Paz and producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind. In 1999, rapper Jus Allah joined the group to record their second studio album, Violent by Design. Jus left the group shortly after, but returned in late 2006 and began working on the sixth studio album, A History of Violence. In 2011 Stoupe left the group because "his heart wasn't in making JMT records anymore". In 2013, Jus split from the group indefinitely, and Stoupe returned in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army of the Pharaohs</span> American hip hop group

Army of the Pharaohs is an American underground hip hop collective originating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed by Jedi Mind Tricks founder Vinnie Paz in 1998. The collective has strong links to other underground east coast groups such as OuterSpace, Snowgoons, La Coka Nostra, Demigodz, 7L & Esoteric, and JuJu Mob. AOTP's affiliations and member roster has changed several times since its formation.

<i>Violent by Design</i> 2000 studio album by Jedi Mind Tricks

Violent by Design is the second album by underground hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. Despite never reaching any Billboard album chart, the album sold 50,000 copies in its first week on shelves. The album was originally released on JMT's self-run Superegular Records on October 3, 2000. JMT's previous label, Babygrande Records, re-released the album on May 25, 2004. The original vinyl release featured twenty tracks, while the original CD release featured two extra tracks: the "Heavenly Divine Remix", originally released on the B-Side to JMT's "Heavenly Divine" single, and "War Ensemble", originally released as the B-Side of the Army of the Pharaohs Five Perfect Exertions EP. Babygrande's Deluxe Edition featured three more bonus tracks: "Untitled", "Retaliation Remix" and "Blood Runs Cold", the latter two originally featured on the "Retaliation" single. The Deluxe Edition also included a bonus DVD, featuring a video scrapbook from their Visions of Gandhi tour, and the music video for the group's 1997 track "I Who Have Nothing".

<i>Visions of Gandhi</i> 2003 studio album by Jedi Mind Tricks

Visions of Gandhi is the third studio album from underground hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks, and their first album on the Babygrande record label. Jus Allah split from the group after the release of their album Violent by Design (2000), returning the group back to its original lineup of Vinnie Paz, Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind and DJ Drew Dollars. Producer Stoupe expands his dark sounds, including beats with grand orchestral samples and Latin-tinged production. Vinnie Paz lessens his lyrical topics to focus on his thug persona. Album guests include Canibus, Kool G Rap, Percee P, Ras Kass, and Tragedy Khadafi, as well as underground peers Crypt the Warchild, Planetary of OuterSpace, and Non Phixion members Ill Bill, Sabac Red, and Goretex.

<i>The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness</i> 1997 studio album by Jedi Mind Tricks

The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness is the debut album of underground hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks, consisting of rapper Vinnie Paz and producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind. The original version of the album was released in 1997, limited to 1,000 copies on vinyl by Superegular Records, and was re-released on CD in 2003 on Babygrande Records with six bonus tracks, featuring songs recorded by the group before their debut release. It has been a common misconception that the vinyl version was re-issued in 2001, possibly because the back of the vinyl release says "2001 Superegular." The album’s often esoteric lyrics focus on conspiracy theories, astronomy, religion, and violence, themes that JMT would expand on in later albums. The album was inspired by a lot of "crazy books" mentioned by Vinnie Paz in an interview, and is named after one of those books, a 1,900-page tome entitled "Matrix III - The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electromagnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness,” by Valdamar Valerian.

<i>Legacy of Blood</i> 2004 studio album by Jedi Mind Tricks

Legacy of Blood is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. It was released on August 24, 2004, via Babygrande Records. Production was handled by member Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind, with Chuck Wilson serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Des Devious, GZA, Killah Priest and Sean Price.

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"Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story" is a song by hip-hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks, consisting of rapper Vinnie Paz and producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind, and features a guest verse from R.A. the Rugged Man. It is the fourth song on the group's 2006 album Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell. While not released as a single, the song was recognized as one of the album's standout tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heavenly Divine</span> 1999 single by Jedi Mind Tricks

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kublai Khan (song)</span> 2003 single by Jedi Mind Tricks

"Kublai Khan" is a single by hip hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks, released in 2003 through Babygrande Records. The song was the second single released from the duo's third album Visions of Gandhi, following "Animal Rap", and followed by "Rise of the Machines". "Kublai Khan" is a sequel to the group's 2000 single "Genghis Khan", this time, named after Genghis' grandson Kublai Khan. The song, like "Genghis Khan", features an intense symphonic sample, courtesy of group producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind. New York City rapper Tragedy Khadafi, who appeared on "Genghis", also appears on the track. Former JMT member Jus Allah, who split from the group in 2001, is replaced by Goretex, of the group Non Phixion.

