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Insane Clown Posse, Young Wicked, DJ Carlito

The Riddlebox Tour - Atlanta, GA

The Masquerade in Atlanta, Georgia

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What’s up Ninja and Ninjettes! This is Hashly Haze again, with a review for you. I am PUMPED to be a FLH photographer on any tour stop, but we ALL get the feels when it comes to the Riddle Box album, so this was extra an special experience for me. The day actually started with a sleepless night. Hanka and I were both too wound up to get a lot of rest. What can I say? We live for clown shows!

On the way to Atlanta, we picked up our homies, Heffe and Hope.  We always try to carpool because it makes the trip more affordable and enjoyable, despite the RIDICULOUS traffic issues that are always to be had in Atlanta.

Upon arriving, we met up with a cluster of fam at the Vortex in Little 5 Points. It’s an amazing rocker/voodoo/goth theme restaurant that I KNOW Juggalos would enjoy if they wanna try it out!  You HAVE to be 21 or older to even be there, but the food is OUTSTANDING, the servers are hilarious, and there is eye candy EVERYWHERE you look! The menu items are cleverly named and described in ways that are sure to amuse even the most wicked crowds. I had the ‘Blue Shroom’ with onion rings and it was so good that I think I saw God. Needless to say, I was very impressed. It was no pricier than an Applebees, so you should DEFINITELY check out either of their locations if you’re ever in Atlanta!

We arrived at the Masqerade around 4:30pm and were pleased to find that the free parking was opened up and still had plenty of room for our 3 car convoy. There were Juggalos EVERYWHERE!  I wasn’t out of my car 2 minutes and had a lit joint handed to me and a homie with a cooler stocked with bar items and Faygo pouring me a drink.  It’s a good thing my cameras hang around my neck…my hands were full!

I walked to the field behind the Masquerade and it was like a mini gathering, Hanka even said “This is like an old school Atlanta juggalo party”. People were sitting on cars, drinking Faygo and chanting about magic ninjas.  Lettes were looking PHINE and the Los were all decked out in their best Riddle box gear. With painted faces all around, I was instantly right at home.  There was a whole bunch of ninjas playing their own version of baseball, using a Rock Band guitar controller as a bat and cans of faygo as the ball…it was awesome!

I was happily snapping photos and frolicking among the family, seeing what I could find when I ran into my homies Zak and Tosha Coley.  They were celebrating their wedding anniversary and wanted to renew their vows, so I found a ninja to officiate the ceremony and a crowd to gather for the spectacle. They were able to relive their wedding day and top it off with a wild Faygo shower.  It was romantic as fuck, yo!

I made my way around to the front of the venue to get in line and saw a photographer that was all set up to take photos of the interesting looking crowd that was assembling in front of the Masquerade. I had to meet her.  She had me and several other Juggalos pose in front of her backdrop.  It was a lot of fun and didn’t cost a thing! She had never seen an ICP show before and by the end of the night, she came running to me bouncing and hugging me and was just thrilled to be there.  I believe I made a sister right then and there, but I digress.

I had trouble at the ticket booth, but it was nothing that couldn’t be handled.  I was on the guest list, but there was no photo pass. I wasn’t worried because I WILL ALWAYS get what I need whether I have a pass or not. The pass just makes it easier. Most places just write the word “PHOTO” on my special colored bracelet and I’m set, lol. I figured I could work it out inside.

The VIP crowd was in line, and you could see the excitement on all their faces as they waited to be let inside for their personal experience. I spoke with a few of them and took a few photos before going inside. My homie Brian and his wife Lucretia were in there a long ass time, so I was happy that they were able to speak their peace to the Clowns. Those moments are brief and few.

The first huge relief of the night was when they announced that the show would be relocated to the top floor, referred to as “Heaven”.  It was originally scheduled to be in the basement, aka “Hell” which is WAY too small to support the size of crowd that ICP brings to the Masquerade.

I found Billy Bill, CEO of Psychopathic and Tour Manager, sitting at the merch table. I introduced myself and inquired about the press pass.  He told me there were no passes for this venue because there is no barricade for press. I knew that wasn’t the case as I have shot at this venue several times, but I was in no position to argue with him. I thanked him for having me there and continued my mission-PHOTOS!

I did my thing all around the venue, snapping the merch and the Juggalos until the show began.

