What to Expect at Various ICP Stores

The days of brick and mortar record stores will soon be coming to an end, due to struggling sales in the face of music piracy. This really is a shame, because physical record stores used to provide a setting in which you could interact with music like Psychopathic Records albums unlike any other setting. Say you are into Psychopathic Records albums. Instead of going directly to an online ICP store like you would today, in 1995, you’d walk to record shop and treat it like an ICP store. You’d sample different Psychopathic Records albums via CD (and possibly vinyl), and if you were in the right store at the right time, might even witness an ICP pop-up display to entice you into purchasing any other ICP store merchandise that might be available. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for another Psychopathic Records albums enthusiast to meet you at the store, either randomly or planned, and then explore Psychopathic Records albums with you, each learning from the other. But enough longing for the past. ICP stores and the Insane Clown Posse shirt inventory today and probably for the foreseeable future will exist online and online only. But there are advantages to this… When treating chain record shops like ICP stores, chances are slim that you’d find any merchandise in the building aside from the music, and unfortunately, that goes for Insane Clown Posse shirts too. Psychopathic Records album collections are usually incomplete too. There just wasn’t enough demand to warrant shipping Insane Clown Posse shirts, action figures, backpacks etc. across the country. However, by moving the ICP store online, all of these things can be housed in one location and shipped out to Juggalos when they’re ordered. At ICP’s store online (hatchetgear.com), Juggalos can expect not only all Psychopathic Records albums from active artists, but also rare collectors items like comic books, key chains, lighters, and even the new ICP energy drink. But what this online ICP store is most important for, in my opinion, is not the Psychopathic Records album collection on CD, but rather the Insane Clown Posse shirts. Insane Clown Posse shirts promoting albums that were released almost 20 years ago, Insane Clown Posse shirts of all shapes, sizes, and colors, and Insane Clown Posse shirts for Juggalettes, are all in attendance. My personal favorites are the pink and blue Carnival of Carnage ICP t-shirts available. That design has early 90s written all over it, and believe it or not, would be extra fresh today as retro is coming back. Aside from Insane Clown Posse shirts online, you can expect mini ICP stores at concerts in the form of merchandise tables. These stations will probably be selling multiple Psychopathic Records albums too, because ICP often tours with their label mates. More importantly, ICP stores at concerts often sell limited merchandise that’s available to concert attendees only, like Insane Clown Posse shirts that have the dates listed, and possibly even pay special attention to your city. Resource Box The days of treating your local record store like an ICP store are dying, because physical record stores are going out of business. Instead, the ICP store has moved online and into the thriving concert arena. To learn more about ICP’s store, the Insane Clown Posse shirts and Psychopathic Records albums it sells, visit http://www.hatchetgear.com/bands/icp.html.

Revisiting Juggernaut Horror Rap Album, ICP’s Riddlebox

Every genre has its marquee album. You know, the album that made a name for the genre and its performing artists. For horror rap, that album is arguably Riddlebox by ICP. No one will deny the fact that most horror rap heads (now known as Juggalos) were quite familiar with the genre and Insane Clown Posse before ICP’s Riddlebox was released, but Riddlebox by ICP is important because it’s the album that introduced much of the wider world past Juggalos to horror rap. As Violent J put it back then, Riddlebox was "all the records we had done … rolled into one single effort." That insightful quote says a lot—perhaps ICP’s Riddlebox was the record that broke them to an audience past Juggalos because they treated it as such going in. Remember, up until this point, horror rap had existed solely as an underground genre situated mostly in the Midwest. Once Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope started treating their horror rap art as a movement that could reach the entire nation, they started to take off. What’s also interesting about ICP’s Riddlebox is the fact that they managed to breakout of their geographical niche while retaining the respect of die hard Juggalos that had been there since the beginning. Often times, artists only blow up because they sell out. That is, they deliberately write songs that appeal to a larger number of people just for the monetary success it will bring them. Not the case with ICP’s Riddlebox, and that’s why Juggalos respect ICP to this day. They’ve never wavered from their horror rap roots. ICP’s Riddlebox stayed true to the Joker’s Card legacy started in their earlier albums. The Joker’s Card for Riddlebox by ICP is indeed a jack in the box that determines whether the dead will spend eternity in heaven or hell. Just like past Joker’s Cards, this jack in the box aligns with horror rap themes of judgment and retribution. Additionally, as is protocol with all Joker’s Cards, if the jack in the box deems you’re fit for hell, how it sends you there is graphic to say the least. And Juggalos like imagery of gore. However, that’s not the most important thing that Juggalos like. The thing that unites Juggalos isn’t always strictly horror rap, or the violent rhymes in their favorite artists’ verses. Instead, it’s a feeling of being misunderstood, just like ICP has been their entire career. I mention this because it came to a head with the release of ICP’s Riddlebox. When the labels showed little interest in promoting Riddlebox by ICP, what did ICP do? They promoted the album themselves independently in local record shops, selling plenty. This example of the band walking the walk transparently with their own album really helped Juggalos solidify their love for horror rap, and its creators. Resource Box ICP’s Riddlebox holds a special place in Juggalos’ hearts because it was the album that broke horror rap, their favorite genre of music, to the wider world. To learn more about horror rap, Juggalos fashion, or merchandise pertaining to ICP’s Riddlebox, please visit http://www.hatchetgear.com/bands/icp.html.

