Paz was born in Sicily, Italy, where he lived for a short time before moving with his family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is of Sicilian/Italian heritage. He has both Italian and American citizenship. Paz originally started rapping with fellow Jedi Mind Tricks member Stoupe in his basement.
In 1996, Paz released the Amber Probe EP. This was the debut EP from the duo and it was released in 1996. It featured guest appearance from The Lost Children of Babylon. It was in 1997, Jedi Mind Tricks released their debut album; The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness (often abbreviated as The Psycho-Social CD). The group only consisted of Paz and Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind at this time and featured Apathy, Jus Allah, and Black Thought.
He released his first solo album, Season of the Assassin in 2010. This was 18 years after Paz had originally started rapping. He released his second album God of the Serengeti in October 2012. In 2013, Paz confirmed that he was working with Army of the Pharaohs to release In Death Reborn, which was released in 2014. October 22, 2013 marked the release date of his second EP, Carry On Tradition. Paz's third solo LP, The Cornerstone of the Corner Store, was released on October 28, 2016. He released his fourth solo album, The Pain Collector, in September 2018. Subsequently, his newest solo album titled As Above so Below was released in February, 2020.
Paz owns an independent record label, Enemy Soil.
Paz is known for his raw and gritty lyrical delivery. 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.
Raised Catholic, 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." Paz is also a heavy metal fan, and occasionally uses song titles and band names in JMT tracks and lyrics.
Paz has a number of aliases, such as: "Ikon the Verbal Hologram", "Louie Doggs", "Boxcutter Pazzy", "Pack Pistol Pazzy", "Hologram", "Paz", "Vinnie P", "The Pazmanian Devil", Odrama Vin Laden", "Ikon the Python", and "Pazienza".
Street Wars Feat. Clipse & Block McCloud
Vinnie Paz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, bout as real as they come
Still pushing base like an African drum
The only other hands that it touched before Young
Was a Guala out of Dallas with shag like Tum Tum
Back to the hood where niggas started detoxing
Till I hit them corners with that motherfucking sheet rock
The six-three highlights the difference like an asterisks
Yes, the re-up game never dies
Soda makes the brick multiply
Push tons of monster with the pie
Keep water from the villain
Remember what it did to them gremlins?
Oh God, street wars when the heat warms up
In summertime niggas know what's up
Heavy armour, heavy drama, heavy karmas
Be the reason haters scared of us fucking their baby mamas
[Chorus]
Soon as this product hits the street
You know they will be strung
They'll be dancing to the beat of this drum
Listen, It's addiction hey
You know we got em hooked like fiends
They open like a drug
They'll be dancing to the beat of this drum
Listen, It's addiction
[Verse 2]
Yeah, I told Pusha, I told Mal
Vinnie move more white shit than a snowplough
Everybody knew the guinnie was so foul
The SKS with the bayonet, oh wow
I'll rob everything and leave you with a hungry gut
The hollow tips leave you looking like you got a Gumby cut
You think you fucking with the God then you's a funny fuck
Rambo knife cut your stomach like a tummy tuck
All you see is darkness when the gun bursts
The G36 melt your brain like a Pun verse
I act wild but I handle my funds first
I'm drunk all the time, blood quenches the son's thirst
I don't talk about the money I got
Because if money want my money then money gets shot
Rap shit don't work then I dumb on the block
With Pusha and Mal cooking up the drums in the pot
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Still with the coke man, same as it ever was
Re-up game, we the shame of America
Eighties hysteria, the 'caine be my legacy
The feds got our names, they hang us in effigy
Best believe it come back like it never left
I write rhymes but I'll bet I'd make a better chef
They can't wait for it to dry, they like it better wet
And I'm heavy with the D like Eddie F
I whip it good, real good then I let it rest
Then I scrape the sides then I let em test
Yes, I got weight like Creatine
A gem star hit that chopping block like a guillotine
Know what I mean? Sitting on chrome rims
Not only paper, we stack brick like Stonehenge
Go against us? Haters got no wins
I trust no one and I don't need no friends
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Vinnie Paz's "Street Wars" portray the gritty reality of drug dealing in the hood. The rapper paints a picture of the streets and the harsh life of drug dealers who take risks to make money. In the first verse, Vinnie talks about the drug game and the importance of staying low-key to avoid getting caught. He highlights the dangers of the street wars that arise when the heat warms up, and the hot summer season makes people crazy. Vinnie emphasizes the importance of being armored, both literally and figuratively, to protect themselves from the heavy drama and karma that the game brings. The drug dealer's persona is evident through the lyrics as they show lack of remorse and a willingness to do whatever it takes to make money.
