September 2, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Underground hip hop group Dayton Family is often associated with horror rap outfit Insane Clown Posse because they are signed to ICPs Hatchet House Records. Although Hatchet House is really nothing more than a holding stall for artists Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope think will be the next big thing in underground hip hop, many old Dayton Family fans take this to mean the ICP has faith that Dayton Family will soon be on the top of the charts, and thanks to the support ICP has given them.
While thats a fair assumption to make in some respects, be careful with the amount of sound similarities you think Dayton Family (traditional underground hip hop) and ICP (horror rap) have. For one, Dayton Family, at least when they were up and coming in the mid 90s, were not a horror rap group. They were a more traditional underground hip hop group whose lyrics touched on themes of survival in an economically challenged environment. There is little talk about the morbid content covered heavily in ICPs horror rap songs.
For proof, lets take a look at some examples from one prominent ICP horror rap song and one prominent Dayton Family underground hip hop song.
ICPs “Chicken Huntin” Horror Rap:
Barrels in your mouth, bullets to your head
The back of your necks all over the shed
Boomshacka boom chop chop band
Im 2 Dope and it aint no thang
To cut a chicken, triggers clicking
Blow off his head but his feet still kicking
Last as long as you can my man
Cause when that chicken head hits the fan you got
Blood guts fingers and toes
Sitting front row at the chicken show so
As you can see, these lyrics are vile to say the least. Furthermore, its pretty obvious that ICP doesnt expect you to take these horror rap lyrics seriously, theyre plainly meant to be funny and for novelty purposes only. Despite the fact that both Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope come from backgrounds similar to Dayton Family, they choose to make funny horror rap songs in most instances instead of more traditional underground hip hop songs.
Dayton Familys “F.B.I.” Underground Hip Hop:
I’m wakin up in the mornin, with problems on my mind
Motherf*ck the education and drug rehabilitation
I’m smokin on that weed and the green is getting tasty
Dead feds in my closet cause they tried to chase me
These are the opening lines to Dayton Familys “F.B.I.”, and the paint a completely different picture than the horror rap lyrics do right off the bat. With much of underground hip hops themes similar to those mentioned above in the Dayton Family song, it would appear that they are not the anomaly, ICP and their horror rap is.
So, to say that underground hip hop group Dayton Family will be the next big thing in horror rap because of ICP taking them under its wing would be misguided. Chances are that, if Dayton Family does regain the momentum it once had, it will be because theyre bringing back the same gritty street lyrics that once made them popular, not because they crossed genres into horror rap.
However, as is the path for an successful artist signed to Hatchet House, if Dayton Family does get their career back on track, they will most likely end up being signed to horror rap record label Psychopathic Records, where every artist as a horror rap artist. None are mainstream underground hip hop like Dayton Family.
Keeping that in mind, it would not shock anyone if Dayton Family and the horror rap heads in charge at Psychopathic found a way to make a hybrid sound by combining both horror rap and the underground hip hop Dayton Family is known for!
December 31, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
Who was you with when you got tattoos?
Who was you tripping with when you did them mushrooms?
Who the f*ck threw up all over your car?
And then felt worse then you about that shit in the morning? (Friends ya’ll)
Who loans ya money, homie?
Who owes ya cash?
Who taught you how to use the bong for the grass?
I don’t know much but I gotta assume
When ya hit ya first neden, ya homies was in the room
These are the lyrics to “Homies” by ICP. This song has neared anthem status for those within the Juggalo Family, but more importantly, “Homies” by ICP acts as insurmountable evidence that horror rap can bring people together. Many anti-horror rap crusaders out there have long accused horror rap of being an overly violent, misogynistic genre of music that does nothing but turn youth against their parents, or existing fans against the rest of the public.
As “Homies” by ICP lyrics demonstrate above, nothing could be further from the truth.
But its not just songs like “Homies” by ICP that perpetuate the Juggalo family atmosphere among horror rap fans. Its the people and horror raps over-arching message that makes Juggalo and family go together like horror rap and Psychopathic Records.
ICPs Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope, unarguably the godfathers of horror rap music, have always viewed themselves, for better or worse, as misfits. They dont fit in with mainstream society, and would have it no other way. This is where horror rap comes in.
Instead of moping about their status or feelings toward the public at large, the guys write songs like “Homies” by ICP to show a welcoming mentality towards other horror rap heads who feel the exact same way they do.
Has this strategy worked? To say the least, yes. Songs like “Homies” by ICP and the bands general attitude towards the Juggalo family have created an artist-fan bond so strong that ICP could retire now and never have to work again if they wanted to.
The scenarios put forth in “Homies” by ICP, as evident in the lyrics to “Homies” by ICP above, are perfect examples of this kind of Juggalo family love. Aside from their shared love of horror rap, those within the Juggalo family are just as strongly connected as stereotypically bonded relationships, like frat brothers or father-son, if not stronger.
Juggalo family members loan each other money, get too drunk, talk about girls (or boys for the Juggalette members of the Juggalo family) , etc.
So next time you think that horror rap only deals with themes of suicide, murder, Satanism, or other non-sense violence, remember “Homies” by ICP and the Juggalo family bonds! It they werent real, the Juggalo family and all other homies of ICP would have long since disbanded.
December 22, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
Juggalos are one of the most misunderstood music subcultures around, but they’re also one of the most connected — that’s why they often refer to themselves as a group overall as “juggalo family.” Most juggalos center their fandom around the Detroit rap duo the Insane Clown Posse, and other similar underground rap music artists.
But if you’re interested in being down with the juggalos, it’s not always easy to find juggalo family. Juggalos are not visible in the mainstream, but they’re everywhere, so there are likely other juggalos in your area. Here are some suggestions for meeting juggalo family.