Why Twiztid’s Lyrics on Heartbroken and Homicidal Perfectly Exemplify Horror Rap

Heartbroken and Homicidal is the 9th studio album from Psychopathic Records horror rap duo Twiztid. But it’s more significant than just another installment in their prolific discography. For many, Twiztid’s lyrics on Heartbroken and Homicidal portray just what horror rap is all about, more specifically, the balance of gore and emotion. Before we even dive into some of the lyrics present on the album’s songs, just look at the album’s title. Not much is more horrific or gruesome than homicide, and few words powerfully illustrate emotion as well as the word heartbroken does. Many outsiders incorrectly assume that horror rap has no central theme other than violence, when in fact, horror rap is just as emotional as it is violent. When these two worlds collide in harmony, pure horror rap is concocted. If you need proof, just take a listen to any of Psychopathic Records’ artists’ catalogues. Enough has been said about Twiztid’s catalogue (also signed to Psychopathic Records), but let’s take a closer look at Twiztid’s lyrics on Heartbroken and Homicidal to see where their horror rap takes us past the title. Here is a sample of Twiztid’s lyrics on the Heartbroken and Homicidal song "Circles": What can I say My claim to fame Won’t come in the shape Of hearts and flowers How come I’ve been needing a purpose Assuming that the world even cares If we all live or die Here is a sample of Twiztid’s lyrics on the Heartbroken and Homicidal song "Spiderwebs": She was a type of girl Get me in so much trouble Head over heels in this That’s why I love her She don’t think I give a f*ck to care But I’d rather die But the truth of the matter its all a lie And I can’t get her outta my mind I’m so blind As most any observer will note, both of these samples of Twiztid’s lyrics from Heartbroken and Homicidal lyrics contain mentions of love and death. And that, is the essence of horror rap, whether it be through Psychopathic Records or not. Using these two examples of Twiztid’s lyrics from Heartbroken and Homicidal, it’s safe to say that the genre is a polarized one, to say the least. How many other genres can you name off the top of your head, that like Twiztid’s lyrics on Heartbroken and Homicidal, can so nonchalantly speak of death and love in the same phrase? Psychopathic Records artists are accustomed to this writing style, as Psychopathic Records artists are experts in the realm of horror rap, but you’d be hard pressed to find artists outside of Psychopathic Records who view this as the norm. While that distinction is an important one to note, what do Twiztid’s lyrics on Heartbroken and Homicidal say about the bigger horror rap picture? Chiefly, they debunk the myth of horror rap that it’s nothing but vitriol. Twiztid’s lyrics on Heartbroken and Homicidal validate horror rap as a genre with more than one direction, whether it’s distributed through Psychopathic Records or not. Resource Box Psychopathic Records group Twiztid and their lyrics on Heartbroken and Homicidal legitimize horror rap as a genre more well rounded than most people think. To learn more about Twiztid, Psychopathic Records and their merchandise, please visit http://hatchetgear.com/bands/twiztid.html.

