As much as I try to avoid it, I typically get ultra-defensive. As if preparing for an instant battle that just dropped in my lap. I wish I was calmer about the questions, but so many times the questions seemed loaded with hipsterish undertones that I don’t even let em get a chance.

I could tell them that my brother was run over in his Twiztid jersey then cremated in a Wraith jersey with a cheap Hatchetman charm on. Or that my other brother was cremated with a COC tat on his flesh with his name on the pendant.  That I was living in a one room apartment for $200 a month where I had to share a bathroom and kitchen with some of the most disgusting filth people I’ve encountered, and came home from work crying one night to the sounds of The Wraith Shangri La on my headphones, drunk And in despair about life. Because I wasn’t given many hours at my chicken shack dishwashing job and could barely afford the $200 rent, so I caved in and splurged on a Homer Simpson rodeo cheeseburger from BK because I felt like I deserved more than dried goods for a weekend alone. I killed 7 mice in one night there. Sometimes they would chew my hair while I slept. That album brought me hope, even though not of a religious type…. Or that I have some of the funniest, strangest experiences of my life at Gatherings and Juggalo events and shows, and that this makes my life feel fuller and I gain pride from this.  All of this and more is always is a very tightly-tuned catapult of experiences and emotions, and the second that I am asked those Juggalo questions with that tone of superiority, I want to snap.

So if could get a handle over my emotions like a damned adult during those questions, then I guess I could summarize that because of those Clowns and the culture they unearthed and put a moniker on, that my life has been impacted in many important ways. I wouldn’t be who I am without them or the Juggalos in the culture. Yet, I would. Albeit, without a moniker or sense of slightly better identity.

Or I could just say “cus I love The Dating Game and Kermit the Frog High On Weed mp3’s”  and Faygo Diet Chocolate Cream. 

Pp.s. – don’t ever drink that flavor; it is death.

Many times I have tried to convince the questioner that this Juggalo stuff is in fact a real religion. Then I confuse them by saying “No, not like Christianity er anything. We just worship like, soda ‘n shit.” Then they fuck off. Sorry if im painting us in a lame light (or perhaps just myself). But they always leave me alone after. And its pretty funny.

I usually ask the person what kind of things they’re into and connect it to that. For example, If I know someone likes the Grateful Dead, I’ll find a way to equate Juggalos w/ deadheads. That way it’s familiar territory. 

I may be the only person but I (for nearly 2 decades now) tell people that its a state of mind and a way of living that is ultra individualistic. I have always told people that even if you are not a fan of ICP or the rest of the music that you may be a juggalo. I tell people that to be a juggalo you have to lack shame in comparison to most people but not in a unhealthy way but more like in a way that you are embracing that individualism despite whatever negative things that others might think or say. You also have to value friendship more than most because to a juggalo friends are better than family in many ways.

“IF YOU DONT KNOW BY NOW, ITS TOO LATE- WE THE MOST SERIOUS THING ON THE MARKET SINCE DATE RAPE”

Chevy2Dope said
I also don’t “look like a Juggalo” so when I mention ICP people usually are like “What?! You like that shit?!” So my first thing I ask them is what songs by ICP they have listened to, why do they not like them? And literally like 99.9% of the time they end up admitting they’ve never actually listened to them. So then I go on to say that they’d be surprised by some of the music they have and it’s not all what they think it is, though some of it definitely is. I say that their music IS ridiculous and it’s certainly not for everybody, I was first exposed to it when I was 14 years old and that shit blew my mind back then and now I just really appreciate what ICP has built and the unlikely story they have lead. A lot of their music is actually pretty creative and I find it to be very entertaining still.  Usually when I explain it that why they’re tend to “get it”. 

I did once have a friend say he hates them but he likes a lot of different types of music and is very open minded. So I said that I doubt he’s ever actually listened to them and he said to send him some of their music I think he’d like and he said he would give it a real shot without dismissing it right away. So I sent him a handful of my favorites like Ol Evil Eye, Burning Up, Halls Of Illusions, and Mad Professor. He ended up admitting he was enjoying the stuff and had a new perception. 

Not to go too far off topic here but I have another example where someone reacted negatively to ICP and it turned out it was because they were just way off on their perception. A couple years ago or so the confederate flag was a hot issue since it was banned from like a SC monument or something and people had all sorts of opinions on that. I then posted “Confederate Flag” on Facebook and said that was my official thoughts on the issue. One girl was surprised by it and said she “always just assumed ICP were bigots.” So I’m like what bitch? Since the very beginning they have been very outspoken against racism and have made so much music like that. How do you just assume they are bigots when they call bigots out in their music way more than pretty much anyone? I think I learned the word “bigot” from ICP. 

Anyway, it’s all about perception. Most people only know second and third hand opinions of ICP and formulate what they think they should believe about them and stick to it. And sure, many people will give it a real chance and still not like them, which makes sense because their shit is so out there, but, most people have no idea what they are really like for the most part.   

Wow that’s nuts about someone assuming Insane Clown Posse were “bigots”. At the very least, I thought people would understand that the two white dudes painted like clowns that rap were about 3 things in general: killing racists, engaging in intercourse with husky women, and throwing soda. The next level of involvement shows that they have more depth, tapping about morality, poverty, fantasy worlds and scrub culture. The following level comprises of more depth, where you get to know these two characters as more than just characters. Real life stories are created and laced onto a track in both realistic and fictionalized ways. If you make it to this stage or past it, you are a Juggalo. Anyone that seeks out their stories and music beyond Riddlebox, The Great Milenko and “Miracles” is a fan at some level, whether they want to it admit it or not. Unless, of course, they are censor freaks trying to pull out any satanic or otherwise offensive material to present to a special interest group.

I also stand by the theory that for as many songs as ICP have created, with all their variety of styles, evolution (devolution to some) and topics, there is always at least ONE song that they can enjoy on some level. Whether they are giggling to themselves in spite of their biases in a tracks like Bugz on My Nugz, My Homie Baby Mama, Toy Box, Lil Somethin Somethin, etc… or being surprised at their candid humility in Behind the Paint, Under the Moon, Take Me Home, Mr Johnson’s Head etc…. relating to the material in How Many Times, Joke Ya Mind, Hate Her to Death etc… digging the mythology uses in Dark Lotus… it goes on.