| Inner City Posse | |
|---|---|
 John Kickjazz, Violent J and 2 Dope
| |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | ICP |
| Origin | Delray, Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genre(s) | Gangsta rap |
| Years active | 1989–1991 |
| Label(s) | Psychopathic |
| Former members | |
| Violent J 2 Dope John Kickjazz Kid Villain | |
Inner City Posse was a gangsta rap group active from 1989 until 1991 that became Insane Clown Posse. Influenced by N.W.A. and local Detroit rappers, Inner City Posse established many lyrical themes that would become underlying topics of the group's more famous incarnation.
Violent J, 2 Dope and John Kickjazz met in Oak Park, Michigan, a suburb one mile north of Detroit, Michigan.[1] Along with Kid Villain, they formed a gangsta rap group, calling themselves "Inner City Posse". They would also claim to be a real street gang, although J would later say they were not a real gang and their "gang activity" consisted of nothing more than petty crimes.
In 1990, Bruce and another rapper, D-Lyrical, recorded Intelligence and Violence on a karaoke machine under the name Inner City Posse, though D-Lyrical was not a member; J later said that he disliked D-Lyrical and only recorded with him for access to his karaoke machine.[2] The following year, after spending several months in prison, J and Inner City Posse began performing at local night clubs.[3] The group released the EP Bass-Ment Cuts later that year. The EP was sold first hand by Inner City Posse, their friend Rudy Hill and his cousins, and J's then-girlfriend Karen.[4]
After a recommendation by J's brother Jumpsteady, the group reached out to his friend Alex Abbiss, who owned the record store Hot Hits, to help sell the album. The group also took Jumpsteady's suggestion to hire Abbiss as a manager, who later established the Psychopathic Records record label with the group in 1991.[4] Later that year the group released the self-produced EP entitled Dog Beats; after the recording, Kid Villain quit the group and the music industry.[5] Growing popularity in the local music scene turned negative for the group, which became the target of growing violence from real gangs. After receiving jail sentences, the group members disassociated themselves from their self-applied gang label.[6]
By late 1991, the group had begun investing more money into production than was covered by returns. The group decided that its gangsta rap style was the cause of the problem, due to most rappers at the time using similar styles, making it difficult for Inner City Posse to distinguish itself stylistically.[7] J suggested that ICP adopt local rapper Esham's horrorcore style, in a bid to have Detroit represent horrorcore, much as Los Angeles represented gangsta rap. The group agreed, but not to copying the style of Esham closely. Instead, they suggested using horror-themed lyrics as an emotional outlet for all their negative life experiences. They were also unanimous in deciding not to rap openly about Satan, which Esham often did.[7]
After the change in musical style, the group decided it needed a new name. 2 Dope suggested keeping the "I.C.P." initials to inform the community that Inner City Posse was not defunct, an idea to which the group agreed.[7] Several names were considered before J recalled his dream of a clown running around in Delray, which became the inspiration for the group's new name: Insane Clown Posse. The other members agreed, deciding that they would take on this new genre and name, and would all don face paint due to the success of their former clown-painted hype man.[7]
Discography[]
- Intelligence and Violence (1990)
- Bass-Ment Cuts (1991)
- Dog Beats (1991)
References[]
- ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin. "JJ Boys and The Royal Oak Township". in Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (2nd Edition ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. page 51–61. ISBN 034544762X.
- ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin. "Intelligence and Violence". in Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (2nd Edition ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. 121–144. ISBN 09741846083.
- ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin. "Complete Discography". in Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (2nd Edition ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. page 539–540. ISBN 034544762X.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin. "Intelligence and Violence". in Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (2nd Edition ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. 136–138. ISBN 09741846083.
- ↑ All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap & Hip-hop. Backbeat Books. 2003. pp. pages 229–231. ISBN 0879307595.
- ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin. "Intelligence and Violence". in Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (second ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. 125–132. ISBN 09741846083.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin. "The Dark Carnival". in Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (2nd Edition ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. pages 174–185. ISBN 034544762X.