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| Insane Clown Posse |
Halloween is the time of year to do something that scares you. People usually watch a horror movie, visit a haunted house, or handout candy to creepy little trick-or-treaters. I decided to do something much more frightening… see the
Insane Clown Posse.
Violent J (
Joseph Bruce) and
Shaggy 2 Dope (
Joseph Utsler) from Detroit, Michigan are the rapping duo known as ICP. They dress up in clown make-up and perform their own unique style of horror themed rap known as
Horrorcore. ICP has sold millions of records, formed their own record label, and even founded their own federal wresting federation (
Juggalo Championship Wrestling).
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| Fargo Covered Crowd |
Their devoted fans are known as the Juggalos. The FBI has labeled them a gang. This is mainly due to the fact a small percentage of them commit petty theft, assault, and/or break stuff. I only witnessed devotees of
ICP embracing a long tradition of dressing in clown make-up, wearing
ICP merchandise, and repeating their signature phrase, "Whoop-whoop."
It was ICP's twenty-fifth anniversary of their
Hallowicked Tour. It was billed as the last actual traveling Freak Show on planet earth. I witnessed a sword swallower, a woman shooting sparks over her body with a metal grinder, and a clown
Elvis impersonator named
Clownvis. I assumed they were performing between opening acts. I didn't realize that they were the opening acts.
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| Insane Clown Posse |
The show began on a dark stage with a Freak Show sign. Two cages were uncovered containing costume characters
Ape Boy and
ManyFaces. They remained confined behind the bars dancing throughout the performance.
Violent J and
Shaggy 2 Dope appeared next restrained by chains. After being released, I
CP began rapping the fittingly titled
In Yo Face from their
Bang! Pow! Boom! album
. The duo started to spray
Faygo (a soda made in in their hometown of Detroit) on the crowd. They go through around 300 to 400 two-litter bottles of the soda a show. The
Faygo's odor (mostly diet root beer) was so strong I could smell it from the balcony. Vulgar songs about Halloween, birthday parties, and tilt-a-whirls were rapped along with carnival organ music. Meanwhile more
Faygo, streamers, and confetti covered the crowd. I remained safely in the balcony.
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| Merch Booth |
Near the end of the show,
Shaggy 2 Dope announced that everyone there is a
Juggalo. That's when the fans that paid for the VIP upgrade jumped on stage for the
Faygo Armageddon. They sprayed the crowd with
Faygo as the band performed
If I Was a Serial Killer. The rappers left the stage as the
Juggalos sprayed each other with the signature soda. As the long lines formed to buy a large variety of ICP t-shirts, it was apparent the images and the fans of the clown rappers were the stars of the night.
See you at the next show. I'll be the one smelling like Diet Root Beer
Faygo.
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