Insane Clown Posse

The Insane Clown Posse (ICP) are a horrorcore rap / rapcore group originally from Wayne, Michigan, consisting of Violent J (Joseph Bruce) and Shaggy 2 Dope (Joseph Utsler). more...

They almost always professionally display themselves in full black and white "evil clown" makeup that could be compared to the corpse paint of black metal musicians or the makeup of the rock group KISS. Violent J's makeup is usually drawn as a smiling face, while Shaggy's is an angry face. While never achieving full mainstream success, the group has nevertheless obtained an impressive collection of platinum and gold albums and legions of loyal fans, known affectionately as Juggalos.

Early history

The first incarnation of the group was in 1988 as The JJ Boys, a trio that Violent J, Shaggy 2 Dope and John Utsler (also known as John Kickchazz) had formed while still in their early teens. Violent J was on the guitar while Shaggy's job was the ukulele. John Kickchazz was to play drums with sticks and a metal bucket. This later became "Inner City Posse", and consisted of three members: Violent J, Shaggy 2 Dope and John Kickchazz (Shaggy's brother, who performed on Inner City Posse albums Enter the Ghetto Zone, Bassment Cuts, and Dog Beats). Kickchazz left the group before Carnival of Carnage was released. Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope still wanted ICP to be a trio, and so brought in a local rapper called Kalyn Garcia, who appeared on Beverly Kills 50187. He subsequently left as well, and ICP have been a duo ever since, forming Psychopathic Records with manager Alex Abbiss in 1991.

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