"Before the Great Collapse" is a single by hip hop duo

Jedi Mind Tricks Jedi Mind Tricks (JMT) are an American underground hip hop group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1996 by two high school friends, rapper Vinnie Paz (Vincenzo Luvineri) and producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind (Kevin Baldwin). In 19 ...

, released in 2004 through

Babygrande Records Babygrande Records is an American independent record label based in New York City, founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by The Orchard and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood. History Babygrande Records was ...

. The single was the lead-off for the group's fourth album, ''

Legacy of Blood ''Legacy of Blood'' is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. It was released on September 21, 2004 via Babygrande Records. Production was handled by member Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind, with Chuck Wilson serving as ...

''. The song's intro contains a sample from "Freeman's Farm" by David Elon Preston, and the song's music contains a sample from "No Me Des Tu Adios" by Perla. "Before the Great Collapse" was the first JMT single to be solely performed by group vocalist

Vinnie Paz Vincenzo Luvineri (born October 5, 1977), better known as Vinnie Paz (formerly known as Ikon the Verbal Hologram), is a Sicilian Americans, Sicilian American rapper and producer behind the Philadelphia underground hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks ...

, who uses the track as a

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...

letter, written to his mother. The track is followed up on JMT's

Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell ''Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell'' is the fifth studio album by hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. It was released September 19, 2006 through Babygrande Records. The first single, " Heavy Metal Kings", featuring Ill Bill of La Coka Nostra, was r ...

with the track Razorblade Salvation, in which Vinnie Paz retracts his suicide note, citing his obligations and goals as reasons to "stick around for a while." While "Before the Great Collapse" was the single's official A-Side, the B-Side track "On the Eve of War" was ''Legacy of Blood's'' lead single. Like their previous album's lead single, "

Animal Rap "Animal Rap" is the lead single by hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks from their third album ''Visions of Gandhi'' (2003). The first vinyl pressing was released in 2002 and the CD pressing was released in 2003. The single was the group's first relea ...

", the single contains two mixes of the song, subtitled "On the Eve of War (

Julio César Chávez Julio César Chávez González (; born July 12, 1962), also known as Julio César Chávez Sr., is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 2005. A multiple-time world champion in three weight divisions, Chávez was liste ...

Mix)" and "On the Eve of War (

Meldrick Taylor Meldrick Taylor (born October 19, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2002. He is a two-weight world champion, having held the IBF junior welterweight title from 1988 to 1990, and the WBA welterweight title ...

Mix)", referencing the rivalry between the two boxers. The former features a symphonic sample, taken from the track "

Palladio Andrea Palladio ( ; ; 30 November 1508 – 19 August 1580) was an Italian Renaissance architect active in the Venetian Republic. Palladio, influenced by Roman and Greek architecture, primarily Vitruvius, is widely considered to be one of th ...

I - Allegretto" by

Karl Jenkins Sir Karl William Pamp Jenkins (born 17 February 1944) is a Welsh multi-instrumentalist and composer. His best known works include the song " Adiemus" and the ''Adiemus'' album series; '' Palladio''; ''The Armed Man''; and his ''Requiem''. J ...

. The latter features a melancholy guitar sample taken from the track "Peace" by Paul Kelly. Both versions of "On the Eve of War" feature a guest appearance from

Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close affili ...

member

GZA ''Gary Eldridge Grice'' (born August 22, 1966), better known by his stage names GZA ( ) and The Genius, is an American rapper and songwriter. A founding member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, GZA is the group's "spiritual head", being both ...

. The single was followed in 2005 by "The Age of Sacred Terror".

Track listing

A-Side

#"Before the Great Collapse" (Clean Version) #"On the Eve of War (Julio César Chávez Mix)" (Clean Version) (feat. GZA) #"Before the Great Collapse" (Instrumental)

B-Side

#"On the Eve of War (Meldrick Taylor Mix)" (Clean Version) (feat. GZA) #"On the Eve of War (Julio César Chávez Mix)" (Dirty Version) (feat. GZA) #"On the Eve of War (Julio César Chávez Mix)" (Instrumental)

Song order

"Before the Great Collapse"

*Performed by: Vinnie Paz

"On the Eve of War"

*First verse: Vinnie Paz *Second verse: GZA

Notes

*"Before the Great Collapse" contains samples from the movie

The Addiction ''The Addiction'' is a 1995 American vampire film, vampire horror film directed by Abel Ferrara, starring Lili Taylor, Christopher Walken and Annabella Sciorra. Edie Falco and Kathryn Erbe appear in supporting roles. The film was written by Ferr ...

. *"Before the Great Collapse" contains a sample from "No Me Des Tu Adios" by Perla. *"Before the Great Collapse" contains a sample from "Freeman's Farm" by David Elon Preston *The song "Razorblade Salvation", from the album "Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell" is a sequel to "Before the Great Collapse". It tells a different story than the song. *"On the Eve of War" contains samples from "Third World" by

DJ Muggs Lawrence Muggerud (born January 28, 1968), professionally known by his stage name DJ Muggs, is an American DJ, audio engineer and record producer. He is a member of Cypress Hill, a member of the trip hop band Cross My Heart Hope To Die and the l ...

. *"On the Eve of War" samples the blow-by-blow and color commentary from the first bout between

Vinny Paz Vinny Paz (born Vincenzo Edward Pazienza, December 16, 1962), formerly Vinny Pazienza, is an American former professional boxer who held world titles at lightweight and light middleweight. The 2016 film ''Bleed for This'' is based on his comebac ...

(the boxer) and his rival

Greg Haugen Greg Lee Haugen (born August 31, 1960) is a retired American boxer. Haugen was champion at both the lightweight and light welterweight classes. He trained under Jim Montgomery. Haugen turned pro in 1982 and won his first 17 fights before challen ...

for the

IBF The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) which sanctions professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Counci ...

lightweight title. *"On the Eve of War (Julio César Chávez Mix)" contains a sample from "Palladio I - Allegretto" by

. *"On the Eve of War (Meldrick Taylor Mix)" contains a sample from "Peace" by Paul Kelly. {{authority control 2004 singles Jedi Mind Tricks songs 2004 songs