This was a very productive and busy year in music for me personally. With Faygoluvers I was able to do 23 album reviews, that is a little less than 1 every 2 weeks! I was hoping for 2 a month so I missed that a little but I was so close. I also did Interviews with Gangsta Boo, Madchild, Adlib, Ganxsta NIP, Slaine, Zug Izland, Cryptic Wisdom, Mr Grey, Raz Simone, DJ Clay, Prevail, and Sozay. That is an average of 1 every month! Once again I could not have done any of that without Scottie D hooking it all up on Faygoluvers.net.
I also hosted another concert this year. It was Mr Grey and his "Warpath to the Gathering of the Juggalos" tour. It was a super small venue but the show was dope and all the artists threw down! I attended a ton of concerts and wrote reviews for Faygoluvers and I once again owe all that to Scottie D, James Wright, and a few others for the hookups on that.
In 2014 we saw Twiztid create Majik Ninja Entertainment and announce their first artists signed as Blaze and ROC. They have also announced they will be releasing an album called The Darkness on Jan 27, 2015. When their tour came through Tucson I had a chance to lead their street team and actually meet them for the first time since I was in the Homies video way back in the day. This year the label released it's first album Blaze Ya Dead Homie "Gang Rags: Reborn". In 2015 we have been told Twiztid will release "The Darkness" and "The moment You've All Been Waiting For" and re-releasing "W.I.C.K.E.D" and "Abominationz", R.O.C. "Digital Voodoo", and Blaze's next untitled album. I can safely say I am super excited to see what is coming next from the dynamic duo and MNE.
2014 saw Psychopathic Records release some bombs. They released AMB "The Garcia Brothers", Boondox "Abaddon", ABK "The Perfection Collection", Dark Lotus "The Mud, Water, Air, and Blood", Killjoy Club "Reindeer Games", ICP "20th Anniversary Hallowicked" "The First Six" box set, and "House of Wax". This was a much better year for Psychopathic than 2013 without a doubt. We also saw the Gathering moved to a new location. From all accounts it was a nice change and went off without a hitch. Coming up for them in 2015 we have been told albums from DJ Clay, DJ Paul, ABK, AMB, ICP, Otis, Big Hoodoo, Boondox, The Hav Nots, Vanilla Ice, Zug Izland, Legz & the purple gang, Rydas, and more are coming. But that is purely speculation.
2014 was a big year for Strange Music as well. They released Tech N9ne "Strtangeulation", Mayday and Murs "Mursday", Ces Cru "Codename: Ego Stripper", and Rittz "Next to Nothing". They went on a massive nationwide tour. Not much has been announced for 2015 yet except Tech N9ne "Special Effects" and K.A.B.O.S.H. "Amafrican Psycho".
All in all 2014 was a really good year for Underground Horrorcore and it's fans.
As I look forward into 2015 I would like to accomplish the following things with Faygoluvers:
1. Write and post at least 4 album reviews a month (1 major label & 1 independent artist every 2 weeks)
2. Continue interviewing artists and try to broaden our reach into other genres our fans are interested in (Metal, Rock, and Hip hop)
3. Make it to Dallas and ride to the Gathering with the Faygoluvers crew. Then make the Gathering as accessable to our fans as we can!
Personally I would love to do these things in music:
1. Host 2 concerts in Tucson.
2. Finish recording and release JV's album.
3. Work with artists I have worked with in the past to get production credits to add to my resume!
I have a feeling 2015 will be a dynamic and highly evolving thing this year. Faygoluvers is just starting and I project we will continue to dominate the internet coverage of all thing Underground. I also hope Juggalos can truely embrace what I know as "Family" and stop the division in the fan base. We are all in this together, artists and fans alike, and we need to have each others backs cause noone else will!
MMFWFL Family,
Juggalotus
Showing posts with label Blaze ya Dead Homie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blaze ya Dead Homie. Show all posts
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Friday, December 27, 2013
End of the Year blog time
Yes we have reached the end of 2013! With this being my last post of the year I wanted to take a minute to look back and reflect on the changes we have seen in music and then look to the future and give some predictions of what we might see in 2014. So without further ado here we go:
In 2013 we saw turmoil and upheaval in the Underground music scene. It has been one year since Twiztid left Psychopathic. In that time we saw them release A New Nightmare, return to the Gathering as Guest performers, go on two tours in support of their last release on Psychopathic, Abominationz, and open a new web store. While they have yet to release an official statement about their release the speculation behind A New Nightmare is that it tells their side without a statement being needed.
