Paz formed the outfit in the late 1990s with the original roster of Bahamadia, Chief Kamachi, Virtuoso, 7L & Esoteric, plus Jedi Mind Tricks' other member Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind. The group first released the "Five Perfect Exertions" and "War Ensemble" 12" on Paz's short-lived Recordings in 1998, but then the underground supergroup remained silent for several years. After a couple of successful Jedi Mind Tricks albums and a new deal with Babygrande by 2003, Paz resurrected the crew, adding OuterSpace, Celph Titled, Reef the Lost Cauze, King Syze, Des Devious, and Apathy; however, Stoupe, Bahamadia, and Virtuoso had defected from the group. Babygrande issued their "Tear It Down" 12" and first album, The Torture Papers, in 2006. The 2007 follow-up album, Ritual of Battle, saw Jus Allah and JMT protégés Doap Nixon and Demoz joining the Pharaohs.
The Unholy Terror was released on March 30, 2010. This album marked the return of Apathy and the addition of two new AOTP members, Block McCloud and Journalist. Two songs, "Godzilla" and "Contra Mantra", were released before the album. This album also marked the departure of Chief Kamachi who left the group because of business issues and an apparent feud with Vinnie Paz and Apathy.
In early 2011, Vinnie Paz announced on his Facebook page that In Death Reborn is due to be released in 2012, however the date was pushed back and almost seemed like it was never going to be released. Early in 2012, Houston underground MC VZilla and Connecticut's Blacastan were added to the group. Both artists have made names for themselves with their features and album releases in 2012. In Death Reborn was eventually released on April 22, 2014. The album featured members Vinnie Paz, Apathy, Blacastan, Block McCloud, Celph Titled, Demoz, Des Devious, Doap Nixon, Esoteric, Lawrence Arnell,[8] King Magnetic, King Syze, OuterSpace, Reef the Lost Cauze and VZilla. Their fifth studio album, Heavy Lies the Crown was released on October 21, 2014.
Tear It Down
Army of the Pharaohs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah...this is where I talk shit (Yeah nigga, talk shit!)
AOTP...Lost Cauze, my man Planetary
What up, Crypt? Yeah
Vinnie Paz
All this shit probably gettin' CUT! Yeah!
"Step through the door, tore the shit off the hinges" <-(sampled from "Stand Up" by M.O.P.)
(Verse 1: Reef The Lost Cauze)
Yo, this young buck rowdy, my gun buck loudly
When I was a pup, they had me locked up down in Buck's County
But I beat that wrap, you never catch me on a beat that's wack
I can't eat like that
Reef that cat who cock back, let the Desert hit you
When you thought I was just talkin' shit like Freddie Mitchell
You ain't ready, is you? I invest into every pistol
Aim on point like a steady missile
Heavy fiscal, I need that love, hundreds and dubs
Where the weed at? I need that drug, 'cause I'm addicted to it
Rhyme-boxes, start spittin' fluid
When y'all do it, seem don't nobody listen to it
Love from Philly, all the way to kids in Munich
Germany, I murder beats and add the difference to it
Word to Pazienza, smack your men's up, crack your limbs up
And leave you fucked up like a Latin's liver
(Chorus) (x2)
"So listen up"
"They be scrapin' your cantaloupe off the pavement"
"You know we in the place with the guns in our waist"
"Step through the door, tore the shit off the hinges" <-(all sampled from "Stand Up" by M.O.P.)
(Verse 2: Planetary)
This is the start of you dyin', Plan' spit with the heart of a lion
The belt of Orion wrapped around your neck with the iron
Pointed at your fuckin' chest, bitch niggas is cryin'
I'm with Reef The Lost Cauze and we causin' the violence
We causin' the murder that causin' niggaz carryin' burners
We the cause and effect of life, it's hard to observe us
You don't understand, we got the upper hand spittin'
First you need to over-stand, you soft like underhand pitchin'
You could tell I'm a Pun fan when I'm spittin'
Rappers like me are hard to come by, like coppin' Summer Jam tickets
You need to focus before you think to approach us
You scream "player" dog, we the coaches
Too ferocious, bo-guarded, every moment is precious
You niggas is co-starrin', we the stars of this epic
Unveilin' the secret, it's more than fairy tales that we preachin'
This that '94 boom bap shit that we teachin'
(Chorus)
(Verse 3: Vinnie Paz)
Cut your head off, guillotine, Henry The 8th style
Y'all remindin' me of Cheddar Bob in 8 Mile
I wanna see everybody in the place wild
Anybody move, buck 'em in they face "Blaow!"
