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Last Night: Insane Clown Posse



Insane Clown Posse
Nov. 22, the Village

For the uninitiated, the Insane Clown Posse is a contemporary, impossibly dumbed-down rap version of Alice Cooper. You could call it Grand Guignol with a frontal lobotomy — the group and all that it embodies are beyond mere, everyday stupidity. This is a stubborn, aggressive stupidity. It is akin to what filmmaker Werner Herzog called the “frightening” and “bottomless” and “fiendish” stupidity of chickens. It is a stupidity so pernicious it threatens to paralyze the mind of even the passive observer, rendering him mute with dull horror.

To briefly recap the ICP’s career, the nucleus of the group — Joseph Utsler, a.k.a. Shaggy 2 Dope and Joseph Bruce, a.k.a. Violent J — formed in 1992 in Detroit. They put out several albums (or “joker cards” as they call them) full of mindless, thudding rap-rock about drugs and dead bodies and filled with allusions to a quasi-theological bit of flimflam known as the Dark Carnival. Utsler and Bruce also started an annual music festival, appeared in a straight-to-video film, launched their own wrestling league and built a merchandising empire that is surpassed only by the KISS Army in terms of branding strength and sheer volume. Oh, and choke on this one: according to the Detroit Free Press, they each make about $10 million a year.

Despite, or perhaps because of this potent socio-musical mishmash, ICP managed to amass legions of like-minded folk, who came to be known as “Juggalos” (the females are called “Juggalettes”). They consider themselves to be a family. They’ve formed Juggalo-only dating and social networking sites, and even their own faith (from www.juggalofaith.com: “Attention North Carolina Juggalos and Lettes!!! We have a homeless, pregnant Lette who needs a place to stay even if temporarily, Can anyone help???”).

And they’re everywhere. Several hundred Arkansas Juggalos filled the Village to capacity last Sunday night.

The ICP and Juggalos have chosen, for whatever reason, to align themselves with Faygo, an inexpensive, regional soda from Michigan. The band and their cadre of stage clowns sprayed hundreds of gallons of the stuff all over themselves and the audience during the course of the show, launching the half-full bottles into the crowd. Violent J seemed especially adept at punting the 2-liter bottles. Within minutes, the smell of root beer was thick in the air. A crushed, empty Faygo bottle tossed from one of the ICP is probably a powerfully fetishistic item for a Juggalo to have on his dresser. One unassuming fellow made a positively athletic dive in order to snatch one. But all that soda spraying everywhere begs the question: how has no one been electrocuted at an ICP show yet?

The overall vibe of the show can be summed up by one of the band’s lyrics: “Fuck critics, fuck your review, even if you like me, fuck you.” That’s from the song, “Fuck The World,” a fun little ditty that tells off everyone — the Beastie Boys, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Oprah, your mom, your mom’s momma, Forrest Gump, all 52 states and even Violent J himself. Most of the crowd sang along with every song while favoring that bouncy, up-and-down pointing thing that people do at shows like this.
But what are the Juggalos pointing at?

Maybe that’s just it: it doesn’t matter. They’re pointing at everything and nothing at the same time. Fuck the world. Fuck your parents. Fuck good taste. Let’s put on some ridiculous makeup and enormous pants and go listen to terrible music together. And they looked like they had a blast doing it.

Robert Bell
 

Comments

Look, I myself am a juggalette, and I am completely and totally offended by your comments. You can say we, as a family, and yes I say family, are mindless idiots all following a pair of make-up wearing musicians from Detroit. You may not understand the concept of it, but you don't have to. No matter where you are, if you're a juggalo, or a juggalette, and you see someone rocking an ICP t-shirt, or rocking the hatchetman, you feel instantly connected to them, and there are no harsh feelings, ever. There is a comraderie and a feeling when you're in a room packed full of juggalos, and lettes, that can only be described as pure magic. So before you start dissing us and calling us mindless idiots, go do some research. You spoke about the Dark Carnival. Look it up. It's not much different from Christianity. So please, do some research before you say all these ridiculous and offending things. Maybe one day we'll meet in Shangri-La.
~Little Rock Lette