We also saw what many of us hope is not the future of Psychopathic Records. In the past year the label has released the following albums: Legz Diamond 9 Pistolas, DJ Clay A World Upside Down, Big Hoodoo Crystal Skull, and Zug Izland Toxicology. Those albums all fell way short of the expectations Juggalos had. Legz and Hoodoo were both heavily co-written and influenced by Joe Bruce and that really hurt the albums. Clay's album was good but nothing really outstanding. And Zug's was not really promoted and I have yet to actually hear it. We also saw them bounce every check they wrote for the Gathering and have yet to this day not paid those people. I firmly believe that is why the Gathering is being moved, but I don't have any evidence of that so for now it is a theory. We saw them let Blaze leave when his contract ended, send people on the road with limited funds and little to no promotion, and have lawsuits filed against them for sexual harassment and other charges.
We saw the Kottonmouth Kings leave Suburban Noize Records and claim Kevin Zinger was ripping them off. Since then we have seen hateful accusations in interviews on both sides. We also watched Johnny Richter walk away from the Kottonmouth Kings after 18 years and go solo. He released a solo EP called FreeKING Out on Suburban Noize Records and is preparing to release his next solo LP next year.
The highlight of the Underground music scene this year was Strange Music. In 2013 the label released ten albums. Releases from Brotha Lynch Hung, Kutt Calhoun, CES Cru, Rittz, Wrekonize, Mayday, Tech N9ne, Stevie Stone, Krizz Kaliko, and Prozak. All of those albums were expertly done and will not disappoint both mainstream and underground fans. This label has shown themselves to be the cream of the crop. They put out top notch music throughout the year and kept the fans eager to buy the next. This is how it should be done.
Now lets leave the past behind us and look to the future. I am going to break this section down per record label or group and then give you my thoughts on what I expect to happen.
First lets look at Psychopathic Records. The release of the Joker's Cards Box Set has been delayed from it's Dec 17, 2013 release date and there is no new date given. The speculation is this was done due to immediate backlash when pics surfaced of the product itself. We expect Anybody Killa "Shape Shifter", a new ICP EP, Mike E Clark, Vanilla Ice, and Axe Murder Boys "Garcia Brothers" to all be released in 2014 but no release dates have been given as of the date of this post. We also will see the Gathering of the Juggalos change venues for the first time since 2007. We still have no information on where it will be but there is plenty of speculation on the net.
Now here is what I think is going to happen with them this year:
1. The ABK, Vanilla Ice, and AMB releases will all be released and do horrible due to lack of promotion or they will not be released at all and delayed.
2. ICP and Mike Clark will be released and hopefully live up to expectations although I am skeptical they will.
3. This will be on of the last years for the Gathering. After the events that occurred last year I think they will have a difficult time finding groups to perform, sites for the event, and money to make it happen.
4. Finally I think we will see a large number of fans drop the hatchet. I know I will get some hate for that prediction but we have already seen a lot of old school cats walk away. Once Twiztid left there was a huge group of fans that lost all respect for Joe and Psychopathic Records. I expect those trends to continue as long as mediocre albums are released and horrible business decisions are made.
Next lets see what Twiztid has in store for us. They have announced that a new album is on the way. It will be titled "The Moment You've All Been Waiting For." They have also announced that they would like to get more TV and movie opportunities. So let me share what I think is going to happen with the demented Duo:
1. The new album will be released. I think it will be the beginning of their rise in mainstream as well as cementing their legacy in the underground.
2. I think they will tour for a majority of the year again. I also think they will make a trip out of the country if legal issues permit it (Canada and maybe Australia).
3. I think we will finally see the collab most Juggalos have been demanding, Eminem and Twiztid. If it does happen you can count on this being the year of Twiztid.
Next lets look at KMK. I think we will see KMK really disappear. Once the "lawsuit" gets settled I think KMK will release a new album and possibly tour in support of the album but I do not see them climbing out of the hole that Daddy X has put them in.
Let now look at Suburban Noize Records. I think we will see them bounce back from the lawsuit well. Once the legal issues are cleared up we will see them sign at least 2-3 more acts. I predict we will see Potluck release a successful album and tour in support of that album. I think it will begin the rise of Subnoize back to a respectable label. I do think Johnny Richter will release his next album on Subnoize and it will be a huge success.
Finally here is what I think we will see from Strange Music. I think they will continue to put out solid releases from all of their artists. I think they will once again hold the flame for the underground. They will be the beacon for crossover fans. Their label is going strong and I do not see that slowing down in 2014.
Now all of these things may or may not happen. These are just my thoughts. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you checking out my blog as often as you guys do. I wish you all a a Happy New Year and want to thank you for your continued support!
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
In 2013 we saw turmoil and upheaval in the Underground music scene. It has been one year since Twiztid left Psychopathic. In that time we saw them release A New Nightmare, return to the Gathering as Guest performers, go on two tours in support of their last release on Psychopathic, Abominationz, and open a new web store. While they have yet to release an official statement about their release the speculation behind A New Nightmare is that it tells their side without a statement being needed.
