Founded in Detroit in 1989, Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore and is known for its elaborate live performances. Originally known as JJ Boyz and Inner City Posse, the group introduced supernatural- and horror-themed lyrics as a means of distinguishing itself stylistically. The duo founded the independent record label Psychopathic Records with Alex Abbiss as manager, and produced and starred in the feature films Big Money Hustlas and Big Money Rustlas. They formed their own professional wrestling promotion, Juggalo Championship Wrestling, and later collaborated with many hip hop and rock musicians.
The songs of Insane Clown Posse center thematically on the mythology of the Dark Carnival, a metaphoric limbo in which the lives of the dead are judged by one of several entities. The Dark Carnival is elaborated through a series of stories called Joker's Cards, each of which offers a specific lesson designed to change the "evil ways" of listeners before "the end consumes us all". The original lineup of Insane Clown Posse was John Utsler (John Kickjazz), Joe Bruce (Violent J) and Joey Utsler (Shaggy 2 Dope). John Utsler left before Carnival of Carnage was released in 1992.
Insane Clown Posse's performance style is often described as horrorcore hip hop, which "utilize shocking (and blatantly over-the-top) narratives to give an over-exaggerated, almost cartoon-like version of urban deprivation in Detroit", according to author Sara Cohen. Bruce and Utsler describe many of their lyrics as being tongue-in-cheek. The group's early work features a raw, minimalistic sound, which later evolved into a more rock-oriented style. The group's lyrics serve as morality tales, with songs focusing on subjects such as cannibalism, murder and necrophilia. Insane Clown Posse's debut album, Carnival of Carnage, features a politically-oriented focus, criticizing elitism and prejudice against those who live in the ghetto, while the album's liner notes criticize the Gulf War. The group's lyrics have opposed racism, bigotry, domestic violence, and child abuse.
Insane Clown Posse has covered songs by Geto Boys, Sly Fox, and Above the Law. Bruce and Utsler refer to Ice Cube, Awesome Dre, Geto Boys, and Esham as influences on their own music, while Bruce has expressed admiration for Gong, Pearl Jam, and Michael Jackson. Mike E. Clark's production for the group incorporates elements such as "carnival organ riffs, power chords and shotgun blasts...banjolike plucking and Van Halen-esque guitar squeals", while Bruce and Utsler sometimes alternate between rapping and screaming. Bruce has credited pop music as an influence on some of the group's material, even terming the music "Wicked Pop". Bruce has also stated "We do our own genre of music". In his review of The Tempest, Allmusic's David Jeffries writes that Bruce and Utsler "[rap] in a carnival barker fashion that fits with their circus motif, their Insane Clown disguises, and Mike E. Clark's big top-inspired production." Insane Clown Posse has influenced similar acts, such as Axe Murder Boyz, Blaze Ya Dead Homie and Boondox.
Behind The Paint
Insane Clown Posse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(They look too spooky) Dickface (It kinda reminds me of gang related)
(Before the anti-Christ who is coming)
Remember me bitch 8th grade
Ball park skinny ass well-fare aid
Ulster and Bruce brothers we was the shit
Dungeons Dragons, and Bruce Lee flicks
Nobody hugged and kissed us only dissed us
Now look at these beautiful model type high class women
Takin' my dick in em
You don't remember my kind in class
The whipped out freak starin' at your ass
Never had the courage to even say hi
Only smell your perfume vapors as you walk by
I'm the scrub that never crossed your mind
Now your flashing your titties at me waitin' in line
And that's fine while you're working your charm
Look beneath the paint bitch its the scrubs who won
You used to say "Ahhh Hah!"
Look at him the same pair of pants and that shirt again
An outcast I knew I had to do something
Figure out a way to make something out of nothin'
Open up shop got what you need
Speakers clothes CD's or bags of weed
But that shit got me nowhere except jail
Me and all my homies to broke to make the bail
So now we're right back at the place we started
Chuckles and laugh the second we turn our backs
Assed out but we was like "fuck y'all"
We got each other and the drop of the homie call
Look at us now bitch holdin' platinum
All up on my dick but I'm the same as back then
Forget the money and fame because
Beneath the paint life's just as it always was
Look at me!
Analyze! What you see?
Look at me!
Analyze! What you see?
Another girl I don't dare to confide in
Playing that role it hurts inside
Here I am thinking she wants me
She only wants that killer on her CD
Just when I couldn't feel any worse
Bitch asked me if I could paint my face first
The day I finally get to leave this land
Behind the paint will be the shell of a used up man
Behind the paint will be the shell of a used up man
The shell of a used up man
The shell of a used up man
Behind the paint will be the shell of a used up man (Analyze!)
The shell of a used up man
The shell of a used up man
Nothing left but the shell of a used up man
Nothing left but the shell of a used up man
Behind the paint will be the shell of a used up man (Analyze!)