Find out what record stores in your area stock underground rap music similar to ICP. Record store clerks can be snobby, but if you find someone who’s friendly, ask for suggestions. They may be able to turn you on to local underground rap music groups with a similar sound who may also have juggalos as fans.
If you find some, find out when they are playing and attend these underground rap music shows. If you see juggalo family there, don’t be shy. Juggalos are famously welcoming of each other, and most will be friendly if you approach and introduce yourself.
If that doesn’t work, do research online and look up tour dates for Insane Clown Posse and other underground rap music groups juggalos like. Many of these underground rap music groups tour frequently, so you will likely have luck.
Even if a group isn’t coming to your town in particular, it may be worth going to a show within a few hours’ drive. Likely there will be other underground rap music fans from your area who have made a similar trip. Again, introduce yourself and be friendly!
Then there is always the Internet. Search for underground rap forums that discuss ICP and similar artists, and make a post asking if there are any other juggalos near your town. Also look for local juggalo family groups on various social networking sites.
Facebook and Meetup are among the best for searching for specific geographical areas. Even if you can’t immediately find other juggalos in your specific town, you may find some within a short drive. At the very least you are sure to find potential online friends with whom you can discuss a shared love of similar underground rap music.
Of course, the ultimate place to meet juggalo family from all over the world is the annual Gathering of the Juggalos festival held every summer. You may need to save up and do a lot of planning in advance to attend, but there simply is no bigger gathering of hardcore underground rap music artists and juggalos.
November 20, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
If youre part of the Juggalo family and are reading this, youre probably thinking to yourself “The ICP in my room” is sickposters, an ICP album collection, clothing, etc. Youve probably already realized that these horror rap features are one of the things that make your room, your room. Without them your sense of identity would be stripped, and all the Juggalo family in the world couldnt convince you (nor would they try) that your room is better off without it.
However, no matter how much horror rap memorabilia you have in your room, chances are you dont have a romantic relationship with a ghost in your room. In ICPs “In My Room”, thats exactly what happens.
Horror rap is supposed to be weird, thats why the Juggalo family at large has fallen in love with the art form. Yet ICPs “In My Room” is definitely one of the weirder horror rap songs out there. It also goes to prove a pointthat those making up the Juggalo family absolutely cherish their time alone away from mainstream society.
ICPs “In My Room” has Violent J describing to listening members of the Juggalo Family how he cant get wait to get home from school every day so that he can spend time with his sexy apparition.
This quintessentially horror rap relationship is best summarized in one verse of ICPs “In My Room”:
I try to smile a lot but Im always frontin
But Id o love a ghost and at least thats somethin
She dont talk much and when she do, it gets cold
Usually we just lay there and hold each other
Were lovers, we dont need others
As should be expected, what happens next in ICPs “In My Room” horror rap saga involves much blood and much violence, all in the name of a horror rap heroine. I wont spoil it for unfamiliar readers here.
One universal theme shared amongst Juggalo family members, arguably more so than their love for horror rap, is their love for being together, away from the pangs of mainstream society where they dont feel welcome. Of course, the story detailed in ICPs “In My Room” does not happen in the rooms of any Juggalo family members, but theyre appreciation of the subject and song show that they are certainly a unique group of people.
All kidding aside, being ostracized from the community at large does lead Juggalo family members to enjoy horror rap in their rooms alone from time to time. Whats your favorite memory that involves horror rap self-reflection in the company of your favorite horror rap records?
Whatever it is, I hope it doesnt end the same way as Violent Js story did in ICPs “In My Room”.
October 23, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
Its pretty obvious that underground rappers make more unique music than their mainstream counterparts for the simple fact that thats why theyre underground, and not top 40. But what other media do underground rappers apply their creativity to? Youd be surprised to know that its not only music
Take Detroit underground rappers Insane Clown Posse for instance. A glance at their ICP store online will display much more than the usual musician merchandise. Shirts, backpacks, underwear, belt buckles, and collectors items like metal signs branded with Insane Clown Posse can all be found in the ICP store. And thats just the ICP store online!
There are thousands of merchandise items catering to the Juggalo family that have come and gone over the years, and most of it is so unique its become one of ICPs trademark offerings. Ask anyone in the Juggalo family whos been in the Juggalo family since its inception theyre bound to have some pretty cool collectors items that are not in the ICP store to date.
What exactly am I talking about? Well, how many underground rappers can you name that have merchandise items like shoes, action figures, comic books, and bobble heads? Not many underground rappers is the answer. The items listed here are not currently available in the ICP store online, but if youre a true member of the Juggalo family and want any of them, a quick google search will help.
Which brings me to my next point. Whether its included in the ICP store or not included in the ICP store, underground rappers Insane Clown Posse sell so much of their merchandise because they have such a strong connection with the Juggalo family.
The items sold are the exact kind of items that Juggalo family members need and want research has been done to assure this. It also proves how well these underground rappers know the Juggalo family, and ultimately brings them closer. And once you have a bond as strong as ICP and the Juggalo family do, it becomes larger than they are and morphs into a subculture.
When thats achieved, things like merchandise, regardless of its availability in the ICP store, begin to fly off the shelves. Its all a giant cycle, and underground rappers like ICP have mastered it!
Lastly, theres more to underground rappers strong merchandise showing than cementing their bond with fans. Thanks to faltering record sales in todays music industry, merchandise like that found in the ICP store goes a long way towards enabling musicians to continue making music for their primary income.
Because of illegal file sharing, which probably runs rampant amongst those in the Juggalo family just like any other superstar fan group, underground rappers have seen their income dip considerably in the past 10 years.
Making records is not cheap! So make sure that if you are a member of the Juggalo family, you pay for music the right way and get your hands on ICP store merchandise as soon as something strikes your fancy!