We also saw what many of us hope is not the future of Psychopathic Records. In the past year the label has released the following albums: Legz Diamond 9 Pistolas, DJ Clay A World Upside Down, Big Hoodoo Crystal Skull, and Zug Izland Toxicology. Those albums all fell way short of the expectations Juggalos had. Legz and Hoodoo were both heavily co-written and influenced by Joe Bruce and that really hurt the albums. Clay's album was good but nothing really outstanding. And Zug's was not really promoted and I have yet to actually hear it. We also saw them bounce every check they wrote for the Gathering and have yet to this day not paid those people. I firmly believe that is why the Gathering is being moved, but I don't have any evidence of that so for now it is a theory. We saw them let Blaze leave when his contract ended, send people on the road with limited funds and little to no promotion, and have lawsuits filed against them for sexual harassment and other charges.
We saw the Kottonmouth Kings leave Suburban Noize Records and claim Kevin Zinger was ripping them off. Since then we have seen hateful accusations in interviews on both sides. We also watched Johnny Richter walk away from the Kottonmouth Kings after 18 years and go solo. He released a solo EP called FreeKING Out on Suburban Noize Records and is preparing to release his next solo LP next year.
The highlight of the Underground music scene this year was Strange Music. In 2013 the label released ten albums. Releases from Brotha Lynch Hung, Kutt Calhoun, CES Cru, Rittz, Wrekonize, Mayday, Tech N9ne, Stevie Stone, Krizz Kaliko, and Prozak. All of those albums were expertly done and will not disappoint both mainstream and underground fans. This label has shown themselves to be the cream of the crop. They put out top notch music throughout the year and kept the fans eager to buy the next. This is how it should be done.
Now lets leave the past behind us and look to the future. I am going to break this section down per record label or group and then give you my thoughts on what I expect to happen.
First lets look at Psychopathic Records. The release of the Joker's Cards Box Set has been delayed from it's Dec 17, 2013 release date and there is no new date given. The speculation is this was done due to immediate backlash when pics surfaced of the product itself. We expect Anybody Killa "Shape Shifter", a new ICP EP, Mike E Clark, Vanilla Ice, and Axe Murder Boys "Garcia Brothers" to all be released in 2014 but no release dates have been given as of the date of this post. We also will see the Gathering of the Juggalos change venues for the first time since 2007. We still have no information on where it will be but there is plenty of speculation on the net.
Now here is what I think is going to happen with them this year:
1. The ABK, Vanilla Ice, and AMB releases will all be released and do horrible due to lack of promotion or they will not be released at all and delayed.
2. ICP and Mike Clark will be released and hopefully live up to expectations although I am skeptical they will.
3. This will be on of the last years for the Gathering. After the events that occurred last year I think they will have a difficult time finding groups to perform, sites for the event, and money to make it happen.
4. Finally I think we will see a large number of fans drop the hatchet. I know I will get some hate for that prediction but we have already seen a lot of old school cats walk away. Once Twiztid left there was a huge group of fans that lost all respect for Joe and Psychopathic Records. I expect those trends to continue as long as mediocre albums are released and horrible business decisions are made.
Next lets see what Twiztid has in store for us. They have announced that a new album is on the way. It will be titled "The Moment You've All Been Waiting For." They have also announced that they would like to get more TV and movie opportunities. So let me share what I think is going to happen with the demented Duo:
1. The new album will be released. I think it will be the beginning of their rise in mainstream as well as cementing their legacy in the underground.
2. I think they will tour for a majority of the year again. I also think they will make a trip out of the country if legal issues permit it (Canada and maybe Australia).
3. I think we will finally see the collab most Juggalos have been demanding, Eminem and Twiztid. If it does happen you can count on this being the year of Twiztid.
Next lets look at KMK. I think we will see KMK really disappear. Once the "lawsuit" gets settled I think KMK will release a new album and possibly tour in support of the album but I do not see them climbing out of the hole that Daddy X has put them in.
Let now look at Suburban Noize Records. I think we will see them bounce back from the lawsuit well. Once the legal issues are cleared up we will see them sign at least 2-3 more acts. I predict we will see Potluck release a successful album and tour in support of that album. I think it will begin the rise of Subnoize back to a respectable label. I do think Johnny Richter will release his next album on Subnoize and it will be a huge success.
Finally here is what I think we will see from Strange Music. I think they will continue to put out solid releases from all of their artists. I think they will once again hold the flame for the underground. They will be the beacon for crossover fans. Their label is going strong and I do not see that slowing down in 2014.
Now all of these things may or may not happen. These are just my thoughts. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you checking out my blog as often as you guys do. I wish you all a a Happy New Year and want to thank you for your continued support!
