Insane Clown Posse

Insane Clown Posse, abbreviated as ICP, is an American hip hop duo that was formed in 1989, by rappers Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope.
==History==
Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler met in Oak Park. Along with Utsler's brother, John, and friend, Lacy, they wrestled in backyard rings that they had built themselves. They also listened to hip hop music, including 3rd Bass, Beastie Boys, N.W.A and local rappers like Awesome Dre. In 1989, Joseph Bruce as Jagged Joe, Joseph Utsler as Kangol Joe and John Utsler as Master J, released the single titled "Party at the Top of the Hill" under the name of JJ Boys, but the group did not pursue a serious career in music. Poverty and a difficult home life drove Bruce to move in with Rudy Hill in River Rouge. https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol
Bruce later formed a gang called Inner City Posse, and a number of other connections he had made in Southwest Detroit. Bruce was jailed for ninety days in 1989–1990, for death threats, robbery, and violating probation. This experience convinced him to reduce his involvement in gang life. Bruce began his professional wrestling career after getting out of jail, and it was at his first show that he met Rob Van Dam and Sabu. During this time Bruce brought Utsler backstage with him, and all four became close friends. https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol/page/125
Bruce became frustrated with the backstage politics of the wrestling business and began searching for another career. Back on the streets, Bruce, Utsler and Utsler's brother John performed hip hop music at local night clubs, using the stage names Violent J, 2 Dope, and John Kickjazz, under the name of their gang, Inner City Posse. Seeing a need for a manager, Bruce's brother Robert recommended Alex Abbiss, who established the Psychopathic Records record label with the group in 1991. Later that year the group released the self-produced EP entitled Dog Beats. https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780879307592/page/229
In late 1991, the group had the problem of having spent more money on production than was covered by returns. The group decided that its gangsta rap style was the cause making it difficult for Inner City Posse to identify itself stylistically. Referring to local rapper Esham's horrorcore style, Bruce suggested the band adapt this genre, in a bid to have Detroit represent acid rap, much as Los Angeles represented gangsta rap. The group agreed, but not to copying the style of Esham closely. Instead, they suggested using horror-themed lyrics as an emotional outlet for all their negative life experiences. They were also unanimous in deciding not to rap openly about Satan. https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol/page/174
After the change in musical style, the group decided it needed a new name. Utsler suggested keeping the "I.C.P." initials to inform the community that Inner City Posse was not defunct. Several names were considered before Bruce recalled his dream of a clown running around in Delray, which became the inspiration for the group's new name: Insane Clown Posse. The group decided they would all don face paint due to the success of their former clown-painted hype man. https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-band-name-insane-clown-posse/
The group began recording their debut album, Carnival of Carnage, with producer Chuck Miller. After recording only three songs for $6,000 with Miller, Alex Abbiss made his first major managerial move by finding another producer, Mike E. Clark. The group finished recording the album with Clark, who continued to work with them throughout their career. The album featured appearances from local rappers, including Esham and Kid Rock. Just weeks prior to the release of their album, John left the group because he felt that it was "taking up too much of his life". When Bruce and Utsler attempted to call a meeting to talk about the issues, John did not attend. https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol/page/188https://www.riddlebox.be/homepage/biography/relatives_shaggy_2_dope/john_david_utsler.html
==Discography==
===Albums===
*Carnival of Carnage (1992)
*Ringmaster (1994)
*Riddle Box (1995)
*The Great Milenko (1997)
*The Amazing Jeckel Brothers (1999)
*Bizaar (2000)
*Bizzar (2000)
*The Wraith: Shangri-La (2002)
*The Wraith: Hell's Pit (2004)
*GOTJ 2005 (2005)
*The Tempest (2007)
*Bang! Pow! Boom! (2009)
*American Psycho (2011)
*The Mighty Dead Pop (2012)
*Reindeer Games (2014)
*The Marvelous Missing Link: Lost (2015)
*The Marvelous Missing Link: Found (2015)
*Fearless Fred Fury (2019)
*Yum Yum Bedlam (2021)
===Cover Albums===
*Smothered, Covered & Chunked (2012)
=== Compilation Albums ===
* Forgotten Freshness (1995)
* Mutilation Mix (1997)
* Forgotten Freshness Volume 1 & 2 (1998)
* Psychopathics from Outer Space (2000)
* Forgotten Freshness Volume 3 (2001)
* The Pendulum (2002)
* Psychopathics from Outer Space 2 (2003)
* Forgotten Freshness Volume 4 (2005)
* The Wraith: Remix Albums (2006)
* Jugganauts: The Best of Insane Clown Posse (2007)
* Psychopathics from Outer Space 3 (2007)
* The Old Shit (2010)
* Icon (2011)
* Featuring Freshness (2011)
* Mike E. Clark's Extra Pop Emporium (2012)
* Forgotten Freshness Volume 5 (2013)
* 20th Anniversary Hallowicked (2014)
* The Marvelous Missing Link: Outtakes (2015)
* 20th Anniversary: Riddle Box (2015)
* Incredible Collectable Collection (2017)
* 20th Anniversary: The Great Milenko (2017)
* Forgotten Freshness, Vol. 6 (2019) 
===Extended Plays===
*Enter the Ghetto Zone (1990)
*Ghetto Territory (1990)
*Intelligence and Violence (1990)
*Bass-ment Cuts (1991)
*Dog Beats (1991)
*Beverly Kills 50187 (1993)
*The Terror Wheel (1994)
*A Carnival Christmas (1994)
*Tunnel of Love (1996)
*Dark Carnival Action Figures (2000)
*The Calm (2005)
*Eye of the Storm (2007)
*House of Wax (2014)
*Phantom X-tra Spooky Edition (2015)
*Hell's Cellar (2018)
*Willaby Rags: Magical Bag of Poop (2018)
*Flip The Rat (2019)
*You Produce (ICP's House Party Peep Show) (2021)
*Yum Yum's Lure (2021)
*Wicked Vic the Weed (2022)
*Pug Ugly the Stink Bud (2022)
*Woh The Weeping Weirdo (2023)
=== Singles ===
* Party at the Top of the Hill (1989)
* 4 Life (2017)
* 6 Foot 7 Foot (2017)
* Fuck My Dad (Richard Bruce) (2017)
==References==
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