Strange is perhaps the best single word description for Insane Clown Posse albums. It’s only right to call their work this way even if the artists behind ICP have been around for more than twenty years and have a strong following. You can call their music strange because they’d probably appreciate it.
ICP is presently made up of two Josephs, Bruce and Utsler. On stage, these two swap their real names for alter egos. They rap as two bad clowns Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J. The group enjoys an international reputation but they did not begin to rap under their popular personas until much later. The two formed their first group JJ Boys in the 80s together with some friends who shared an interest in wrestling.
This first group wasn’t all that interested in building a music career. The interest did not even fully materialize with their second group Inner City Posse. This second group was more a gang than anything else. Bruce however had a bad encounter with the law and tried to keep low, preferring instead to divert his attentions to wrestling. It was only after experiencing the disappointment of wrestling politics that he began to turn to hip hop music again.
From a gang, Inner City Posse became a performing group made up of Bruce, Utsler and his brother John. Even with their own label Psychopathic Records however, success did not come easy. Gangsta rap was just too crowded with artists wanting to make it big to try to make a new name in.
It was after this realization that the makings of a characteristic Insane Clown Posse album started to materialize. They first settled on a new approach and genre, deciding to focus on the largely unexplored area of supernatural horror. The concept became even more defined when they decided to focus on the general dark carnival theme. This eventually led to the adoption of their current name.
Their debut work Carnival of Carnage was released in 1992. Before it could even pick up steam though, John Utsler was already out the door. Even without him though, this initial release was met positively. This created a good starting point for the eventual release of Ringmaster.
It was however, The Great Milenko, first released in 1996 under Hollywood Records that began to truly define international stardom for the group. Although the label recalled the release, it was released again under PolyGram Records and became certified platinum.
After meeting initial success, the duo went deeper into mainstream by collaborating with industry stars like Snoop Dogg and Ol’ Dirty Bastard for the album Amazing Jeckel Brothers. Their efforts paid off when the album reached the fourth spot in the Billboard chart. It now also enjoys platinum status.
Today, the rap duo boasts of a huge following of fans called Juggalos and Jugalettes and even has two films and a wrestling federation to their name. Despite having had a string of more encounters with the police, there is no indication that the duo’s Insane Clown Posse albums have dropped in popularity. With their thoroughly unique and intriguing approach, it’s hard not to notice them.
Flaunt The Unique Flavor Of Insane Clown Posse Merch. Make A Trip Down The http://www.planet13.com.au.