The second verse of "Street Wars" is darker and more aggressive as Vinnie raps about his reputation as a cocaine dealer. He mentions his association with other popular rappers, such as Pusha T and Malice, and how they help him move the product more efficiently. Vinnie emphasizes that he has no problem using violence to protect his business interests, and he describes his brutality with graphic imagery. He explains that he's never afraid to use his gun or to get hands-on with someone who tries to mess with him. Vinnie's street credibility is evident in his lyrics, and he portrays himself as a force to be reckoned with.
In the last verse of "Street Wars," Vinnie describes his life as a drug dealer and how he handles his business. He mentions that he has been in the game for a long time, and it's all he knows. He talks about how the money is the only motivation and how he has no friends in the business. He emphasizes that trusting no one is critical to keeping his business running, and he uses his creativity when cooking the drugs to make them better than the competition. The lyrics in the last verse highlight the cutthroat reality of the drug game, reiterating the first verse's message.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, bout as real as they come
I am the epitome of authenticity
Still pushing base like an African drum
I am still actively selling drugs, just like the steady beat of an African drum
The only other hands that it touched before Young
Before my buyer, Young, the drugs were only handled by another dealer in Dallas
Was a Guala out of Dallas with shag like Tum Tum
The previous dealer was named Guala and had a hairstyle similar to Tum Tum's
Back to the hood where niggas started detoxing
I bring drugs back to the neighborhood just as people begin to try to recover from their addiction
Till I hit them corners with that motherfucking sheet rock
I sell drugs until I run out of my supply of cocaine
The rollers back bitch, the seal's on the back bitch
The police are back, and the drugs are hidden in the back of my car
The six-three highlights the difference like an asterisks
My car, a 1963 model, sets me apart from other drug dealers like an asterisk in writing
Yes, the re-up game never dies
The drug business of restocking and reselling never ends
Soda makes the brick multiply
Mixing baking soda with cocaine increases its quantity and therefore my profits
Push tons of monster with the pie
I sell an enormous amount of cocaine, increasing my revenue
Keep water from the villain
Do not allow anyone suspected of informing the police of my drug dealing to come into contact with the drugs
Remember what it did to them gremlins?
Do not allow anyone suspected of informing the police of my drug dealing to come into contact with the drugs or they will fall victim to the same fate as the fictional creatures called gremlins.
Oh God, street wars when the heat warms up
Violent street skirmishes occur when tensions rise in the drug dealing community
In summertime niggas know what's up
During the summer, drug dealing and violence increases, and everyone involved in the drug business is aware of it
Heavy armour, heavy drama, heavy karmas
Dealing with drugs comes with burdensome defenses, conflicts, and consequences
Be the reason haters scared of us fucking their baby mamas
I am so intimidating and respected within the drug dealing world that even my rivals' significant others fear me having sex with them as a means of revenge
Soon as this product hits the street
As soon as I begin to distribute my latest batch of drugs
You know they will be strung
People will become addicted to the drugs mere moments after trying them
They'll be dancing to the beat of this drum
People will be entranced by the euphoria brought on by the drugs
Listen, It's addiction hey
Understand that this experience will cause addiction
You know we got em hooked like fiends
We have made addicts out of our customers
They open like a drug
They become receptive and vulnerable after experiencing the effects of the drugs
Yeah, I told Pusha, I told Mal
I shared this information with my fellow drug dealers, Pusha and Mal
Vinnie move more white shit than a snowplough
I sell more cocaine than a snowplow clears snow
Everybody knew the guinnie was so foul
Everyone was aware of my immoral actions as a drug dealer
The SKS with the bayonet, oh wow
I possess a rifle with a blade attached to it to intimidate my rivals
I'll rob everything and leave you with a hungry gut
I will steal all your belongings and leave you with no means to eat