I want to start off by saying that I think that you are discriminating against people ( FAMILY) you don't even know. First off do your research. At least we as a family respect each other and not causing problems in the massive society that we call Dark Carnival. We are people just like you and deserve the same respect that anyone else does. And as far as Insane clown Posse yes they are the best but there is juggalos out there that listen to Gwen, Fergie, MC Chris, and Jay Z just for some examples. And just because we are not to your standards of living or just because we don't listen to your type of music doesn't mean we are not people our selves. I will leave you at this how would you like it if we did a piece on our site about you with out doing all the research like you have lacked in your column. Think before you discriminate. D.G.A.F

Kimki B. Juggalo
Co-Owner of Arkansasjuggalofamily.com

First of all, I understand you can have freedom of expression and disclose your distaste for our favored rappers. Too bad your horizons aren't broadened and you are a very enclosed person to state mere accusations in such a disarray of who or what us Juggalo's are. We, the Juggalo's, was just merely having a good time. Yeah, this is a family!! Meaning that we enjoy each other's company regardless of background, race, color, or religion. We are not Bigots, unlike yourself. For a person to post something on a political and cultured Arkansas newspaper sure doesn't get this culture or lifestyle. You can detest us all you want, but all i want to say is that ICP points out that there's people out there like you. The one's who destroy our individualism and seclude us from the so-called "Norm". To sum up what I really want to say is, " FUCK CRITICS, FUCK YOUR REVIEW..." . You should know the rest since you quoted some of the lyrics to that song. Don't be a closet Juggalo, next time stay out of our concerts... Watch them on youtube, which i'm sure you did instead of attending to this event. Much Clown Love, Bitch..

Dude, makes me wanna get ig'nant up in this mug!!

Me being a Juggalette, hard core since 1996 is here to tell all you little haters out there one thing! You know what that is? Well let me tell ya something. A Juggalo is a family, no race, sex, religious background, etc. will make us hate one another!

These lyrics make us unit a family, and really make us truly embrace anyone who is down with the clowns!

I know you probably did attend the event, and have freedom of speech and all! Please however don't put down another group of individuals who embrace their freedoms to rally and speech as well! Knowing you, you were probably the nerdy little bitch running around with the big as SLR camera and the red jacket around me, dunno don't care. Either way, I know this being in the "Bible belt" causes a bunch or stirs, but please just go F**K off and stop the hating! I have a college education, but still won't stop being a Juggalette and loving my fellow Juggalos! So, to say such things as "the Insane Clown Posse is a contemporary, impossibly dumbed-down rap version of Alice Cooper. You could call it Grand Guignol with a frontal lobotomy - the group and all that it embodies are beyond mere, everyday stupidity. This is a stubborn, aggressive stupidity." is completely off the clock. Sure some enjoy a little weed, but hell what person has never done weed in their life? Really!

Anyways, to talk on the faygo, that is low. I am sure if Coke or Pepsi was sprayed into the air you would have been all for it! Right? Right! Faygo basically simulates unity and shows that anyone can afford it. While coke and Pepsi is 1.48 a pop Faygo tastes the same and is only 0.78 a bottle. TASTE the same! So stop hating and show us the love.

WHOO WHOO!

Also before you discriminate why don't you check up on some of the other local magazines and such because they are showing true love to the Juggalo family and "Not Acting Like A Little Bitch". Check out this link and educate yourself more: http://sync.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/nov/18/down-clown/
Sync Magazine: Down with the Clown by Shea Stewart

I am a Juggalette And a Nurse.. yes you can be both. Just because we are lo's and lette's does not me we can't do shit and be smart. I attended the concert on Sunday at the Village. No i didn't do the full makeup like i wished i would have but i did enjoy the faygo and yes i kept a bottle. Faygo where i am from is 56 cents a bottle. you can't beat that shit. I have drank Faygo for a long time and will probably always drink it. It makes me sick to think that everyone is calling us lo's/lette's a gang. We are a family. We get along and you know I have never seen a mosh pit that will break and pull someone up if they fall before Sunday night. We are family and friends. Would you like it if we started disgracing what you like.. What is the difference in the lo's and lette's dating sites and the african american dating sites? Just because you want someone who likes the same things you do doesn't make you a bad person.