<i>A History of Violence</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Jedi Mind Tricks

A History of Violence is the sixth studio album by Philadelphia hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks, released on November 11, 2008 on Babygrande Records. The album followed multiple summer releases from the Jedi Mind Tricks camp, including the group's first DVD, titled Divine Fire: The Story of Jedi Mind Tricks, and the Vinnie Paz-executive produced projects Jedi Mind Tricks presents Doap Nixon: Sour Diesel, Jedi Mind Tricks presents King Syze: The Labor Union, and Jedi Mind Tricks presents OuterSpace: God's Fury. The album's first single Monolith was released on October 2, 2008. Their second single Godflesh was released on their website and it featured King Magnetic and Block McCloud. The album features former Jedi Mind Tricks member Jus Allah's return to the group.

<i>Decalogue</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind

Decalogue is the first full-length solo studio album by American hip hop record producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind. It was released on March 31, 2009 via Babygrande Records. Production was entirely handled by Stoupe himself, with Chuck Wilson serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from his fellow Army of the Pharaohs groupmates Block McCloud, Demoz, Des Devious, Jus Allah, King Magnetic, OuterSpace and Reef the Lost Cauze, as well as Joell Ortiz, M.O.P., Saigon, Slaine, Supastition, and his future Vespertina bandmate Lorrie Doriza.

<i>Season of the Assassin</i> 2010 studio album by Vinnie Paz

Season of the Assassin is the debut solo album by Jedi Mind Tricks frontman/Army of the Pharaohs leader Vinnie Paz. The album was originally called Assassin's Creed.

<i>Violence Begets Violence</i> 2011 studio album by Jedi Mind Tricks

Violence Begets Violence is the seventh studio album by underground Philadelphia hip hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks. This is their only album to not feature production from Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind because "his heart wasn't into making JMT records anymore" as well as the fact that both Vinnie Paz and Jus Allah grew tired of waiting. Two singles were released, "Target Practice" and "When Crows Descend Upon You," for which a video has been made. In addition, Shuko remixed the song "Target Practice".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heavy Metal Kings (song)</span> Single by Jedi Mind Tricks featuring Ill Bill

"Heavy Metal Kings" is a song by American underground hip hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks featuring a guest verse from fellow New York-based rapper Ill Bill. It was released in 2006 through Babygrande Records as the lead single from the group's fifth studio album Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell.

<i>The Thief and the Fallen</i> 2015 studio album by Jedi Mind Tricks

The Thief and the Fallen is the eighth studio album by American Philadelphia-based underground hip hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks. It was released on June 2, 2015 through Enemy Soil Entertainment. Production was handled entirely by Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind, who had left the band before their 2011 album Violence Begets Violence. It features guest appearances from Yes Alexander, Eamon, A-F-R-O, Dilated Peoples, Lawrence Arnell, R.A. the Rugged Man and Thea Alana. The album peaked at number 105 on the Billboard 200, at number 11 on both Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Independent Albums charts, at number 10 on both Top Rap Albums and Tastemakers charts, and at number one on the Heatseekers Albums chart in the United States.

<i>The Bridge and the Abyss</i> 2018 studio album by Jedi Mind Tricks

The Bridge and the Abyss is the ninth studio album by underground American hip hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks. The album contains a feature from Sean Price on the track "Legacy of the Prophet", who died in 2015.

References

  1. "25 of the Greatest Hip-Hop Producers of All Time". LiveAbout. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  2. "Hip Hop UnderGround - Who is Stoupe from JMT?".
  3. "VINNIE PAZ & STOUPE RETURN AS JEDI MIND TRICKS IN 2015". November 7, 2014.
  4. "Web Page Under Construction". www.badtapemusic.com.
  5. "Web Page Under Construction". www.badtapemusic.com.
  6. "Ocean's Eight (2018) - IMDb" via www.imdb.com.
  7. Maxbauer, Abbey. "Every Single Song That Gave You Feels In "On My Block"". www.refinery29.com.
  8. "Come On Home, by Red Martina". Red Martina.
  9. https://grindhousegang.bandcamp.com/track/isolation-produced-by-stoupe