The shell of a used up man
The shell of a used up man
The Insane Clown Posse's song Behind The Paint is a deeply personal and reflective piece that delves into the struggles and pain of two individuals who felt like outsiders in their youth but have gone on to achieve success in their own right. The song starts with a verse that centers on Violent J's experience in school, where he describes the feelings of being an outcast, and how he never connected with the "model type high class women" who now want him. This part of the song is a reflection on the things he never had and the sacrifice he had to make to get to where he is.
The second verse is about Shaggy 2 Dope's experience, where he dealt with feelings of inadequacy and being judged by a girl he had a crush on. He tells the story of how she only wanted "that killer on her CD," highlighting the importance of their intense persona and how it shapes their identity. Both rappers use their stories to contrast their past and present lives, showing that although they have achieved fame and success, they never forget the struggles that made them who they are.
Behind The Paint speaks to the idea that identity is complex and multifaceted, and that success is not necessarily the answer to everything. It is also a commentary on the way society judges people based on their looks and how appearances can be deceiving.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember me bitch 8th grade
I was a misfit in school, and no one paid attention to me.
Ball park skinny ass well-fare aid
I was so poor that I relied on welfare, and I was really skinny.
Ulster and Bruce brothers we was the shit
I had two close friends, and together we felt powerful and important.
Dungeons Dragons, and Bruce Lee flicks
We were big fans of fantasy and martial arts movies.
Quit school nobody missed us,
We dropped out of school, and nobody cared.
Nobody hugged and kissed us only dissed us
We were never shown affection or love, only rejection and criticism.
Now look at these beautiful model type high class women
Now that we're famous and successful, we attract gorgeous and wealthy women.
Takin' my dick in em
These women are interested in me only for sex.
You don't remember my kind in class
You, the popular people from my school, never noticed me.
The whipped out freak starin' at your ass
When I did pay attention to you, I was too scared to talk to you and just stared at your butt.
Never had the courage to even say hi
I never had enough bravery to even greet you.
Only smell your perfume vapors as you walk by
I could only catch a whiff of your perfume as you walked past me.
I'm the scrub that never crossed your mind
I was the lowlife/losers that never existed in your world.
Now your flashing your titties at me waitin' in line
Now, you want me because of my fame and fortune and are even willing to show me your breasts.
And that's fine while you're working your charm
I don't mind that you're seducing me because I'm enamored by your beauty.
Look beneath the paint bitch its the scrubs who won
But you don't see that underneath the makeup, I'm still the same poor, unpopular guy who never won anything in life.
An outcast I knew I had to do something
I was a social reject, and I knew I had to turn my life around somehow.
Figure out a way to make something out of nothin'
I had to find a way to succeed despite having nothing to begin with.
Open up shop got what you need
I started a business selling music, clothing, and drugs.
Speakers clothes CD's or bags of weed
My shop sold various items, including music, clothes, and marijuana.
But that shit got me nowhere except jail
Unfortunately, my illegal ventures eventually led me to prison.
Me and all my homies to broke to make the bail
Me and my buddies were so poor that we couldn't even afford to make bail.
So now we're right back at the place we started
After serving our sentence, we had to start again from the bottom.
Chuckles and laugh the second we turn our backs
Our friends and enemies alike mock us when we're not around.
Assed out but we was like 'fuck y'all'
We were miserable, but we refused to let others get the best of us.
We got each other and the drop of the homie call
We relied on each other for support, and we were always ready to help each other out.
Look at us now bitch holdin' platinum
Now, we're famous and successful musicians who sell millions of records.
All up on my dick but I'm the same as back then
Despite my success, I'm still the same person I was before, and I never forget where I came from.
Forget the money and fame because
I don't care about money or fame as much as I do about the people that matter to me.
Beneath the paint life's just as it always was
Underneath my makeup and stage persona, my life is not much different than before.
Another girl I don't dare to confide in
I meet another girl who I like but am afraid to share my thoughts with.
Playing that role it hurts inside
I'm pretending to be someone I'm not, and it's painful.
Here I am thinking she wants me
I'm misunderstanding her actions and thinking she has feelings for me.
She only wants that killer on her CD
In reality, she's only interested in my stage persona, not the real me.
Just when I couldn't feel any worse
I'm already feeling down, but then something else happens to make me feel worse.
Bitch asked me if I could paint my face first
The girl asks me to put on my clown makeup before we have sex, making it clear that she only wants me as a character, not as a person.
The day I finally get to leave this land
I look forward to the day I die and leave this world behind.
Behind the paint will be the shell of a used up man
Once I die, all that will be left is my worn-out body, stripped of the persona that I've built up.
The shell of a used up man
I'll be an empty vessel that once held a larger-than-life character.
Nothing left but the shell of a used up man
All that's left is a worthless and obsolete shell of a human being.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH BRUCE, MIKE E. CLARK, WILLIAM DAIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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