I am sick of the cross looks when i say i am a lette. If you pay attention to the meaning of the lyrics instead of just the words maybe you would understand it.
The music speaks to us and it is not stupid. the songs have underlying meaning but i wouldn't guess a shallow individual like yourself would understand that.

Ok Robert Bell we are calling you out. Instead of discriminating and not researching who we are like you should have. I think we deserve to be treated like normal people and we all think that you should have to do your research again and repost with the new knowledge and respect that we deserve, or just retract your article all together.

Kimki B. Juggalo

First off, Lemme say What up Ninjas! Now on to the real reason i'm here.

Just like the others before me, I'd like to put out there that just because something is different does not make it wrong. That's like trying to define normal, you can't do it.

So we like some twiztid shit, we like the wickid shit, does that make us wrong? Only in the eyes of the ignorant, the unlearned.

If you start with carnival of carnage and make your way through the cards, and end up finally with what we all witnessed sunday night in Bang Pow Boom, you will see a much bigger picture than just a handful of freaks in makeup.

We are a family, we treat each other with respect, we listen to the music for our own reasons, whether for a bigger picture, or for our own salvation. (and salvation does not necessarily have a religious connotation)

Some listen for their own enjoyment, and others find it gives them the umph the need to carry on, and still yet others listen for the comedic relief it offers. If you don't understand something, you should look into it, not only to find the 'fuel' for the fire of your one sided editorial but also to see if you can grasp any bit of the feeling that we feel when we gather together.

Yes it's wicked, yes it's a waste of cheap pop, but by god it was fun, and it was a once in a lifetime experience I wouldn't trade for anything.

And whats more, the next show i attend will be a waste of cheap pop, a wicked experience, and a once in a lifetime event i wouldn't trade anything for.

"Laughs out loud and stomps her hands"
That was quite the book written about Inner City Posse...I.C.P. which was failled to be mention in this 'reporter's' ludicrous aclaim for 15 minutes of publicity.

Now I can very much understand his, so called enthousiasm for 'reaching' or 'calling out' to the public of Arkansa. Although his ideals are cross and fouled by the stench of idiocrocy. I feel as though this world wasn't ready for two clown freaks.

Fail #1 in his ridiculious report. ICP wasn't formed in as Insane Clown Posse.. it was Inner City Posse before hand, not the other way around.
Fail #2 ICP's genre isn't that of Alice Cooper, although their are almost the same save the music. Yes they have made songs that mention to stand against the world and watch it burn, although they also speak about their beliefs and try to AID others on the right path...whether or not they've chosen to follow them into the spiral...
Fail#3 The punting of faygo and electrical cords are few and far between. Yes there's always caution to everyone's 'plan' hence why they have SECURITY mesures. COMMUN SENSE...DUH!

"they point at everything and at nothing all in the same" ROFL Their is no real reason why some choose to do the same as Violent J (Joe Bruce) and Shaggy 2 Dope (Joe Utsler) do... They are yes idolized by many...and envied by all whom choose not to understand or nore to OPEN their minds.
Fail#4 the word Juggalette: Rose from the ashes till the later 90's nearing the new millenium in which case you have your information backwards and up shit creek with out a paddle. The word of Juggalo was mentioned as a unifyed setting for fans of ICP and thus the word juggalette arose from the ashes and was set to defer the genders Juggalo (Male) Juggalette (Female)...Although some women whom listen to icp such as myself wishes to be called a Juggalo (Female) because I dis-like being named something utterly different just because I am a woman. So please get your information straight before 'reporting' thank you.
This is for Robert Bell:

I may not be American, I am Canadian and the love I have for the strangers whom listen to the same lable of underground sound as I do is never ending. I wish you happy days in your ignorance, in which case it is engulfed with bliss and many more hilarious insults towards us all.. Juggalo alike.
ML to all my fellow juggalos other there from the Canadian cap... faygo showers under moonlight.

