Insane Clown Posse: The name has burned an image in everyone's minds. Are they horrifying the world with their sinister, violent, and mind twisting mesh of rock and hip hop or are they just fools, entertaining with their gross, juvenile humor? Despite being one of the most hated bands in the world, ICP have managed to release several Platinum Albums; created the third highest grossing wrestling organization in the country; managed to keep the longest running hip-hop record in Billboard Top 200 history; filmed a full length movie; wrestled in the WWF, WCW, and ECW; founded their own record label (Psychopathic Records); as well as released their own highly successful line of merchandise. All while building an army of over a million dedicated Juggalos fans. In the early 90s in Southwest Detroit, Joseph Bruce (Violent J) and Joseph Utsler (Shaggy 2 Dope) along with neighborhood homies started an ill-fated street gang called Inner City Posse. They also began to rap, with the mildly successful independent release, Dog Beats. Yet, having little knowledge of real gang life and with their music gaining them some notoriety, Inner City Posse lasted but 2 years after being targeted by established Southwest Detroit gangs. However in 1991, after Violent J's return from his 4th trip to county jail, J and Shaggy were visited one night by spirits of a mysterious Dark Carnival. These neutral phantoms named J and Shaggy their messengers and issued that they deliver six special messages to all that will listen before the end consumes us all. Now, we'll admit, it's a little hard to swallow, but it's interesting none the less. J and Shaggy quit their own gang and changed their rapping name from Inner City Posse to Insane Clown Posse. Having been told that each message will come when the time is right, they decided to expose the magic messages in the form of six albums, each taking on its own identity in the form of Jokers Cards, and each preaching another one of the Dark Carnival's messages to the world. Be they clown messengers spreading the words of the Dark Carnival or simply buffoons, this strange Detroit rap group is here to stay. With painted faces, heavy carnival beats and demented, vulgar lyrics injected with positive messages and magic, you have the band you love to hate: the Insane Clown Posse. After some initial problems and financial difficulty, ICP recorded and released its first Jokers Card, Carnival of Carnage, in October 1992. It was soon followed by the EP, Beverly Kills 50187, and the 2nd Jokers Card, The Ringmaster, in 1993. Sales were stronger than expected and the Detroit music scene began to lift its head. Another EP entitled Terror Wheel was released, spawning a local Radio hit entitled Dead Body Man and it was soon apparent that they had a rabid following in Detroit and the Midwest. It wasn't long until record labels began to try to cash in. ICP, looking to spread the message of the Dark Carnival, quickly signed up with Jive Records but shortly after the release of the 3rd Joker's Card, The Riddlebox, Jive's true plan were uncovered. They would release the new album only in Michigan, with no push, and make all the money for themselves. An easy sell for the work ICP had already done. Insane Clown Posse and their new elite Psychopathic Records Team (led by Alex Abbiss their manager, Billy Bill, & Jumpsteady) developed a unique strategy never seen before in the music industry. They assembled street teams, samplers and Riddlebox Vans, and traveled throughout the country, speaking to people personally about the Dark Carnival, ICP, and Psychopathic Records and they would not leave until everyone was informed. Once their work was finished, they left the newly designated Clown Town to start once again in another city. Meanwhile, Insane Clown Posse toured the country, bringing its riotous live performance across the US, which involve full theatric stage sets, costumed monsters, and gallons of Faygo Soda (a cheap soda manufactured in Detroit) being poured all over the audience. Thousands of newly found Juggalos would fill venues to capacity, just to catch a glimpse of an Insane Clown Posse show. ICP went to Hollywood Records to promote their 4th Joker's Card, The Great Milenko. Yet, 6 hours after its release, it was recalled. Hollywood Records owner, Disney, was under boycott from the Southern Baptist and the recall was a token of good faith between them. It took a meeting from Alex Abbiss and a declaration that he would bring in the Juggalos to burn down Disneyland to get ICP out of their contract and able to sign up with Island Records. The Great Milenko was re-released with extra tracks and it went on to be certified Platinum. It is currently the record holder for the longest running hip-hop/rap album in Billboard history. ICP spent the interim between Jokers Cards expanding into the wrestling world. In 1998, Insane Clown Posse joined the World Wrestling Federation (now known as World Wrestling Entertainment) to wrestle with a team of sideshow freaks known as The Oddities. Unhappy with their portrayal, ICP left