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.
How Many Times
Insane Clown Posse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How many times will I ask myself why, how many times?
How many times will I ask myself why, how many times will I cry? (2x)
How many times will you honk your horn and say fuck you?
Now what the fuck does that do?
Ya feel better now? I didn't let ya pass
How many times will my neighbor beat his wife?
Somewhere in that house there's a butcher knife
Fuckin' drunk, swingin' his fists about
Why don't she wait till he sleeps then take him out
How many times will I sit in a hot car?
Traffic jam, been sittin' for a fuckin' hour
Must be an accident, I hope nobody died
Finally get there, and the crash is on the other side
The gawkers roll and they creep slow
Hoping they can see a mangled body show
Some park, and stand there and watch it all
With their kids, they point, and fuckin stare (and just look)
I remember one time I was pulled over
Handcuffed, the cop was like, show's over
People watching, hoping that he shoots me
I just wanted to choke the fucking head
How many times will I ask myself why, how many times?
How many times will I ask myself why, how many times will I cry?
How many times will I wait in a line?
It's three-thirty, I fuckin' got here at nine
I'm finally up to the front, can't wait another minute
Why am I here? to pay a fucking parking ticket
The lady at the counter acts like a fuckin bitch
No smiles, no help, you're just a piece of shit
I'm gettin' pissed, calm down, fuck it, forget it
Back to my car, and there it is, another ticket
How many times will a crackhead smoke crack
And ask me for some money 'cause he wants crack
Give him money, again, he's coming back
Walk away, and here's another, "Gimme some crack"
How many time will a kid give a dirty look?
A little punk-ass bitch tryin to be a crook
I wrote the book, I was out robbin' liquor stores
When you were just a nut stain in your momma's drawers
How many times will you steal my car stereo?
It don't even work, ya feel like a bitch, don't you?
I vacuum all the fuckin' glass off from my seat
I sit down, and got a piece stuck in my butt cheek
How many times did I walk in, and just sit?
And have to listen, and learn all this bullshit
Learnin' history and science, fuckin' wait
Knowin' that, will that put food on my plate?
Yeah, can I walk into McDonald's, up to the counter
And tell 'em you can make limestone from gunpowder
Will they give me a cheeseburger if I know that shit?
Fuck no, fuck you, and shut your fuckin' lip
How many times will a judge decide my fate?
Who is he? A bitch, nothing great
He takes shits, and fucks his old floppy wife
Plays with his balls and judges my life!
"And who the fuck is he?
He judges my life"
The lyrics to Insane Clown Posse's "How Many Times" depict a person reflecting on the various frustrations and injustices they have faced in their life. The singer asks how many times they will have to endure these experiences, such as being stuck in traffic or mistreated by authority figures. The song suggests feelings of powerlessness and disillusionment with the world, as the singer is forced to navigate through their daily struggles without any control or agency.
One of the primary themes of the song is the idea of being trapped or constrained by external circumstances. The singer is frustrated by the fact that they cannot escape their problems, as they are constantly being confronted by them in various forms. Additionally, the song touches on issues of oppression and violence, particularly against women. The singer describes their neighbor being abusive towards his wife and suggests that she may have to resort to violence in order to protect herself. Overall, "How Many Times" is a bleak reflection on the difficulties of life and the various forms of injustice that people can face.
Line by Line Meaning
How many times will I ask myself why, how many times?
How often will I question my circumstances and my place in the world?
How many times will I ask myself why, how many times will I cry?
How often will my questions and doubts bring me to tears?
How many times will you honk your horn and say fuck you?
How many times will you engage in mindless aggression and anger instead of seeking resolution?
Now what the fuck does that do?
What is the point of your hostility and aggression?
Ya feel better now? I didn't let ya pass
Did your anger actually achieve anything? I refused to be intimidated by you.
How 'bout I stop my car, and beat your fuckin' ass?
Would it make you feel better if I responded to your aggression with violence?
How many times will my neighbor beat his wife?
How often will I be forced to witness and hear about domestic violence in my community?
Somewhere in that house there's a butcher knife
The situation is dangerous and potentially deadly.
Fuckin' drunk, swingin' his fists about
The perpetrator is volatile and unpredictable.
Why don't she wait till he sleeps then take him out
Why doesn't she defend herself against her abuser when he is most vulnerable?
How many times will I sit in a hot car?
How many times will I be stuck in an uncomfortable and frustrating situation?