These are the same blatant misconceptions that have caused federal, state, and local authorities to class Juggalos in the same vein as street gangs, and also why hatchet gear is being banned from schools. I think it's repugnant that people would rather be ignorant and spit out words of hate at something they don't understand, but no surprise. That's ALWAYS been a part of the base animal nature of a human being. I'm not upset at Mr. Bell for his words. I'm sad for him for not being able to reach an understanding, but love us or hate us he got one thing right. "And they looked like they had a blast doing it." This is the most correct statement in his article. It's a shame that it's a sentence fragment, however. Do you need to fire your proofreader and get a new one? I offer my services.

These are the same blatant misconceptions that have caused federal, state, and local authorities to class Juggalos in the same vein as street gangs, and also why hatchet gear is being banned from schools. I think it's repugnant that people would rather be ignorant and spit out words of hate at something they don't understand, but no surprise. That's ALWAYS been a part of the base animal nature of a human being. I'm not upset at Mr. Bell for his words. I'm sad for him for not being able to reach an understanding, but love us or hate us he got one thing right. "And they looked like they had a blast doing it." This is the most correct statement in his article. It's a shame that it's a sentence fragment, however. Do you need to fire your proofreader and get a new one? I offer my services.

the first thing i have to say is Robert Bell you are a soggy ass bitch. i am a juggalo and been down since 1996 i was in full face paint sunday night and no one stared at me or was like wtf is wrong with that guy.all said what up ninja or hey fam what up . no one fought when was the last concert in little rock with no fights? that because we all got clown love . I cant believe u would come at the juggalos like this .it show how ignorant you really are.if you knew about juggalos you would realize we are not the one you should be pissing off .juggalos are the ones that keep the world moving we are the mechanics and gas station clerks the the night stalkers at grocery stores . we run beneath the streets with an axe. with out the juggalos everyone would just be a bunch of rich boys and bitch boys also the fact that you are dissing insane clown posse music u must not like the song {to catch a predator} which is about torturing pedophiles . if i was as ignorant as you i would say you must really love pedophiles and that is the reason for all the hating . but lucky for you i am a juggalo and dont just say things that i dont know about to people i dont understand . im out ninjas MMFCL SouthwestCaveman

the first thing i have to say is Robert Bell you are a soggy ass bitch. i am a juggalo and been down since 1996 i was in full face paint sunday night and no one stared at me or was like wtf is wrong with that guy.all said what up ninja or hey fam what up . no one fought when was the last concert in little rock with no fights? that because we all got clown love . I cant believe u would come at the juggalos like this .it show how ignorant you really are.if you knew about juggalos you would realize we are not the one you should be pissing off .juggalos are the ones that keep the world moving we are the mechanics and gas station clerks the the night stalkers at grocery stores . we run beneath the streets with an axe. with out the juggalos everyone would just be a bunch of rich boys and bitch boys also the fact that you are dissing insane clown posse music u must not like the song {to catch a predator} which is about torturing pedophiles . if i was as ignorant as you i would say you must really love pedophiles and that is the reason for all the hating . but lucky for you i am a juggalo and dont just say things that i dont know about to people i dont understand . im out ninjas MMFCL SouthwestCaveman

sir, i just want to say this. you may down on the juggalos but keep in mind. we are the ones who pick up your trash, serve your food, fight your fires, and like myself, fight to defend the freedom of speech you chose to use against us. i am proud to be both a Juggalo and a Soldier in the United States Army. you should keep in mind that the people who facilitate your happy life are the very ones you chose to attack.

Dumb overload.

Really? One bad review and the entire juggalo community is brought to it's knees? You guys aren't doing any favors for your reputation on here.

I hear it's because they're crazy.

Quick clarification: by "bad", I meant critical of ICP, not a bad review. I loved it.

Who the fuck is this Robert Bell guy, anyway?

I don't see you with an independently-released album of non-mainstream music at #4 on the Billboard charts.

Review is weak. Fuck you.

Who the fuck is this Robert Bell guy, anyway?

I don't see you with an independently-released album of non-mainstream music at #4 on the Billboard charts.

Review is weak. Fuck you.

This comment is more for the paper's editor than anyone else. I hope you see the one theme that seems to be coming up in the comments here, this guy did little to no research. Enough jugalos have made enough comments about how lousy this guy is so i'm not getting into that. If i was you i'd take a really close look at this guy's work. Most employers fire employees that do not do a good job, i hope you are one of them.

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