Vinnie Paz - Biography

Biography

Paz was born in Sicily, Italy, where he lived for a short time before moving with his family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Originally taking the pseudonym of Ikon the Verbal Hologram, he later changed his name to Vinnie Paz, after the Rhode Island boxer Vinny Pazienza. Paz originally started rapping with fellow Jedi Mind Tricks member Stoupe in his basement. Paz is known for his raw and gritty lyrical delivery. He is also known for his extensive use of studio punch-ins, seldom recording a verse in one take. His lyrics frequently contain references to religion, war, politics, mythology, conspiracy theories, and the paranormal. His more recent albums such as Servants in Heaven Kings in Hell show a more obvious approach to politics and world issues. This gritty style of Paz became apparent with the release of Violent by Design, and has become progressively more defined since its release. Vinnie Paz has a number of aliases, including Ikon the Verbal Hologram, Louie Doggs, Vinnie P, The Pazmanian Devil, Ikon The Python, Pazienza, and Vin Laden, Vinnie from New Guinea. Raised Catholic, Vinnie Paz is now a Muslim, which plays a major role in much of his lyrics, often controversially, as on Heavenly Divine, where he rapped "I'm with Allah 'cause he chose me, I broke into The Vatican, strangled The Pope with his rosary." Vinnie is also a heavy metal fan, and occasionally uses song titles and band names in JMT tracks and lyrics. Paz started occasionally writing articles for the website maxboxing.com in 2011.