Traffic jam, been sittin' for a fuckin' hour
The situation is aggravating and pointless.
Must be an accident, I hope nobody died
There is a possibility of tragedy and loss in this situation.
Finally get there, and the crash is on the other side
The delay and inconvenience were ultimately pointless and unnecessary.
The gawkers roll and they creep slow
People are slowing down to view something potentially gruesome and distressing.
Hoping they can see a mangled body show
Some people find satisfaction in seeing others suffer and experience violence.
Some park, and stand there and watch it all
Some people show no empathy or decency towards others, even in times of tragedy.
With their kids, they point, and fuckin stare (and just look)
Even children are being exposed and desensitized to violence and suffering.
I remember one time I was pulled over
The singer is recalling a past experience.
Handcuffed, the cop was like, show's over
The artist was needlessly and unfairly detained by law enforcement.
People watching, hoping that he shoots me
Onlookers were cruelly hoping for the artist's demise.
I just wanted to choke the fucking head
The artist was feeling angry and vengeful towards those who wronged him.
How many times will I wait in a line?
How often will I be forced to endure bureaucracy and pointless waiting?
It's three-thirty, I fuckin' got here at nine
The wait has been unreasonably long and frustrating.
I'm finally up to the front, can't wait another minute
The singer is at their limit and can't endure any more waiting.
Why am I here? to pay a fucking parking ticket
The whole experience has been pointless and infuriating.
The lady at the counter acts like a fuckin bitch
The singer is encountering rude and unhelpful service.
No smiles, no help, you're just a piece of shit
The artist is treated with contempt and disrespect.
I'm gettin' pissed, calm down, fuck it, forget it
The artist is trying to manage their anger and frustration.
Back to my car, and there it is, another ticket
The singer's day is just getting worse and worse.
How many times will a crackhead smoke crack
How often will someone fall prey to addiction and self-destruction?
And ask me for some money 'cause he wants crack
The addict is willing to beg and exploit others to support their habit.
Give him money, again, he's coming back
Enabling an addict only perpetuates their destructive behavior.
Walk away, and here's another, "Gimme some crack"
The cycle of addiction and dependency repeats itself endlessly.
How many time will a kid give a dirty look?
How often will children exhibit disrespectful and aggressive behavior?
A little punk-ass bitch tryin to be a crook
The artist views the child as misguided and foolish.
I wrote the book, I was out robbin' liquor stores
The singer has experience with real criminal activity, unlike the child.
When you were just a nut stain in your momma's drawers
The singer sees the child as immature and naive compared to their experiences.
How many times will you steal my car stereo?
How often will someone rob and vandalize my property?
It don't even work, ya feel like a bitch, don't you?
The act of stealing and destroying is ultimately pointless and self-defeating.
I vacuum all the fuckin' glass off from my seat
The victim is left to clean up the damage and violation done to their property.
I sit down, and got a piece stuck in my butt cheek
The destruction has lingering, inconvenient effects on the victim.
How many times did I walk in, and just sit?
How often have I been forced to sit through pointless or frustrating experiences?
And have to listen, and learn all this bullshit
The artist is being forced to endure dull, uninteresting content.
Learnin' history and science, fuckin' wait
Subjects the artist finds boring and irrelevant are being forced upon them.
Knowin' that, will that put food on my plate?
The artist is questioning the practical value of the education they are receiving.
Yeah, can I walk into McDonald's, up to the counter
The singer is proposing a thought experiment.
And tell 'em you can make limestone from gunpowder
The artist is positing an absurd and irrelevant fact to highlight the uselessness of their education.
Will they give me a cheeseburger if I know that shit?
The singer is arguing that their education is pointless and will not bring practical rewards.
Fuck no, fuck you, and shut your fuckin' lip
The singer is angry and dismissive of those who try to justify a useless education.
How many times will a judge decide my fate?
The singer is questioning the fairness and validity of the justice system.
Who is he? A bitch, nothing great
The artist is intentionally provocative and dismissive of those in positions of power.
He takes shits, and fucks his old floppy wife
The artist is being crass and vulgar in their depiction of a judge.
Plays with his balls and judges my life!
The singer is resentful of the judge's authority over their life and future.
"And who the fuck is he?
The singer is providing a rhetorical question that reflects their anger and skepticism.
He judges my life"
The artist feels that their life and future are controlled by an arbitrary and unfair justice system.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH BRUCE, JOSEPH UTSLER, MIKE E. CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
adrian
on Freaky Tales
bruh