Modeled after the dynamic "supergroup" concept that created
the Wu-Tang Clan,
the Army of the Pharaohs is the brainchild of
Jedi Mind Tricks frontman/MC
Vinnie Paz.
Paz formed the horrorcore outfit in the late '90s with the original roster of
Bahamadia,
Chief Kamachi,
Virtuoso,
7L & Esoteric, plus
Jedi Mind Tricks' other members Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind and
Jus Allah. The group first released the "Five Perfect Exertions" b/w "War Ensemble" 12" on
Paz's short-lived Superegular Recordings in 1998, but then the underground supergroup remained silent for several years. After a couple of successful
JMT albums and a new deal with Babygrande by 2003,
Paz resurrected the crew, adding
Outerspace (
Planetary and Crypt the Warchild),
Celph Titled,
Reef the Lost Cauze,
King Syze Des Devious, Faez One, and
Apathy; however,
Bahamadia,
Virtuoso, and
Jus Allah had defected from the group. Babygrande issued their "Tear It Down" 12" and full-length debut, The Torture Papers, in 2006. The 2007 follow-up album, Ritual of the Battle, saw
JMT protégés Doap Nixon and Demoz joining
the Pharaohs, as well as a return by
Jus Allah. ~ Cyril Cordor