The first set up was Bloodtooth Records, which consisted of Hatchet Head, my personal friend Juztin Sane, and Baseline. The first set is always the worst in my photos…setting my camera for a venue where the conditions are constantly changing is harder than it looks..

Security wasn’t watching, so I took advantage of the situation and jumped between the stage and barricade to start snapping.  The set was very fast paced. The crowd was jumping and dancing the entire time.  It was my first time seeing my homie perform live and I loved it. All three of them nailed their performance and I wanted more!

As they left the stage, I also decided to try to slip out of there unnoticed by security…I was technically breaking the rules, so I crawled across the barricade, with my head down, getting butt rubs from the fam as I went past, lol. When I hopped down from the platform, I looked up and found myself face to face with Billy Bill. “OH SHIT!” slipped out and then I was just awkward…I barely managed to say “hello” as he handed me a photo pass, smirked at me, then walked away.  I called out “Thank you so much!” He turned around and smiled at me and disappeared.

I was FLOORED! In the seven years that I have been taking photos for TJF, JN and now FLH, I have NEVER been handed a physical photo pass of my very own. Especially not by THE MAN himself. I know it’s no big deal to some people, but I appreciated and will always cherish that moment more than I’ll ever be able to express.

Ok, Hashly, time to go be a girl in the bathroom. You have 2 minutes and then you have to get back to work!

The next group up to the stage was Urban Chaos. These guys NEVER fail to bring flavor to a show.  I discovered them a couple years ago when they opened at a Twiztid show. It was Fatboy and Frosty (owners of Urban Chaos), Stevie Miles, Mi$ta 420, and Spike from Beatmade Entertainment. The crowd was HYPE from start to finish of this set. Fatboy and Stevie were all about crowd surfing and they threw free merch into the crowd from the top of the barricades. The music was definitely bumping fresh and steady. There was nothing but love in the venue and it could be felt in the air. I usually don’t get this feeling when it’s not a  headliner on the stage, so Urban Chaos has my full attention. I expect big things in their future!

At this point, I was thirsty as hell and looking for Hanka to buy me a drink. I didn’t even hear them announce that DJ Carlito had taken the stage. I almost missed his set entirely. The crowd didn’t seem to know who he was or what was going on. The energy of the room went stale and everyone was going outside to smoke. This was the only part of the show I felt was handled poorly. I had a small window of opportunity to introduce myself, shake his hand, thank him for being there and tell him that his Dad Rudy is the SHIT! I literally only got 2 pictures of him before security pulled me away from the stage (idk why they were so protective of him, I had a pass) and then he was just gone.

Next up was Young Wicked. I have been more and more into him with each performance in this past couple years. This ninja has it all when it comes to stage presence, from being on the stage solo to having demons standing there like statues, to having enough energy to blow the roof off of any venue. He started off unleashing some crazy-fast rap skills from his newer shit to the already entranced Atlanta crowd. He decided to drop some Killjoy Club songs too… but not just one or two this ninja did 6 Killjoy songs for the juggalos! I got lost in the moment and danced my ass off for a few minutes, I do this, but got my feels all swerved when he did his song Y.W.G. from the Slaughter album.

The entire place was lit up with hand held lighters. The majority of the crowd was swaying and singing along. He was energy, ear stimulation and emotion all at the same time. Do not sleep on Young Wicked, he really IS the whole package! So Young, So Handsome.

FINALLY, it was time for Riddle Box! SPOILER ALERT- the show starts with ‘Intro’.  LoL Okay, that was lame, sorry.  There were no props on the stage, just a Riddle Box backdrop, 2 microphone stands and 2 tables of Faygo. The room was so SMOKEY that you could hardly see Violent J as he appeared in the middle of the stage, singing and dancing to the screaming, out of control crowd below. Shaggs popped out next and the clowning began.

The Faygo spray seemed to awaken every cell in my body and from the look of the juggalos around me, I was not alone. You know how at first the Faygo stings your eyes, but you get used to it and then you embrace it..?

Yea, my cameras HATE that!

I LOVE it!

They only allow me 2 songs to get the photos I need before I am cast to left or right stage and that’s where I must remain until they call up the juggalettes. I opted for the right side so I could be with Hanka. As “Chicken Huntin'” started, so did the crowd surfing. By the time the feathers were flying, the juggalos were moshing, it was beautiful.

