Not so long ago, many of music’s brightest stars came from humble beginnings. Their parents didn’t pay for them to obtain the right connections or for outrageously expensive vocal lessons. Believe it or not, there was once a time when musicians were judged on their musical ability, not their superficial qualities like looks and wealth.

Fortunately, there are still a few musicians around to remind us that enrollment in the Mickey Mouse Club and home schooling for the sake of stardom aren’t pre-requisites to be successful.

For an example, just read the history of Insane Clown Posse. From rags to riches, Joseph Bruce (Violent J) and Joseph Utsler (Shaggy 2 Dope) came from rough lives in the industrial suburbs of Detroit to being horror rap kings of the world. The journey was not an easy one, and many of the themes present in Insane Clown Posse’s horror rap music today can be traced back to members Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope’s youth. Continue reading to see how elements of the band’s modern persona came to be.

Insane Clown Posse’s History with Spirituality

Spiritually, both were raised to believe in God. Violent J often recounts the story of keeping a butterfly in a jar overnight with the intention of releasing it in the morning only to realize that the butterfly had died while he was sleeping. From that day on, the little horror rapper to be made a vow to meet the butterfly in heaven -- or Shangri-la as ICP calls it today -- so he can apologize face to face.

Insane Clown Posse’s History with Wrestling

Juggalo Championship Wrestling, the wrestling organization founded by Insane Clown Posse that’s put on display every year at the Gathering of the Juggalos horror rap music festival, exists because members Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope grew up wrestling in the backyards of houses in Detroit.

The Truth About ICP and Gangs

It’s often speculated by many that Insane Clown Posse’s history involved the members being in a gang at one point in time, or the band itself being its own gang. This label is false, but understandably confusing. Violent J had a stint with gang life in the late 80s, but threats to his family and a 90-day prison sentence scared him straight.

When asked about Insane Clown Posse’s history as a gang (media back in the 90s often associated any rappers as being parts of gangs, and apparently horror rappers were no exception), Violent J responded saying they weren’t much of a gang because they “always got their asses beat.”

Beyond the History of Insane Clown Posse’s Early Years

Since releasing their first album in 1992, ICP has gone on to rule the horror rap world and even be regularly referenced by the mainstream media. Insane Clown Posse’s history will evidence the band’s own horror rap music festival, the Gathering of the Juggalos, replete with a lineup of talented horror rap acts and other activities.

Insane Clown Posse’s fan base has a name for itself, the Juggalos. Insane Clown Posse’s history of horror rap releases has seen albums put out in their own independent Psychopathic Records label and major labels like Disney-owned Hollywood Records. Throughout Insane Clown Posse’s history they’ve even made three movies that have nothing to do with horror rap, and have been the subject of two documentaries.

They have an unprecedented line of merchandise in the realm of musical acts, (no act compares even outside of the horror rap world) all of it branded with their trademark horror rap branding.  Lastly, ICP might be the only band to constantly wear face paint, a move that has seen their legion of horror rap fans also wearing face paint at nearly every concert in Insane Clown Posse history.

As you can see, a glance into Insane Clown Posse’s history will show that ICP has gotten to where they are today chiefly through innovation, being true to themselves and their fans.
  --
This history of Insane Clown Posse is an underdog story filled with wrestling, spirituality, and even some gang involvement. To learn more about the History of Insane Clown Posse please visit the bands website at http://insaneclownposse.com/

Musicians these days have a very difficult time selling their music; most of it falls victim to piracy. That’s why it’s more important now than ever before to sell as much merchandise – shirts, posters, buttons, etc. – as humanly possible. Some bands are better at this than others, but one band stands above them all: Insane Clown Posse.
One of the most impressive things about the Insane Clown Posse isn’t their success, their hatchetman logo, their enormous Juggalo fan base, their own festival, their wrestling league or their expansive record label -- it’s their unprecedented line of merchandise, or ICP gear. That’s why artist merchandise like ICP’s gear is so important – it goes a long way in making up for lost revenue from illegally downloaded CDs.

Necessity of the Hatchetman

 

Merchandise is much easier to sell when there’s a recognizable brand or logo plastering the item. When people like associating with your brand, they’ll take every opportunity they can to do so. Most artists have logos built around their name, but nothing more.

What makes ICP exceptional is that they have a band name, an aptly named record label (Psychopathic Records), a name for their fans (Juggalos), and a maniacal cartoon (the hatchetman) to brand it all with. That’s why all of the Joker’s Card faces are so crucial to the success of Insane Clown Posse.

If it weren’t for Insane Clown Posse member Shaggy 2 Dope sitting down and sketching the now famous hatchetman logo on a napkin back when the band was just getting started, ICP gear would not have nearly the significance it does today.

Product Variety

 

Aside from having multiple brands, the objective for every band should be to have as many individual products to sell as possible. If we were to list all of the hatchetman-branded ICP gear items out, it would take up multiple pages. The fact is, Insane Clown Posse members Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope realized the importance of diversifying their line of ICP gear early on, and today, there’s a multitude of ICP gear out there. 

ICP Gear Diversification

Yes, Insane Clown Posse has branded traditional items like clothing, jewelry and accessories with the hatchetman as part of their ICP gear line. And, also to be expected, ICP’s gear line is stocked with all of the music and other media like books and movies they’ve put out under the Insane Clown Posse name over the years.

Not to be expected -- and this is what makes them so unique among bands today – is the collectibles section they’ve built into the ICP gear line. Insane Clown Posse comic books and action figures based on characters in those comic books have become something that diehard Juggalos pine for regularly.

Insane Clown Posse have even gotten creative with their traditional ICP gear items like clothing, extending it to include items like backpacks, wallets, and school supplies. Back to branding, much of these items are stamped with a Joker’s Card face or the hatchetman. 

--

Horror rap duo Insane Clown Posse have made a name for themselves not only in music, but also through their impressive merchandise line of ICP gear, mostly branded with the famous hatchetman and joker’s cards faces.  To learn more about ICP Gear or the hatchetman, please visit the band’s website at http://insaneclownposse.com/