Rounding Out Your Juggalo Wardrobe: ICP Shirts, Insane Clown Posse Shoes and More

In an earlier article I discussed the ICP wardrobe, beginning from head to toe. Unfortunately that article stopped at hoodie, so now we’re going to keep going n down from ICP shirts to Insane Clown Posse shoes and even hatchetman tattoos! It’s no secret that ICP shirts are a dime a dozen. That’s what happens when a band has been around for 20 plus years! However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t good and bad ICP shirts. There are many fashion snobs in the world who will claim all ICP shirts aren’t good enough for them, either because of the band they’re promoting or because they don’t believe ICP shirts have caught up with the times. However, if you like colorful retro ICP shirts, you picked the perfect band to like. Some of the retro ICP shirt gems in the hatchetgear.com merchandise store are so old that they’re still promoting some of ICP’s earliest albums. For instance, of the "era" ICP shirts on hatchetgear.com, you’ll find an awesome Carnival of Carnage T that even has a track listing on the back. In 2012, even CD’s are retro! Also featured in the "era" ICP shirts collection are ICP shirts promoting The Riddlebox, The Ringmaster, and more. These ICP shirts are meant to be worn as loosely (sizes go up to 5XL on hatchetgear.com for a reason), probably covering most hatchetman tattoos and possibly sticking out any ICP over garment like a hoodie. Though they do exist, let’s skip past ICP pants and get down to Insane Clown Posse shoes. Insane Clown Posse shoes are no longer sold through hatchetgear.com, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worn by Juggalos and Juggalettes far and wide. Most Insane Clown Posse shoes are skater shoes, though some creative Juggalos have painted ICP symbols like clown paints or the hatchetman. There are even knee-high converse out there that have been converted to Insane Clown Posse shoes through ICP paint jobs, but my favorite Insane Clown Posse shoes aren’t Insane Clown Posse shoes at all; they’re flip flops. You’re baggy ICP shirt will go hand in hand with Insane Clown Posse shoes in flip-flop form at the pool! Once you’ve purchased every form of ICP shirt or Insane Clown Posse shoe you can imagine however, there remains one final step to proving you’re a die-hard Juggalo: Hatchetman tattoos. Now remember that a hatchetman tattoo doesn’t necessarily pledge allegiance to Insane Clown Posse, but instead to their record label (which they own) Psychopathic Records. Therefore, inking up with a hatchetman tattoo will say you support all music that comes out of the record label, and that’s a bold move. But, if you believe what a hatchetman tattoo means, then there’s nothing to stop you from getting a hatchetman tattoo. Some of the best hatchetman tattoos found online include hatchetman tattoos that are colored, deliberately misshapen, or are really just creative in any way. Some hatchetman tattoos even have text accompanying them, like "Juggalo for Life." Where the hatchetman tattoo is placed is isn’t nearly as important as its meaning to the Juggalo who dons it! Resource Box No Juggalo wardrobe is complete with out ICP shirts, Insane Clown Posse shoes, and a hatchetman tattoo to top it off. This article examines options for each, especially Insane Clown Posse shoes. To learn more about ICP merchandise, please visit http://hatchetgear.com.

Juggalos? Clowns? What is it that Makes GOTJ so Desirable?

Summer will soon be upon us. This is of course welcome news for most anyone—better weather, a more relaxed environment, and some even get the summer off if they’re still in school. But for Juggalos the summer has an entirely different meaning; The Gathering of the Juggalos (GOTJ) is almost here! GOTJ was started by ICP and Psychopathic Records founders Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope back in the year 2000 after many years of deliberation. Yes there were problems and hitches during the first couple years of GOTJ, but since it has become more refined most events run smoothly. This improved production quality is just one of the many reasons Juggalos have been coming to GOTJ in droves every year since its inception. But there has to be more to GOTJ than just the horror rap music, right? Why yes, that would be correct. GOTJ is primarily known for the horror rap artists that grace its stages, but this giant ICP carnival offers many bonuses for attending outside of just the music. Let’s consider the music to be a backdrop for a moment. Yes, the music is what brings people together, but the rest of GOTJ is so alluring it can almost be referred to as an ICP carnival. No, I’m not talking about the ICP carnival woven through their albums’ mythology; I’m talking about a legitimate carnival with rides, clowns, games and more. GOTJ, really a massive ICP carnival, can be counted as such because it features attractions including everything from helicopter rides to Ferris wheel rides. In the past, there have been side shows featuring everything from ICP carnival mainstays like wrestlers to unexpected performing guests, like Tila Tequila or Bobby Brown. The most obvious similarity between this ICP carnival and a standard carnival would be the clowns. There might not be colorful clowns walking around on stilts asking for you to knock them over, but with every Juggalo in the crowd dressed with their ICP carnival face paint on and resembling an evil clown, or Insane clown if you will. While these comparisons of the GOTJ ICP carnival to your every day carnival are good and well, there are many things that any ICP carnival, regardless of the year, will always have over a traditional carnival, the most important of which is Juggalo love. While GOTJ is famous for a lot of things like the ICP carnival-esque offerings mentioned above, it is most known among Juggalos for being a place where, one time a year, all Juggalos can reunite and enjoy each other. Juggalos treat and respect each other as family, because most of them have a similar outlook on life and have walked similar paths on their way to membership in the Juggalo clan. Resource Box GOTJ, the annual ICP carnival for Juggalos to enjoy horror rap music, games, and each other, is nearing. To see merchandise that will help you blend in better with the Juggalo crowd at GOTJ events, please visit http://hatchetgear.com.