A song that had tons of energy but is rarely played all the way through is “Toy Box”. It’s always nice to see the song performed, but even better to hear the ENTIRE thing live!

Another big thing I want to note is that Violent J is in great health! If my camera had not been dripping in Faygo, I would have caught a shot or 2 of him crowd surfing. I am so sad that I missed it. I asked a guard to move me to left stage so I could get a different angle and I was able to get away from the Faygo spray, but I didn’t see him go back out into the crowd. Sorry fam, I really tried.

The next big highlight of the show for me was when they called the lettes to the stage during “Lil Somethin’ Somethin’”.  I was happy to be herded to the back of the stage and watch the chaos. I snapped what I could, but there were not many opportunities to protect my lens. The security guards always act like I’m gonna do something shady and never let me stand where I want, so it was fun, but not as satisfying as it would have been if I was able to shoot freely. That stage was SO packed with beautiful Faygo covered lettes! I wished it would last forever. I saw MANY familiar faces and felt truly blessed to share the experience with my close home girls. There was hugging, crying and a super cute girl even came up and kissed me in the middle of everything. It was the shit!!!

The rest of the show, I was really struggling with my cameras. They were just…steamed over and in need of a thorough, professional cleaning. I got a little of this and a little of that. The lights were extreme, no matter what color they were flashing and I didn’t feel very proud of my work, so I did what any juggalo in my position would do.

I said FUCK IT.

I zipped my cameras up in my backpack, stashed them behind a speaker and got CRUNK AS FUCK with all of you! I BATHED in the Faygo shower, I sang along, I danced, and I connected with the clowns and with everyone in the venue. We were as one, yet all doing our own thing. I guess that is a something that others do not understand. Juggalos have an intimate, unspoken bond in a moment like that. Drama disappears if only for that moment and for me, that’s the meaning of ‘family’.

A huge turning point in the show was when they sang “12”. For the majority of the crowd it was kinda weird seeing this song done live, but for Hanka it was huge. He’d never seen it live and was in awe of the story it tells. It’s his favorite song on the album.

There were many clowny shenanigans, chicken boys, zombies dancing with heads and even a Cemetery Girl. My cup was filled, but I still wanted more.

Before I knew it, it was time for Faygo Armageddon. I was crying, but you couldn’t tell. Thanks again, Faygo. Hanka stormed up to the stage first, plowing me a path, as always. I lost him for a little while.  I’m small, so I always end up being pushed to the back, BUT I always grab 2 bottles of diet rootbeer Faygo and make my way to the front and center each time, so he can find me. We always meet up during Faygo Armageddon and share a kiss. The only time we’ve seen ICP together without that moment has been at the gathering. It’s a thing. Everyone has a thing like that, right?

It was all over before I knew it.

I wanted to get aftermath photos in ‘Hell’ as I usually do.  It always floods after ICP plays in ‘Heaven’ ..security saw me coming with my camera and shut the doors, denying me entry for the photos. Oh well…it was time to go to the car.

I love the walk to the car in ATL after ICP. Everyone is naked.. like all over the place! We did this in Charlotte too. I think this is just a THING everywhere ICP performs. People were running up to us giving us Faygo boobie hugs and butt rubs all the way to the back lot where we were parked.

I have a system: My trick is to bring towels, a blanket, dry clothes and good homies. They will hold the blanket for you while you dry off and change your clothes and then you return the favor.

We always follow a ATL show at Del Taco and spend the whole ride home obsessing over the pics on the cams..but this time, I just grabbed the blanket and cuddled Hope all the way back. I was BEAT! Sorry it took so long to get this review to you, I have been super blocked and I hope I did ok…

I would like to give special thanks to Scottie D, Psychopathic Records, and all the Juggalos and Juggalettes who have been and will be a part of this the memories the clowns make on this tour. It was a very special privilege to be involved.

Much Luv

Hashly Haze

Location:

  • The Masquerade
  • Georgia
  • United States

Guests:

  • Fatboy and Frosty (of Urban Chaos), Stevie Miles, Mi$ta 420, Spike (Beatmade Entertainment), Bloodtooth Records

Tour:

  • The Riddlebox Tour

Record Label:

  • Psychopathic Records

Websites:

Reviewer:

Review Date:

  • 05/17/2016

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