This is the One Insane Clown Posse Cover Story You Really Need To Read

By Gustavo Turner Wed., Mar. 16 2011 at 2:38 PM

Marvin Shaouni

Insane Clown Posse: Exclusive interview for LA Weekly

The LA Weekly traveled to Detroit to explore the reality and legend of controversial rap duo Insane Clown Posse. Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope gave us a revealing, no-holds-barred interview, leaving behind their wicked clown personas for a rare glimpse at the vulnerable Detroit "scrubs" who built an unlikely music/wrestling/events/merchandise empire.

The cover story is posted right now on the LA Weekly site, and later we will be publishing here the unedited transcript of our interview with Joe Bruce and Joey Utsler (aka Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope).

We really think this is a great overview of the Insane Clown Posse phenomenon from the inside, an enlightening read for Juggalos and non-Juggalos alike. Last year Camille Dodero wrote a brilliant article about the Gathering of the Juggalos festival for the Village Voice. While that piece concentrated on the fans and the subculture, this one goes inside the phenomenon of the band itself. Joe and Joey are rarely this open and candid and they offered us a glimpse into their world and lives.

Here are some of the highlights, as the interview/feature/cover story reveals:

The origins of ICP (before the cult phenomenon) in the economically hard-hit suburbs of Detroit.
The earnestness and seriousness of Joe and Joey in what they see as a spiritual mission.
How and why they wrote "Miracles" (aka, the "fuckin' magnets, how do they work?" song).
Their final answer to the claims they are really "evangelical Christians."
The mythology of the Dark Carnival, the Joker Cards and (exclusively for Juggalos) a new clue related to the upcoming Mighty Death Pop album.
ICP's take on the incidents at the Gathering last year involving Tila Tequila.
What happened when ICP met Ice Cube
Their plan for Internet Pay-per-View domination.
Why Insane Clown Posse might be the perfect soundtrack for the New American Depression (i.e., we're all scrubs now!)

Want more?:

Then read our entire cover story: "Down (and Out) with the Clown: The LA Weekly Interview with Insane Clown Posse" here.

Tags:

Dark Carnival, Gathering, Gustavo Turner, Insane Clown Posse, Joker's Card, Juggalos, Kid Rock, Magnets, Mighty Death Pop, Miracles, Shaggy 2 Dope, Violent J

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Irene Vaksberg

Dear Editor-

My name is Irene Vaksberg and when I came to work last Friday, I just about had a nervous breakdown when I saw the Insane Clown Posse on the cover of LA Weekly. I was disgusted by the fact that your magazine gave them so much time when they have destroyed my family and many many more. They thrive on the kids that are loners, depressed, have emotional problems. Kids that are unhappy and can’t find their footing in society. A lot of the kids come out of the foster system and do not know where to go or what to do with themselves. These are the kids that become juggalos and juggalettes. My daughter became a juggalette when she was 14 years old. She had some emotional problems, and I know you are saying, “Why is this Insane Clown Posse’s problem, and whey is the mother putting the blame on this group?”. The answer is, because even with 10 years of therapy, private school, and many other things I did, Insane Clown Posse was stronger. She would say that “her family” and the “carnival” will take care of me. I put her in private school to help with her problems and she left school to follow “her family” and live the juggalettes life of drugs and sex. The juggalos have control of the girls and my daughter suffered abuse from her juggalo boyfriend. My daughter ran away from school for 6 weeks and when she came to school she brought a hatchet and was paranoid and on drugs and kept saying “the clowns will keep her safe”. I had to put her in a psychiatric hospital and when she was there she kept saying “the clowns are here, the clowns are here…I will be going to the carnival.” There were 15 kids in the same hospital and 5 were in “the family”. She thought the carnival sent her there to be with them.

That was the worst time in my life and when I read the story in LA Weekly, I heard my daughter and her friend in my head. I was very sad to the see that the ICP got so much exposure. Your magazine glamourized this group. I hope they never sell any cds. I hope that no one else writes about them or puts them on the cover of anything. They have no morals, they preach violence and abuse. My daughter had a child so she could make more “family” for the carnival. She cannot take care of her and now the baby is my responsibility. The “family” is not here to buy food or diapers or anything else she needs. Insane Clown Posse is a cult. I know we have freedom of speech, but I wish theirs was taken away. ICP makes millions of dollars and the groups that follow them live on the streets and homeless shelters. I hope you will take some time and do some research on the destruction that they cause families and then give the voice to us. People need to be aware.

~Irene Vaksberg

adam

irene the answer is so simple as the parent take authority over your baby girl & burn that music & pray to jesus to heal your daughters mind & heart & i promise you she & your whole household will be cleansed & healed!

NAG_L

Want more?:Nope. You done fell the fuck off, L.A. Weekly. Seriously. It's interesting that Gustavo mentions Camille Dodero's Village Voice article from last year, which was about as thorough a piece as could be done on these fools, and that itself was like a year late. SNL's Miracles spoof was just as late and unnecessary. These guys are such strawmen that it's not funny anymore. We get it, Juggalos are pathetic wretches worthy of derision and Insane Clown Posse have built an empire parting fools from their Faygo money.

irene vaksberg

thanks for that

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Where can I purchase a magic fairy wand to make my opinions become fact? Would be so much more satisfying to bitch and cry on the internet with something like that.

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