Now we’re on the second album, The Ringmaster, which is where I’ll talk about the story ICP has created through its releases. Screengrab via Pyschopathic Records/YouTube ICP’s politics are all over the place on Carnage but at a time where people are protesting against the removal of Confederate statues under the guise of preserving heritage and history (read: white supremacy) it’s nice to hear J and Dope defiantly declare “Fuck your rebel flag” on “Your Rebel Flag.” Of course, the message gets diluted because of the duo’s reliance on horrorcore tropes, but these last six lines are so brightly colored that they’re reminiscent of NWA’s “Fuck tha Police” in how they’re both unapologetic in their vitriol against oppressive forces:Īnd I’ll shit on a motherfuckin rebel flagĪnd yes, ICP sells an anti-Confederate flag shirt on its website. Kid Rock: Well… um… you see… *Kid Rock transforms into a bald eagle and soars far and away, never to be seen again* Reporter: Well, you said the following in the track, “Boo-hoo muthafucka what ya cryin’ for? I’m that n***a that your bitch would die for.” Rock, back in 1992 you once featured on a song by ICP called “Is That You?” Do you recall this? Rock appears on the track “Is That You?” and I have to say -fuck you Kid Rock for calling yourself a “n***a.” The only good that could potentially come of this is when, while on the campaign trail for his expected Michigan Senate run next year, the following interaction takes place: Back then Kid Rock was actually considered one of Detroit’s biggest rappers, so much so that ICP paid him $600 to feature on Carnage so the album could be sold at Harmony House, one of Michigan’s largest record store chains at that time. Screengrab via Pyschopathic Records/YouTubeġ992 was weird, man. Blatant misogyny and sexism aside, I have to acknowledge former ICP member John Kickjazz for rapping against racism toward the end of the track, even though it makes no sense at all considering the song is about having the most salacious sex with a stereotypical rural white woman. The lyrics are reminiscent of the first time I heard 2 Live Crew. “Bitch, I’ll go down south/With a piece of wheat hangin’ out my mouth” is an actual thing that’s said on this song titled “Red Neck Hoe.” The image is so evocative that devoid of its lewdness I can’t help but laugh. Did Prince approve of this sample? Did he ever hear “The Juggla” in its entirety? Was Prince secretly a fan of ICP? In an alternate reality Prince has headlined the Gathering of the Juggalos while wearing purple face paint, and was working on a collaborative album with ICP titled Insane Clown Prince. “ The Juggla ” samples some production from Prince’s “ Kiss ” and now I’m scouring the internet for any information in relation to this. But introducing the world of ICP with this Sleepy Hollow fuckery? Come on. I understand the importance of J’s monologue and how it’s setting up not only the narrative of the album but the inevitable storyline that ICP has built with its music (more on this later). These are the first words Insane Clown Posse’s Violent J utters on Carnival Of Carnage album opener “Intro” and I’m already wishing I never agreed to do this. “It was a soft, gentle night in the little town of, of… Well, your town.”
But I did it to understand America in 2017. I’ve never listened to an ICP album or song in my life, so I had no idea what to expect. In honor of ICP’s momentous year, I listened to all of the band’s 14 canonical albums. We’re representing the force against it,” said ICP’s Violent J to a crowd of exuberant Juggalos, anti-facists, and onlookers at the Lincoln Memorial.Ģ017 also marks the 25th anniversary of ICP’s debut album Carnival Of Carnage the 20th anniversary of The Great Milenko the 15th anniversary of The Wraith: Shangri-La and the fifth anniversary of The Mighty Death Pop! And I feel like today we’re representing a lot of that bullshit. A lot of people don’t want discrimination in this country anymore, man.
“America’s come farther than I think they realized. Juggalos carried signs that said “Faygo, not Facism!” and “Black Juggalos Matter” and “Fuck Nazis.” Speakers railed against the rising tide of hatred and intolerance. Although the FBI hasn’t rescinded the label, the protest was a success, with Juggalos across the country banding together and showing solidarity. Insane Clown Posse made history with the Juggalo March in September, a protest that took place on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall and called out the FBI for labeling the rap group’s fan base a gang.