I would agree but not that the music isnt them but its starting to be more Joe and Joey rather than Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. If that makes sense. Like song like Forever thats Joe and Joey talking and who can blame them for that? No one cuz they did it all on their own so of course they would be happy man they worked crazy hard.

Back to the point i do think they need to go back to staying in character on the records though when ICP is on the cd then They should be Insane but i do appreciate the songs from the heart too .

What should Psychopathic do to avoid crashing and bankruptcy? Not listen to anybody on here. If you speak your opinion on this and you haven't ran a successful business. You don't know what you're talking about so just shut the fuck up.

I have to ask. What is up with your name?

Maybe its the real bill burr

As far as business decisons, I can't say much. As for 'creative direction', IMO I think I know some of the elements that ICP's music has been missing lately. If they want to continue making new music but hold onto that "old school feel" that "Classic ICP" they need to integrate these elements.

 Violent J has trouble sounding like 'Violent J'. He can't perform high pitched and lacks anger in his verses.

Those old radio sounding cuts in the music. Ex: Old Evil Eye intro, Halloween On Military Street, Southwest Song etc.

That classic Ringmaster reverse scratching. (I heard some of that in The Mighty Death Pop, but it's seems like their signature scratching style hasn't been used predominantly as of lately)

That humming/droning horror music sound effect. EX: Prom Queen, Sleep Walker, 12, and for happier songs like "When I Get Out" They use it when J is killing his girlfriend.

Rock/Southern Rock/Metal guitars, they had a lot of raw and peculiar plucking laced in the music. It seems like their music is cleaner now and lacks this.

Breaking the "Fourth Wall" too much, and not focusing enough on fantasy. Ex: Night of the Chainsaw seemed generic to me, guys does drugs, kills people. Like cops and party goers. That's about it. Why not focus on the psychology of the killer like they used to do. The thoughts in his head as he's killing. Rather than this stale 3rd person shit, then the icing on the cake. "WRITTEN BY JOE BRRRUUUUCCEEE"… Now I liked that at first I can't lie, it was hype and all. After you play the song over and over and maybe show a friend.. it seems lame. This can be said for many of their newer tracks.

Lack of "Dark Carnival" vibes. Now "The Mighty Death Pop had references to Carnival of Carnage in "Skreem", and The Death Pop sound happened now and then for the few skits on the album.. but they didn't make this characters ominous or foreboding.          Ex: Listen to any old joker card intro, they state "He came from here, he does this, he is that" there is typically creepy horror sounds humming along in the background, etc. Death Pop feels rushed, and Bang! Pow! Boom! though it was closer to the Dark Carnival IMO, lacked somewhere too. That card wasn't predetermined as a joker card though so can't judge that too hard.

As for the bonus discs on Death Pop. NO THEME. Ex: Tunnel of Love, Terror Wheel, Beverely Kills, The Calm (sorta), Eye of the Storm (at least visually) was a fortune box, and so on ALL HAVE A CARNIVAL RIDE AND/OR THEME to the album. I mean, they are bonus discs, so maybe they don't count, but the next small ep better.

A storyline; the original six joker cards had you in wonder. WHAT WAS THE LAST CARD? WHAT IS ALL THIS TIME RUNNING OUT SHIT? blah blah. We are nearly half way through this deck (i think), and I don't know what the fuck I'm waiting for. It just isn't cryptic or intriguing. Even the Tempest had this creepy, "IT'S COMING" thing going on for a while. From bizaar/bizzar to the calm.

Focusing on PRODUCTION and CREATIVITY. Lately the beats lack layers and background sounds, and the writing is "JUGGALO THIS" "JUGGALO THAT". I may be a juggalo, but I don't need half of the tracks talking about some silly sub culture. I want to hear stories, murder, and bump some silly/hilarious shit.

REVERSE MESSAGES. This alone… I don't give a shit if they are meaningful/significant. It's a HUGE part of classic ICP-lore.. and I miss it. Bang! Pow! Boom! had this. Why not Death Pop? That being said Bang! Pow! Boom!.. had alot of classic elements. I admit, it sounds like a classic album. Just…. happier.. Death Pop.. idk.. seemed like they had forgotten the formula.. or just focused so much on the songs quality, mainstream acceptance, and I suppose those 3 bonus discs took a lot out of their focus on the main disc.

Carnivalkilla44 said:

I think it'd be dope if they released a full Joe & Joey album. Come back with some Inner City Posse shit.

I feel ya on that. Don't make it a focus, but def a small side project. I feel like they are too comfortable at this point to get their minds back in that game though. I did enjoy Violent J's voice Rinmaster and earlier. Less killer clown, more real and raw. Not gonna front though, at this point I couldn't take a "real" Joe Bruce seriously though. Probably why Death Pop flopped for many juggalos. The album seems like it was designed for "The Clownz".. like Riddlebox style voices, they rapped like Joe and Joey a lot of Death Pop. Well, IMO anyways.

JuggaloJ said:

Does ANYBODY have a single shred of proof PSY is in danger of bankruptcy? NO. They don't need to change shit. Y'all might not like how they run shit, but they are a very successful business, always have been. They make MILLIONS! This isn't going to change. Get over yourselves. None of you know what's best for their company. It's been going 20 years strong, and it'll continue for a long time to come.

As Scruff likes to put it this bears repeating....I'd wager they are doin just fine

the_almighty_smack said:

 75% of all money psychopathic makes is from ICP

 

add all the rest twiztid,blaze,ABK and everyone else only  make up just 25% of what psychopathic brings in.

 

they own the rights to all albums but milenko,AJB and bizzar/bizaar and all six original cards have went gold some EP's have went gold and their back catalogue sells well they can afford to sell albums at 3$ each cause each one sold  still makes their pockets 2$ deeper.

 

psychopathic owns the name twiztid and all their albums until the next one they drop and that's if  they decide to actualy let them have the name and even if they do I guarantee they still take a little commision of anything that sais twiztid on it.

 

just in merchandise alone they make enough money in a month to keep psychopathic funded for a year.

 

psychoathic is a brand thats not going anywhere, our kids kids kids will sport a hatchetman while violent JJJJJ counts his cash and plans on releasing the third joker card of the fifth deck.

Another dumbass that don't know shit and can't spell. lol