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GetrealDetroit interview
(november 2002)
Insane Clown Posse - Welcome to Shangri-La
by Shannon McCarthy:
Piling into Violent J’s white Cadillac, Shaggy 2 Dope is chain-smoking in the passenger seat. On the way to his modest Farmington Hills home, Violent J (Joe Bruce) speaks a mile a minute about the November 5 release of Insane Clown Posse’s new album, The Wraith: Shangri-La, barely taking time to catch a breath. The album isn’t just another release from the self-proclaimed kings of horror rap; The Wraith is what is known to Juggalos (ICP fans) as the sixth Joker’s Card, the final installment of what began 10 years ago with the release of Carnival of Carnage, the first one in the deck. Each of the Joker’s Cards has held a different piece of ICP wisdom for listeners to unfold on their own. The final Joker’s Card may be the “end” if the Cards, as the clowns have been saying for years, but don’t expect Juggalo fever to die down just yet.
After all the rock and rap nightmares the clowns have bequeathed to the expanding minds of their teenage fans, the duo –– which also includes Shaggy 2 Dope (Joey Utsler) –– is swearing that the new album is all about positivity! Of course, “There’s still the slashing, the f**k you, suck-my-dick sort of shit,” Shaggy said. But frankly, Violent J and Shaggy couldn’t be happier with their lives. ICP are a worldwide success story, a group that’s sold millions of albums without the usual radio and commercial help. “It’s raining diamonds, straight up,” Shaggy said (in one of the many times both men will repeat the phrase). “We’re always bitching and complaining … but we’re walking on my own jogging path! I feel like an asshole for every interview I’ve ever done. Bands would kill for what we have,” Violent J enthusiastically stated. After signing to, and then quickly leaving Capitol Records last year, ICP joined with D3 Entertainment (Coolio, C-Murder) and also signed a distribution deal with Sony Records. ICP are not signed to Sony, but according to them, they’re now able to sign acts to Epic. They plan on spending the next two years on the road supporting The Wraith.
Radio has never been a friend of ICP’s violent lyrics and ghostly raps, but lately radio stations, and even MTV, have shown interest. “Homies,” the first single off The Wraith, could very well be a popular tune; it’s catchy and fun. This may finally be their commercial break. “Now, if MTV calls us, we’re doing it — everything, because I can’t complain. We did it all out. How much more can we do? Now I just want to play music for the rest of my life. I did my job for 10 years,” Violent J said. That hard work has built a house for Violent J and Shaggy as well as a Juggalo fanbase that is beyond supportive. Walking through Violent J’s home, he proudly showed off his “Ninja room,” even displaying how his blowgun works. His game room is proper, and large-screen TVs blare in every room. His small office holds a computer where he gives the ICP Web site updates, as well as assorted smoking paraphernalia. One of these includes a gift given to Violent J: A ceramic model of him doing something nasty to Eminem. Though Violent J swore he’s never used it ‘cuz he’s not into doing that to guys …
ICP knew their lives were going well when Pamela Anderson asked Violent J to hang out. She and Mark McGrath were partying at a strip club in LA, and while in a rut with Kid Rock, Anderson asked Violent J to hang out. He would have loved to take her up on it, but he declined. Next year, Shaggy will even have his own brand of cigarettes called Shaggy Spliffs. While their pasts have been about telling everyone who has ever done them wrong to f**k off, for the next few years, ICP will keep it light –– in their own horror-rap fashion. “This is the dawn of a new day. The sixth Joker’s Card is the, ‘End will consume us all.’ How you get consumed is your own destiny,” Shaggy shared. “We put out six Joker’s Cards. Each shows a different view of your own self, preparing you for Shangri-La. You know, if you’re sitting in a grocery store parking lot and you see some old lady coming out with her groceries and her social security check, I mean, look into your f**king head. If you bum rush that old lady, knock her the f**k out and take her shit, you know you’re not doing good. You go and help that old lady and put her shit in the trunk. We ain’t mad at nobody on this record. All of our other records, we dissed people, f**k you, I’m mad at the world. We ain’t mad at nothing; it’s raining diamonds. Everything is f**king beautiful.” | RDW
Shannon McCarthy is down with the Clowns. If only it would rain diamonds on her. Email [email protected]
ICP revisit high school
Shaggy: There’s hot chicks in high school.
Violent J: Even the nerds are hot, but you just didn’t look at them in high school because they weren’t popular. Now, as a grown man, you appreciate all that shit.
Shaggy: If you could go back with the same mentality, being 17 …
Violent J: I don’t give a f**k if nobody talks to her; she’s fine as hell, motherf**ker.
Shaggy: I would have been like Dylan from 90210. “So we f**kin’ or what?”
original interview |
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