Submitted By: Felix Lehmann
(Entertainment)
When ICP released its first album way back in 1991, the initials stood for Inner City Posse. Later on, this Detroit band changed its name to Insane Clown Posse. This duo consists of Joe Bruce, also known as Violent J, and Joey Ulster who goes by the more interesting name of Shaggy 2 Dope. The kind of music they perform is a sort of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore. Their music consists of supernatural and horror themed lyrics and they have elaborate stage shows to go along with it. ICP has a devoted fan following that calls itself the Juggalos. Female fans are not to be left behind and they call themselves the Juggalettes.
ICP and the Juggalos – More Than Just Horror Music
The lyrics of almost every song released by ICP have managed to attract a lot of attention because of their unconcealed violence and malice. Some of their favorite themes are cannibalism and necrophilia, when they are not singing about ordinary murders. ICP justifies its violent lyrics saying that they give their urban audience an outlet for all their dissatisfaction as well as their pent up aggression. A closer examination of their lyrics will also show you that ICP talks about various problems that affect the youth of today such as racism, domestic violence and sex abuse, especially of children.
During various interviews, the members of ICP have taken pains to explain that they never incite their fans to commit violence. The violent lyrics and the suggestive stage acts are just used as a device to get the attention of the audience. Their core audience is very young and therefore has a notoriously short attention span. It follows therefore, that a band has to resort to outrageous lyrics and acts in order to gain and retain their attention.
ICP is very vocal in their rejection of violence and band members have gone on record at various times saying that they do not approve of violence of any sort.
ICP has been very successful in creating the Juggalo subculture and there are even some established rap artists who consider themselves part of this group. There is an annual event called the Gathering of the Juggalos organized by the band’s record label Psychopathic Records where various horrorcore and hardcore hip hop labels perform to an audience of Juggalos and Juggalettes. It goes on for four days and it has lots of wrestling events in addition to musical performances. The favorite drink of this group is a non alcoholic beverage called Faygo and they consume vast quantities of this during this festival.
Needless to say, Juggalos and Juggalettes wear distinctive T shirts and these are very easily available due to their popularity. Of course, many schools discourage the wearing of these clothes to school because of their association with violent and gruesome lyrics. Many authority figures are now beginning to understand that listening to ICP does not necessarily cause people to take to crime, and that it can actually help them to let off some steam without causing harm to anybody.
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ICP and the Juggalos – More Than Just Horror Music
The lyrics of almost every song released by ICP have managed to attract a lot of attention because of their unconcealed violence and malice. Some of their favorite themes are cannibalism and necrophilia, when they are not singing about ordinary murders. ICP justifies its violent lyrics saying that they give their urban audience an outlet for all their dissatisfaction as well as their pent up aggression. A closer examination of their lyrics will also show you that ICP talks about various problems that affect the youth of today such as racism, domestic violence and sex abuse, especially of children.
During various interviews, the members of ICP have taken pains to explain that they never incite their fans to commit violence. The violent lyrics and the suggestive stage acts are just used as a device to get the attention of the audience. Their core audience is very young and therefore has a notoriously short attention span. It follows therefore, that a band has to resort to outrageous lyrics and acts in order to gain and retain their attention.
ICP is very vocal in their rejection of violence and band members have gone on record at various times saying that they do not approve of violence of any sort.
ICP has been very successful in creating the Juggalo subculture and there are even some established rap artists who consider themselves part of this group. There is an annual event called the Gathering of the Juggalos organized by the band’s record label Psychopathic Records where various horrorcore and hardcore hip hop labels perform to an audience of Juggalos and Juggalettes. It goes on for four days and it has lots of wrestling events in addition to musical performances. The favorite drink of this group is a non alcoholic beverage called Faygo and they consume vast quantities of this during this festival.
Needless to say, Juggalos and Juggalettes wear distinctive T shirts and these are very easily available due to their popularity. Of course, many schools discourage the wearing of these clothes to school because of their association with violent and gruesome lyrics. Many authority figures are now beginning to understand that listening to ICP does not necessarily cause people to take to crime, and that it can actually help them to let off some steam without causing harm to anybody.