after several months and moved to World Championship Wrestling, where they first met their tag team partner and lifetime homie Vampiro. They began terrorizing the WCW with their antics but due to scheduling difficulties, ICP left the WCW. In June of 1999 the 5th Jokers Card, The Amazing Jeckel Brothers, arrived. The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard Charts. It was a landmark event in the music industry that a band with no radio play, no MTV play, loathed by the critics and the media, and without any major advertising campaign or strategy, would be so successful. It was a testament to the power of the Dark Carnival and its dedicated followers, the Juggalos, that the album was shortly certified platinum. The music industry finally began to show some respect for the Insane Clown Posse, asking them to perform at the legendary Woodstock Music Festival. Later that year ICP were the cover story for Alternative Press (the best selling issue of AP EVER!). ICP began to take the Dark Carnival's message into other areas, releasing their comic book line (by Chaos Comics), helping produce their label mates and homies Twiztid's album Mostasteless, and starting the now infamous Juggalo Championshit Wrestling, which is currently the third highest grossing wrestling federation nationally. They also filmed the motion picture, Big Money Hustlers, featuring stars such as Rudy Ray Moore (Dolomite), The Jerky Boys, Harland Williams, wrestling legend Mick Foley, Fred "Rerun" Barry, The Misfits, and more! The new Millenium witnessed ICP making a triumphant return to WCW to be reunited with Vampiro, and to form the team known as The Dark Carnival. ICP began pre-production on their next movie; a comedy western called Big Money Rustlas. And still the Insane Clown Posse spread the words of the Dark Carnival through music. One way in which they did so was through the double album, Bizzar Bizaar, which introduced a new style of music from The Wicked Clowns. Dark Lotus was another large project; a collaboration of ICP and many others from the Psychopathic label. Each are mysterious preludes for what's to come. Since 2000, a phenomenon has occurred in America known as the Gathering of the Juggalos. The Gathering is the ultimate example of how many have been touched by the Dark Carnival's message. These mega-events happen once a year, drawing forth many Juggalos and the curious. The 2002 Gathering was the largest ever and was the first time ICP revealed themselves after going into hiding to get the sixth message ready for the world and the 2003 Gathering was the first ever to be held outdoors. And what lies in the future now that the 6th Jokers Card, The Wraith, has been revealed? None but the Dark Carnival knows. All we can guarantee is that no matter what happens, it will be insane, and that The Wicked Clowns will never die! More Information On the Wicked Clowns of Detroit!! Insane Clown Posse: this horror core shock rock band may be more infamous than famous, more reviled than renowned, but they have made quite a mark on music history, and on the lives of the 1,000,000+ fans (Juggalos) who follow their music and their message. Where some see an underworld of bizarre painted faces jumping to a twisted mesh of rock and soda, others see one of the longest running records in Billboard Top 200 history, a full length motion picture, <i>Big Money Hustlas</i>, the second highest grossing wrestling organization in the U.S., Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW), a career in the WWF, WCW, and ECW, and Psychopathic Records, the self-owned record label behind it all. Perhaps one of the boldest and most successful moves made by Insane Clown Posse was the creation in 2000 of what has now become an annual tradition: The Gathering of the Juggalos. This three-day convention, drawing over 10,000 attendees from the 50 states and overseas, is a mix of concerts, games, contests, auctions, seminars, autograph signings, and everything and anything related to Insane Clown Posse and Psychopathic Records. The Gathering has made a huge impact in every city it has come to, bringing in several million dollars in revenue to the cities it visits. This move is unique in the music industry, and is a shining example of Psychopathic Records' ability to both pioneer and succeed through direct, focused effort. Insane Clown Posse is without a doubt one of the most successful "behind-the-scenes" bands of all time. Their fame was won without massive radio play, so it is all too easy to discount the band; however their seven certifications (two platinum, five gold) speak for themselves. Their immense popularity lays just beneath the mainstream, yet is all the more substantial and long lasting. The story of how Insane Clown Posse reached this level of cult celebrity over the last ten years is as detailed as it is amazing. Later in this booklet is a brief history of the five previous Joker's Cards albums to set the stage for the era of sixth and final Joker's Card, beginning November 5th, 2002, when <i>The Wraith: Shangri-La</i> hits stores.