Army of the Pharaohs

Started in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by the Jedi Mind Tricks in the late nineties, the original Army of the Pharaohs line-up included five MCs: Vinnie Paz, Chief Kamachi, Esoteric, Virtuoso and

Started in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by the Jedi Mind Tricks in the late nineties, the original Army of the Pharaohs line-up included five MCs: Vinnie Paz, Chief Kamachi, Esoteric, Virtuoso and Bahamadia. This version of the group released The 5 Perfect Exertions EP before disbanding. Around 2005 Paz brought back Esoteric and Kamachi, as well as many new members to put out an LP which would end up being The Torture Papers, released in March 2006. From the beginning Paz had envisioned the group as a loose collaboration between the biggest names in east-coast underground hip-hop, very similar to the original Wu-Tang Clan.

Most of the production on The Torture Papers was provided by 7L and his associates, and rising German underground beat-maker Shuko. Of note is Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind, the Jedi Mind Tricks producer, being completely absent from the album.