What many ninjas don't know is that ICP ain't nothin' new. Before the billion album sales, faygo and starring movie roles, ICP dwelled only in Detroit's underground music scene. In 1990, ICP and their manager Alex Abbiss started their own independent record label and called it Psychopathic Records, because no other label wanted to put out something as crazy as ICP. ICP debuted on Psychopathic with their very first release of a 4 somg EP entitled DOG BEATS, which didn't sell much of nothin'. Then it was on to the Joker's Cards, starting with the 1st in 1991, CARNIVAL OF CARNAGE which did OK. Still, at that time, no one knew of ICP. Not a lot of radios or MTV wanted to bump their sh*t.
Then came The Ringmaster in '93, and that did better. At this point, ICP started to get some props, but they still lived like homeless crackheads. Alex Abbiss signed ICP to a small record deal with Jive Records and together with Psychopathic, they put out the 3rd Joker's Card in 1995, Riddlebox. Jive treated Jay and Shaggs like they weren't anything. The Clowns escaped the jaws of Jive and landed at Hollywood Records (owned by Disney), of course Jive had to get paid first and paid they got.
Hollywood Records was great. They treated Shaggy and Violent J like the Jackson 2. We're talkin' limos, Crystal, money, chicks and all that. But then on the day they dropped the 4th Joker's Card, The Great Melinko, Hollywood's daddy, Mickey Mouse got pissed and threw ICP and their album right out of the magic kingdom. I guess Mickey was scared of the controversy. While ICP and Abbiss were sitting around plotting Mickey's murder, here comes Island Records. BANG! Before you can say "Where do we sign?" they gave ICP money, booze, chicks, helicopters, cars with power windows, you name it. Island treated ICP like they're multi-platinum superstars! As soon as ICP signed the contract however, Island smacked em across the mouth and took all the fresh sh*t back. Island did however put The Great Melinko back in the record stores and that's enough for ICP. They do a good job with ICP's music, so they were happy with Island. In between the albums ICP has released along their career, they would often release EP's to keep the Juggalos interested..These EP's were: BEVERLY KILLS EP in '92, TERROR WHEEL EP in '94, and THE TUNNEL OF LOVE EP in '96. Shaggy 2 Dope even released a solo EP somewhere in there called "FUCK OFF!". Also there were ICP Christmas and Halloween releases, and free give away singles. To fully capture the complete catalog of Insane Clown Posse is next to Impossible, yet the hardest to find singles and the rarest songs ICP ever made are on FORGOTTEN FRESHNESS. In June of 1999, the last year of the century, the 5th Jokers Card - The Amazing Jeckel Brothers arrived. The album was an instant success, debuting at #4 on the Billboard Charts (just behind the Backstreet Boys). It was considered a landmark event among many in the music industry, that a band with no radio play, no MTV play, loathed by the critics, despised by the media, and without any major advertising campaign or strategy, would be able to be so successful. It was a testament to the power of the Dark Carnival, and its dedicated followers, the Juggalos. The album was certified platinum shortly afterward. They have just released Bizaar, and the third Forgotten Freshness LP. Not only that but ICP and some Psychopathic Ninja's Blaze Yah Dead Homie and others released Dark Lotus - Tales From The Lotus Pod. It's off the heezee or something like that. We are awaiting the long awaited release of the sixth joker's card!
Cute aren't they :)