I stay bent daddy, night and day
Show 'em that I care when I send kites to Jay
It ain't nice, but it's right to say
It's real, when the cat gone, mice will play
It's ice today, but tomorrow you breathless
My team is on the same shit like collaborative efforts
We grab at your necklace, there's no other way
We bring it back to the East like we brother Jay
Any fuckin' day, you could come see us
North, South, West Philly, you don't wanna meet us
We some wild Puerto Ricans, Italians, Morenos
Fuck it! Let they brains blow
(Chorus)
(Outro)
"They be scrapin' your cantaloupe off the pavement" (x4)
The Army of the Pharaohs song "Tear It Down" is a collaboration between rappers Reef the Lost Cauze, Planetary, and Vinnie Paz. The song begins with a sample from "Stand Up" by M.O.P. where the lyrics "Step through the door, tore the shit off the hinges" are repeated multiple times. Reef the Lost Cauze spits the first verse where he talks about his time in prison, how he refuses to rap on a beat that's wack, and his addiction to weed. Planetary's verse focuses on the violence they cause, and how their ruthless approach makes their opponents cry. Vinnie Paz's verse talks about killing their enemies and taking their belongings, and how they represent the entire East Coast.
The lyrics of "Tear It Down" represent the bravado, violence, and aggression commonly found in underground hip hop. The repeated chorus samples from M.O.P.'s "Stand Up" further reinforce the violent and aggressive tone of the song. The rappers convey their message with an uncompromising attitude, using brutal imagery and violent lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Step through the door, tore the shit off the hinges
Entering forcefully and with a strong impact, breaking any obstacle in the way
Yo, this young buck rowdy, my gun buck loudly
Being energetic and enthusiastic, the weapon rings loud and rhythmically
But I beat that wrap, you never catch me on a beat that's wack
Got out of a trouble and won't settle for anything less than extraordinary music
You ain't ready, is you?
Asking sarcastically if the opponent is prepared for what's to come
When you thought I was just talkin' shit like Freddie Mitchell
Proving skeptics wrong who thought the artist was merely bragging without facts.
"So listen up"
Attention-getting phrase to convey importance of the following message
Pointed at your fuckin' chest, bitch niggas is cryin'
Strongly and aggressively intimidating the adversary, reducing them to tears
You scream "player" dog, we the coaches
Being a more advanced level of the game and not subservient in any way
Cut your head off, guillotine, Henry The 8th style
Violent expression of murderous intent that removes a ruler and ends the reign of an air to seize power
"They be scrapin' your cantaloupe off the pavement"
Symbolic statement alluding to the brutal, violent outcome of any conflict.
Contributed by Abigail D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@horsepowerfactorytx
Coming back 10 years later.. still fire
@organicwins91
Yup
@whoopassph
Cole ain't got shit on aotp
@paulfletcher3998
@ Horsepower factory - Vinnie's fire will always burn strong. Fact.
@joaofernandes6158
i heard this x5 today!! or more!!! and i ll heard this tomorow too
@Rock-nb1ug
12 and still going hard
@MegaMarlinhunter
Nothing better than discovering something new that is exactly like what you grew up listening to in the 90's. I am thoroughly impressed.
THIS IS REAL HIP-HOP!
@sebastianh-man1879
Glad you found it
@livdrake605
Man Vinnie's voice is monumental
@fearoftheheavens6904
Usually when a song is censored I won't bother but this is so good I can make an exception.