Insane Clown Posse (abbreviated as ICP), is an American hip-hop duo compose… Read Full Bio ↴Insane Clown Posse (abbreviated as ICP), is an American hip-hop duo composed of Violent J (Joseph Bruce) and Shaggy 2 Dope (Joseph Utsler). ICP has earned two platinum and five gold albums. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the entire catalog of the group has sold 6.5 million units in the United States and Canada as of April 2007. The group has established a dedicated following called Juggalos numbering in the "tens of thousands".

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.

Under The Big Top
Insane Clown Posse Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

"Wicked Clowns are invading you"

I'm Violent J, Papa Killjoy, I can't be fixed
I'm a crooked ass clown with some filthy tricks
I killed hot bitches out there but I grow weed plants
So every time I hit the blunt
It's like I'm hitting that ass

And I'm Shaggy, throwing heads in the air by the hair
I bounce them off my heals while people cough they meals
I kick heads like soccor balls and do tricks with them
I get hotter than a globetrotter, twirling and spinning

I sick with it with a sword, I can balance and stand on it
Killed many men, one swing in the end
I'm so quick you won't see shit but the guy's eyes wiggling
And me in the Bruce Lee stance giggling

I rob liquor stores at night when the workers are tired
I run up in that bitch swinging chainsaws on fire
And I can balance on a ball while juggling all your limbs

While rest of you is chained up in a chair watching him
Under the big top

So many tricks to show (Come down)
So many freak shows to go to (Come down)
So many eyeballs to throw
Your soul you're quick to drop
Under the big top
This wicked shit we flow to (Come down)
So many dead souls we go through (Come down)
Inside Hell's Pit they throw you
Let the fire get to know you

Violent J is a man that can end your life
And then wear your slippers and fuck your wife
You get a pie in the face, a fucking pie in the face
Then you get cut up and sent to your momma in a suitcase

Bitch I'm Shaggy clear outta my squares
I ride a bike backwards in my underwears
I tell human stories to ghosts and I dead the awake
Plus I'm trapped in the other side of the mirror I think

Twenty five chairs stacked up, I'm on the top
Fucking balancing on my head, I'm about to drop
And I'm holding up a bear on my foot that juggaling
All six in the mix, will this be the end?

This will the end of my dick all up in another bitches ass
Wicked clowns will make the wicked shit last
And I kick a dick's ass trying to stop the shit
Icepick to your temple than pop your shit
Under the Big Top

So many tricks to show (Come down)
So many freak shows to go to (Come down)
So many eyeballs to throw
Your soul you're quick to drop
Under the big top
This wicked shit we flow to (Come down)
So many dead souls we go through (Come down)
Inside Hell's Pit they throw you
Let the fire get to know you

I'm Violent J's a juggla, pillow faced smuggla
You recognize my voice? I'm in a ski mask mugging ya
I can walk on stilts 900 feet high
And than drop a dart down straight into your eye

Well I'm Shaggy Shaggs, I went from rags to rags
And I've received many meals out your garbage bags
I can do backflips all the way up a wall
Swinging an axe, that was the last thing that you saw

I can slit your throat from across the room
Throwing a Joker's Card under the light of the moon
And then I hook my feet onto your swinging ceiling fan
With two swords and yell for everybody else to come in

You can split me in the middle or saw straight down
You have two one legged halves of me jumping around
You can cut them in half, you have four of us fuckers
My limbs all crawling and attacking like brothers
Under the big top

So many tricks to show (Come down)
So many freak shows to go to (Come down)
So many eyeballs to throw
Your soul you're quick to drop
Under the big top
This wicked shit we flow to (Come down)
So many dead souls we go through (Come down)
Inside Hell's Pit they throw you
Let the fire get to know you

Under the big top

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Under the Big Top" by Insane Clown Posse paint a vivid picture of two wicked clowns invading and causing chaos. The first verse is rapped by Violent J, who introduces himself as a crooked clown with filthy tricks. He boasts about killing hot bitches but also growing weed plants. He likens hitting the blunt to hitting that ass, indicating his pleasure in both activities. Shaggy follows, rapping about throwing heads in the air, kicking heads like soccer balls, and doing tricks with swords. He also describes robbing liquor stores at night and juggling limbs while balancing on a ball. Throughout the song, the clowns exchange phrases and lines that are dark, violent, and disturbing.

Overall, the lyrics suggest that these clowns embody violence, death, and destruction. Under the big top, they showcase their wickedness and invite the listener to witness their freak shows and tricks. There is a sense of danger and unpredictability in their actions and words, and they seem to revel in their ability to shock and disturb others.

Line by Line Meaning

Wicked Clowns are invading you
The Insane Clown Posse are here to take control and invade your mind.

I'm Violent J, Papa Killjoy, I can't be fixed I'm a crooked ass clown with some filthy tricks I killed hot bitches out there but I grow weed plants So every time I hit the blunt It's like I'm hitting that ass
Violent J is an unpredictable and dangerous clown who grows weed and has a twisted sense of humor. He also enjoys killing women and indulging in his vices.

And I'm Shaggy, throwing heads in the air by the hair I bounce them off my heals while people cough they meals I kick heads like soccor balls and do tricks with them I get hotter than a globetrotter, twirling and spinning
Shaggy is another violent and twisted clown who enjoys using severed heads as toys. He also has impressive acrobatic skills.

I sick with it with a sword, I can balance and stand on it Killed many men, one swing in the end I'm so quick you won't see shit but the guy's eyes wiggling And me in the Bruce Lee stance giggling
One of the clowns is an expert with a sword and can kill quickly and efficiently. He enjoys the power and control he has over his victims.

I rob liquor stores at night when the workers are tired I run up in that bitch swinging chainsaws on fire And I can balance on a ball while juggling all your limbs While rest of you is chained up in a chair watching him
Another clown enjoys robbing stores and causing chaos with dangerous weapons. He also enjoys torturing his victims and showing off his talents to those he has captured.

So many tricks to show (Come down) So many freak shows to go to (Come down) So many eyeballs to throw Your soul you're quick to drop Under the big top
The carnival is full of strange and twisted attractions that can enchant and ensnare those who attend, who may find themselves forever changed by the experience.

This wicked shit we flow to (Come down) So many dead souls we go through (Come down) Inside Hell's Pit they throw you Let the fire get to know you
The Insane Clown Posse is all about exploring the darkest aspects of life and death, and they invite their listeners to join them in this exploration.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSEPH BRUCE, JOSEPH UTSLER, MICHAEL PUWAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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