Big Thanks to www.insaneclownposse.com for this biography.
Insane Clown Posse...the name has burned an image in everyone's minds. Some see only the image of the Wicked Clowns,horrifying the world with their sinister rap styling,violent lyrics,and their mind twisting mesh of rock and hip hop. Others see just fools,entertaining with their often gross and juvenile humour. Still others,ICP's loyal followers - The Juggalos,have based and entire life style around Insane Clown Posse and the Dark Carnival. And still others find themselves intrigued and confused about the esoteric prophecies and mystical messages of the Dark Varnival's music.
In truth,ICP are all these things and more. Despite being one of the most hated bands in the world,Insane Clown Posse have managed to release several Platinum Albums. They've also managed to create the third highest grossing wrestling organization in the country; managed to keep the longest running hip hop record in Billboard Top 200 history; filmed their own full lenth motion picture,wrestled in the WWF,WCW,and ECW;founded their own record label (Psychopathic Records); as well as released their own highly successful line of comic books,toys,and clothing. All while building and army of over 1,000,000 dedicated Juggalos.
It all began in the early 90's in SouthWest Detroit,Joseph Bruice (Violent J) and Joseph Utsler (Shaggy 2 Dope),along with a crew of neighbourhood homies started an ill-fated street gang called ICP "Inner City Posse." They also began to rap,with a mildy successful independent release,Dog Beats. Having just moved to the city from the suburbs,the young J and Shaggy had little knowledge of any real gang life,but attempted to throw ICP's name right into the dangerous mix of SouthWest Detroit's street gangs anyway. The little notoriety ICP recieved from their music also proved to be an almost fatal setback. SouthWest Detroit's established gangs,some of which had been around for generations,began to harbour serious resentment towards ICP. The entire Inner City Posse became the target of much gang related violence,and after 2 years of battery most members bailed out. Some barely escaping town with their lives. J and Shaggy were among the last few that remained true to their weakened ICP clique. They remained in SouthWest Detroit,still trying to uphold their name,while basically trapped,alone and fearing for their lives. It finally looked as if ICP's road had reached a dead end when Violent J took his 4th trip to the county jail and was put away for the entire winter of 90.
Right around J's release from county jail in 1991,J & Shaggy suddenly reached a turning point of their lives and careers. According to their own wild assertions,they claim to have been visited late one night by spirits of a mysterious Dark Carnival. They claim that this pack of neutral,canrival phantoms ordered them to deliver 6 very special messages for them to all that will listen. J and Shaggy claimed they were specifically chosen by this phantom circus to deliver these 6 messages and do their best in making the entire planet listen. These ghosts allegedly explained to J and Shaggy that many souls will doubt them and only a few souls will listen,but those few that do listen,are worth all the effort 10 fold. They were also informed that there are to be no leaders or followers of the carnival and it's messages....only believers. J and Shaggy are merely messangers,sent to gather believers,nothing more and nothing less. Their mission is to find as many believers as possible,before the end consumes us all.
Now,we'll admit,it's a little hard to swallow,but it's interesting none the less.
With their new found mission from the beyond,J and Shaggy finally got their lives back on track. They quit their own gang,and changed their rapping name from Inner City Posse to Insane Clown Posse. Having been told that each special message will come one by one,and only when the time is right,J and Shaggy chose the only form of expression they know anything about...music. They decided to expose the magic messages in the form of albums. Six albums in all. Each album will take on its own identity in the form of Jokers Cards. Each album preaching another one of the Dark Carnival's messages to the world.
J and Shaggy say that they gave themselves the identity of clowns to better fit in while spreading the messages of the Dark Carnival,others say they're clowns because ... well they're baffoons. However you perceive this strange rap group from Detroit,the fact is that they're here to stay. With their grease painted faces,phat,heavy carnival beats,and demented,vulgar lyrics injected with positive messages and magic...You have the band you love to had...the Insane Clown Posse.
ICP recorded its first Jokers Card in 1991. After money problems and other hurdles,Carnival of Carnage was finally released in October 1992. It was followed by and EP entitled Beverly Kills 50187. Next up was the 2nd Jokers Card,named The Ringmaster in 1993. Sales of Ringmaster were stronger than expected to be right off the bat and the Detroit music scene began to lift its head. ICP quickly shot out another EP entitled Terror Wheel,which spawned a local Radio hit entitled "Dead Body Man." By now Insane Clown Posse had began to develop a rabid following in Detroit as well as hot spots around the MIdwest. After Terror Wheel's release,it wasn't long until record labels began to try to cash in.
ICP,looking to spread the message of the Dark Carnival,quickly signed for a small amount of money to a New York based record label,Jive Records. Jive Records promised to take ICP and the Carnival's message worldwide. But shortly after Jive release ICP's next album and 3rd Joker's Card,the Riddle Box,Jive's true plan was uncovered. They would release the new album only in Michigan,with no push,for all of ICP's already rabid fans to buy,and make all the money for themselves. An easy sell for the work ICP had already done.