The hollow tips leave you looking like you got a Gumby cut
My bullets will leave you with wounds similar to those of the clay animation character Gumby
You think you fucking with the God then you's a funny fuck
If you believe you can challenge me, you must be a fool
Rambo knife cut your stomach like a tummy tuck
The knife I carry, akin to the one used by Rambo, will leave you with a stomach wound similar to that of a tummy tuck surgery
All you see is darkness when the gun bursts
You will only see darkness after I fire my gun
The G36 melt your brain like a Pun verse
My G36-rifle will dissolve your brain like a rhyming verse of rapper Big Pun
I act wild but I handle my funds first
I can be wild and reckless, but my focus is still on my financial gain
I'm drunk all the time, blood quenches the son's thirst
I consume alcohol without pause, and it fuels me just as blood fuels a vampire's thirst
I don't talk about the money I got
I never discuss the wealth I have accumulated
Because if money want my money then money gets shot
If anyone attempts to steal my money, they will be met with deadly force
Rap shit don't work then I dumb on the block
If my rapping career is unsuccessful, I will continue to engage in drug dealing
With Pusha and Mal cooking up the drums in the pot
My friend and fellow drug dealers, Pusha and Mal, are preparing our latest shipment of cocaine
Still with the coke man, same as it ever was
I am still selling cocaine as I always have
Re-up game, we the shame of America
The cycle of acquiring and reselling drugs is a shameful aspect of American culture, and we perpetuate it
Eighties hysteria, the 'caine be my legacy
The cocaine business of the 1980s has had a deep impact on how I will be remembered
The feds got our names, they hang us in effigy
The authorities have compiled a record of our names and are using it to publicly shame us
Best believe it come back like it never left
The consequences of drug dealing that seemed to have disappeared will return suddenly
I write rhymes but I'll bet I'd make a better chef
Although I am a rapper, I believe I would be more successful as a chef
They can't wait for it to dry, they like it better wet
People prefer using cocaine while it is still moist, as opposed to it being dried out
And I'm heavy with the D like Eddie F
I possess a lot of the chemical compound Dextroamphetamine, similar to the rapper Eddie F's name
I whip it good, real good then I let it rest
I mix the cocaine and Dextroamphetamine thoroughly, and then let the mixture rest
Then I scrape the sides then I let em test
I collect all remaining remnants of drugs, then let potential customers try them
Yes, I got weight like Creatine
I have a significant amount of drugs, much like the body supplement Creatine
A gem star hit that chopping block like a guillotine
A weapon called a Gem Star is used to cut up the drugs, like the severity of the blade on a guillotine
Know what I mean? Sitting on chrome rims
Do you understand my reference? I am sitting in a car with shiny rims
Not only paper, we stack brick like Stonehenge
We are not just accumulating money, but large amounts of cocaine like the ancient structure Stonehenge
Go against us? Haters got no wins
If anyone opposes us, they will be unsuccessful
I trust no one and I don't need no friends
I do not put my trust in anyone, nor do I require friendship
Contributed by Ella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lewis A
Sick beats, sick lyrics, mad aggresion and power in the rappers voices , this is a good as hip hop gets!
Ali Haidar
''Rambo knife cut your stomach like a tummy tuck'' DAAAMN THAT WAS ILL !! Vinnie murdered it ! .
Miguel Puerta
Seriously people this needs to have like millions of hits, this shit isn't just grimey, rugged, heavy, smooth, sweet & sick IT'S FUCKING DOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
eaglez1177
HOLY SHIT! This is soooo fucking dope! Cant wait for Vinnie's new album!! Vinnie and Clipse fuckin killed it and this beat is ill!
MOHAMMAD KAMIL AKBAR
I Forgot To Listen To This For 4 Years Damn, Sick 🔥💥
Stefano Bellavia Music
Vinnie verse is bloody amazing
Roberto miali
loving this track
UncleGhost.95
"I don't talk about the money I got, because if money want my money then money get shot" - Vinnie fuckin' Paz ladies and gentlemen
Marc Wilde
That's right. Dude is a monster with the flow. Love this emcee and everything he was influenced by and all the artists he works with.
joelgermaine
vinnie always goes hard,not a bad beat on this LP