Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind

Kevin Baldwin, better known by his stage name Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind or simply Stoupe, is an American hip hop producer, DJ, and member of the underground hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. Stoupe has worked with only a limited number of artists outside of Jedi Mind Tricks, including 7L & Esoteric, Canibus, Virtuoso and Guru of Gang Starr.

Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind
Stoupe in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Kevin Baldwin
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Hip hop producer
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Babygrande, Enemy Soil
Associated acts	Jedi Mind Tricks, Vinnie Paz, Canibus, Dutch, Vespertina, Red Martina, Eamon, Lorrie Doriza

About.com placed him on its list of the "Top 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Producers".[1]

Career

After years as a duo and then a trio, Baldwin left Jedi Mind Tricks in 2011 and Violence Begets Violence would be their only album to not feature Stoupe production. Vinnie Paz stated in a blog on the JMT website that Stoupe had lacked interest in the group and decided to focus on other things in his career, such as his side groups, and that Stoupe would not be producing any of the tracks on the new JMT album.[2] However, Stoupe returned to Jedi Mind Tricks in 2014 and Jus Allah left the group for the second time. Stoupe and Paz worked on a new album called The Thief and the Fallen, which was released on June 2, 2015.[3]

Stoupe's only full-length solo album Decalogue was released on March 31, 2009, under Babygrande Records. It featured a mixture of underground and popular rappers (for instance M.O.P.) performing over Stoupe's productions. In 2010, Baldwin and long-time associate Liz Fullerton formed a duo together called Dutch and they released their first album A Bright Cold Day on June 8 under Enemy Soil. Fullerton had previously contributed vocals to Jedi Mind Tricks' song Death Messiah.

In 2011, Stoupe released his follow-up album, this time with side project Vespertina, featuring songwriter Lorrie Doriza, who was previously featured in Decalogue, entitled "The Waiting Wolf" on May 10 under his label Dusty Pockets.

In November 2013, as one of the first acts on Stoupe's new production company, Bad Tape Music,[4] Red Martina released their debut Intransit with Stoupe as the producer on all thirteen tracks. Other band members are rapper Noesis (from Philadelphia Slick), multi-instrumentalist Ish Quintero, and vocalist Hayley Cass.[5] In November 2017, Red Martina released their second album, Come On Home.

In 2017, Stoupe teamed up with singer Eamon to co-produce a record called the Golden Rail Motel. Stoupe was not only responsible for the production on this record, but also holds writing credits on some of the songs. The album was well received with critics and songs from the Golden Rail Motel were featured in films and television. The song "You and Only You" was included on the original soundtrack of Ocean's 8, other songs were featured in TV series like Black-ish and Netflix's On My Block.[6][7]

On July 1, 2019, Stoupe released a cryptic concept album called "they." available only on a limited vinyl run. The project's focus is quoted as "[a]n instrumental exploration into markov's[sic] dynamics and the human condition." This mostly instrumental album featured co-production by C-Lance and performances by Recognize Ali and Lorrie Doriza.

Production credits

with Jedi Mind Tricks

Album information
The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness Released: November 4, 1997 Label: Superegular
Violent by Design Released: October 3, 2000 Label: Superegular
Visions of Gandhi Released: August 26, 2003 Label: Babygrande
Legacy of Blood Released: August 24, 2004 Label: Babygrande
Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell Released: September 19, 2006 Label: Babygrande
A History of Violence Released: November 11, 2008 Label: Babygrande
The Thief and the Fallen Released: June 2, 2015 Label: Enemy Soil
The Bridge and the Abyss Released: June 22, 2018 Label: Enemy Soil

with Red Martina

Album information
Intransit Released: November 5, 2013 Label: Bad Tape Music
Come On Home Released: November 17, 2014[8] Label: Bad Tape Music

with Canibus

Album information
Rip the Jacker Released: July 22, 2003 Label: Babygrande

Other projects

Album information
Decalogue (Stoupe) Released: March 31, 2009 Label: Babygrande
A Bright Cold Day (Dutch) Released: June 8, 2010 Label: Dusty Pockets/Enemy Soil
The Waiting Wolf (Vespertina) Released: May 10, 2011 Label: Dusty Pockets
Golden Rail Motel (Eamon) Released: September 15, 2017 Label: Huey Ave Music
"they." (Stoupe) Released: July 1, 2019 Label: Mankind Music

EPs, singles and other production

Album information
Amber Probe EP (Jedi Mind Tricks) Released: 1996 Label: Superegular
"Trial by Stone" (Doublespeek) Released: 1996 Label: OneSoul Productions B-Side: "Remind Body", "Black China"
"The Move" (Neso) Released: 1997 Label: Superegular B-Side: "Mad Coolout", "The Balance"
"I Could Have Done More" (Reks) Released: 2000 Label: Raptivism Track: "In Who We Trust"
"Raw Is War" (Vinnie Paz) Released: 2000 Label: Direct Tracks: "Language Is Fatal"
Baldhead Slick & Da Click (Guru) Released: 2001 Label: Landspeed Track: "War Tactics"
World War One: The Voice of Reason (Virtuoso) Released: 2001 Label: Brick Track: "All We Know"
Dangerous Connection (7L & Esoteric) Released: 2002 Label: Brick Track: "Terrorist's Cell"
Mic Club: The Curriculum (Canibus) Released: 2002 Label: Mic Club Track: "Liberal Arts"
The Devil Never Dies (Slaine) Released: 2010 Label: Suburban Noize Records Track: "The Deadzone"

References

1. "25 of the Greatest Hip-Hop Producers of All Time". LiveAbout. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
2. http://www.hiphopug.com/jedi-mind-tricks.html
3. "VINNIE PAZ & STOUPE RETURN AS JEDI MIND TRICKS IN 2015". November 7, 2014.
4. "Web Page Under Construction". www.badtapemusic.com.
5. "Web Page Under Construction". www.badtapemusic.com.
6. "Ocean's Eight (2018) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
7. Maxbauer, Abbey. "Every Single Song That Gave You Feels In "On My Block"". www.refinery29.com.
8. "Come On Home, by Red Martina". Red Martina.