Dress Like a Juggalo with Insane Clown Posse Hoodies, ICP Caps and More

No one will argue that dressing like a Juggalo is more important than appreciating the horror rap music of Insane Clown Posse. In fact, we’re you to make that argument with anyone they would undoubtedly label you as a poser trying to infiltrate a scene without actually believing in it, and after something like that happens it would be difficult to regain trust of Juggalos in the future no matter how many Insane Clown Posse hoodies you wear. However, with that said, once you are positive horror rap is your style of music, adopting the fashion of its purveyors and fans is the next logical step. It’s been written time and time again that ICP’s fashion is stuck in the 90s. With stereotypical rapper garments like Insane Clown Posse hoodies, hatchetman necklace chains, and ICP caps, these guys won’t be winning fashion icon awards or developing their own fashion line like Kanye West did any time soon. But, just because things like Insane Clown Posse hoodies, hatchetman necklaces, and ICP caps may not be fashion forward, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear them. Just like in the world of music, retro fashion can be appreciated if done right. Let’s take a closer look at some of the Insane Clown Posse hoodies, hatchetman necklaces, and ICP caps available online. Let’s start with ICP caps. There are a variety of ICP caps available on the band’s merch site, hatchetgear.com, but the boldest of the bunch is surely the bright red Hell’s Pit ICP cap. Bright red and cluttered with nothing but that album’s logo in front, this ICP cap will definitely have you standing out in a crowd of Juggalos who are mostly covered in black and white. The other standout ICP cap is the Shaggy face flatbill, which, as you can imagine, has a replica of Shaggy’s face paint on the back. This ICP cap makes it look like Shaggy is staring right back at you. As we move down the head to the neck, no Juggalo is complete in this area without a hatchetman necklace. Unfortunately, because the hatchetman is technically a figure representing Psychopathic Records and not exclusively ICP, hatchetman necklaces cannot be found on hatchetgear.com. However, one google search of Hatchetman necklace will turn up plenty of choices. Some hatchetman necklaces are chrome, others black, and some even bejeweled for all the Juggalettes of the world. How short you wear your hatchetman necklace is up to you, but Juggalos and Juggalettes have worn them in every fashion from choker to blinged-out centerpiece. Additionally, you can find hatchetman necklaces that feature the hatchetman doing funny things, like holding a pitchfork or a giant axe instead of a hatchet. If you buy a hatchetman necklace like this, you’ll surely want to wear it on the outside of your ICP hoodie. Which brings me to Insane Clown Posse hoodies… Fortunately, Insane Clown Posse hoodies are available through hatchetgear.com, and there is a plentiful variety. Of these Insane Clown Posse hoodies, two will stand out immediately: the purple Riddlebox Insane Clown Posse hoodie and the yellow Ringmaster Insane Clown Posse hoodie. These two colors and the albums they promote perfectly represent Insane Clown Posse’s retro feel, so if you think you can rock the retro vibe, these two Insane Clown Posse hoodies are the Insane Clown Posse hoodies for you! Resource Box Insane Clown Posse’s fashion, such as ICP caps, hatchetman necklaces, and Insane Clown Posse hoodies, may be retro but that doesn’t mean it can’t be great. To see more of these items, please visit hatchetgear.com/bands/icp.html.