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.
Manic Depressive
Insane Clown Posse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In my mind's eye
You throw wickedness at me
I'm just a toy to you
I bring no real joy to you
The way I see it
You don't want me here no more
You want a hole in my forehead
Cause I'm so dirty
Fuckin' dirty and shoddy
I want up out of this body
That's hated by everybody
Sometimes I don't know why
I continue to try
It's so much easier to die
Than to get by
And to get by
And to get by..
[Verse - Violent J]
If I'm gonna die
I'm taking you with me
Get you and get me
We can be bloody
If I'm gonna fly
I'm gonna succeed
Take you and get me
We can be bloody
Sometimes I don't know why
I continue to try
It's so much easier to die
Than to get by
And to get by
And to get by..
[Verse - Shaggy 2 Dope]
I don't want to leave my house
Don't want to open my mouth
Don't want to read my mail
Don't want to meet with pals
I don't want to fuck shit up
Don't want to fuckin' get up
Don't want to take up space
Don't want your time to waste
I don't want to fight this back
Just want to fade to black
Don't want to turn to faith
Or want to burn at stakes
I don't want to build my life
I want to bloody my knife
Don't want to grab the phone
Don't want to leave this room
I don't want to talk with you
I'm fuckin' stalkin' you
Don't want to fix myself
I want to nix myself
I don't want to try to change
Just want to fry my brains
Don't want to slow shit down
I want to throw shit around
I don't want to run nowhere
Don't want no one to care
Don't want another crack at it
I'd rather be a crack addict
I don't want to look for help
Don't want to help myself
I don't want to even try
To get by
To get by..
The song Manic Depressive by ICP is a poignant reflection of the struggles of mental illness. The lyrics describe the inner psychological turmoil that is characterized by feelings of worthlessness and the desire to hurt oneself. Violent J ruminates over the fact that his mind continually throws wickedness at him, and that he feels like he is nothing but a toy to the person he is addressing in the song. He is convinced that this person wants him dead, and that he is so dirty and shoddy that everybody hates him. The chorus reflects the desperation and hopelessness that comes with trying to fight against mental illness. It seems as though it would be easier to die than to keep struggling to get by in life.
Shaggy 2 Dope's verse further reflects the struggle of trying to cope with the symptoms of mental illness. He doesn't want to leave his house, meet with friends, or even open his mail. He feels like he is a burden and that his time is being wasted. He doesn't want to try to fix himself, and instead, he wants to hurt himself. Shaggy 2 Dope's desperate plea for respite from his troubles reflects the overwhelming amount of pain and confusion that can come with mental illness.
Line by Line Meaning
In my mind's eye
In my imagination
You throw wickedness at me
You intentionally harm me
I'm just a toy to you
You regard me as insignificant
I bring no real joy to you
I do not make you happy
The way I see it
As far as I am concerned
You don't want me here no more
You do not want to be around me anymore
You want a hole in my forehead
You wish to kill me
And blood pourin' on the floor
And have my blood flow on the ground
Cause I'm so dirty
Because I am undesirable
Fuckin' dirty and shoddy
Completely filthy and worthless
I want up out of this body
I want to escape from my physical self
That's hated by everybody
That everyone dislikes
Sometimes I don't know why
At times, I don't understand why
I continue to try
I keep attempting
It's so much easier to die
Ending my life is less difficult
Than to get by
Than to survive
If I'm gonna die
If I'm going to pass away
I'm taking you with me
You will also die
Get you and get me
We will both perish
We can be bloody
There will be blood
If I'm gonna fly
If I'm going to prosper
I'm gonna succeed
I will achieve success
Take you and get me
You and I will achieve success
Sometimes I don't know why
At times, I don't understand why
I continue to try
I keep attempting
It's so much easier to die
Ending my life is less difficult
Than to get by
Than to survive
I don't want to leave my house
I do not want to go out
Don't want to open my mouth
I do not want to speak
Don't want to read my mail
I do not want to check my messages
Don't want to meet with pals
I do not want to hang out with friends
I don't want to fuck shit up
I do not want to mess anything up
Don't want to fuckin' get up
I do not want to get out of bed
Don't want to take up space
I do not want to occupy physical space
Don't want your time to waste
I do not wish to waste your time
I don't want to fight this back
I do not wish to resist these feelings
Just want to fade to black
I want to disappear, to die
Don't want to turn to faith
I do not want to turn to religion
Or want to burn at stakes
Nor do I want to be burned alive
I don't want to build my life
I have no desire to create something meaningful
I want to bloody my knife
Instead, I want to kill
Don't want to grab the phone
I do not want to answer the phone
Don't want to leave this room
I do not want to depart from this room
I don't want to talk with you
I do not want to converse with you
I'm fuckin' stalkin' you
I am obsessively following you
Don't want to fix myself
I do not want to improve myself
I want to nix myself
I wish to end my own life
I don't want to try to change
I do not want to attempt to make changes to myself
Just want to fry my brains
Instead, I want to damage my brain
Don't want to slow shit down
I do not want to take things more slowly
I want to throw shit around
Instead, I want to cause chaos
I don't want to run nowhere
I do not want to escape
Don't want no one to care
I do not want anyone to care about me
Don't want another crack at it
I do not want to try again
I'd rather be a crack addict
I would prefer to be addicted to drugs
I don't want to look for help
I do not want to seek assistance
Don't want to help myself
I do not want to help myself
I don't want to even try
I do not want to make an effort
To get by
To survive
To get by..
To survive
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
adrian
on Freaky Tales
bruh