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
Sunday, April 28, 2013
The more you know
Wow has it been a month already?! I know I have been super busy but heck I have had a ton to blog about, especially with the events happening in the underground. Here is a quick list of topics I am going to give some thoughts on!
1. KMK vs Subnoize
2. The Gathering of the Juggalos 2013
3. Breaking the fourth wall and getting to know artists/rappers personally
So lets get at it!
A lot has been said back and forth between KMK and Zinger of Subnoize Records. My take is this, what happens between them is really not important to fans of the label or music. The only thing affected by all of this is who is involved in business at Subnoize and what label pays KMK. The music is still going to be released by both entities. Various Subnoize artists might jump ship if Daddy X does not manage to get the label and forms his own, then again they might not. This is yet another camp diving into chaos. A few years ago the top labels in the underground were Psychopathic and Subnoize. Now they are both in a free fall due to internal conflict and Strange has quietly taken the top spot. I know there are those of you who would disagree but I guess it is all a matter of opinion and since this is my blog that is my opinion! I will continue to buy KMK albums, review KMK albums, and support their music. I will also continue to support Subnoize and any artists associated there. I have friends on both sides of this argument and respect everyone involved for their contributions to our music genre as a whole. If you were a KMK fan before this stuff, you should be a fan after, period.
This years Gathering of the Juggalos has been dubbed "Rise of the Underground". I have no issue with Psychopathic giving love and some spotlight to Underground artists as long as their intention is just that. I think Kung Fu Vampire deserves to have a slot on the main stage along with several other big names in the Underground. But my fear is that the shift in focus is due to Psychopathic saving money either but cutting corners and not trying to get big name artists (Ice Cube, Ice T, etc) or no big name artists being willing to show some love. As we have seen in the past few years big name artists get booked and just fail to show. I hope it is just that, a fear of mine. I do think Psychopathic should spotlight more Underground artists but I do feel there is a place for a few big names on the bill too. I hope to be able to attend the Gathering again this year and hope it is as fresh as it was last year. I would also like to see more Family love. Last year the golf carts were rarely seen and when they were the main guys (ICP, Twiztid) were not on em. I saw ABK, Chop, and a few other but the big guys stayed hidden away. Maybe I just missed em I am not sure. So that is my take on the Gathering this year.
Now with both of those topics out there let me say the past year and a half has been very eye opening to me. I have had the oppotunity to do some great interviews for Faygoluvers and meet a lot of good guy and bad guys in the business. That is when I discovered that breaking that fourth wall is a blessing and a curse. Now I am not going to name people who I love as artists but really have grown to dislike as people but I will give you all a glimpse at artists who say they support the family and actually are good people on and off stage. The first guy I can say is a down to Earth dude is Bukshot. I contacted him about a collab for my guys in Black Project and he was nothing but professional. We talk often and I consider him a friend in business and life. He has nothing but respect from me. Another is Kung Fu Vampire. I have met and talked with him quite a bit and he is always down to chop it up. Respect is definitely earned by me as well. Potluck, cool dudes who always have love for the Juggalos and have earned my respect on many levels. Liquid Assassin, great guy and I hope to work with him in the future. Mr. Grey, met him at the KFV show in Mesa, cool dude and definitely talented. Mars, some people hate him and some people like him, my interactions with him have been all on the positive. He sat down for my very first interview and has done several collabs with my guys. I consider all of these guys my friends as they have always held themselves to a higher standard and make me appreciate this business. Now on the other side there are guys I have met and they all seem dope at first but as I have gotten to know them and how they do business I realize they are self centered, egotistical jerks who will only be cool with you as long as you can do something for them. Unfortunately there are a ton of them in the business and they make me question being involved at all. Luckily the guys who I mention first have made it all worth while.
As a fan I had respect for many artists and as a reported/reviewer/interviewer I have lost respect for some. I guess that is the real pitfall of being involved beyond the fan level. Do I regret it, hell no! I love what I do. I love listening and reviewing everything submitted to me by artists and Scottie D. I have nothing but love and respect for all artists out there grinding on a daily. I hope to continue to provide this blog, Faygoluvers, and other media outlets positive vibes on the Family and movement. Most of all I appreciate everyone who comes here and checks out my brain droppings and then goes over the Faygoluvers and hits up my reviews. I have Much Family Love for life.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
1. KMK vs Subnoize
2. The Gathering of the Juggalos 2013
3. Breaking the fourth wall and getting to know artists/rappers personally
So lets get at it!
A lot has been said back and forth between KMK and Zinger of Subnoize Records. My take is this, what happens between them is really not important to fans of the label or music. The only thing affected by all of this is who is involved in business at Subnoize and what label pays KMK. The music is still going to be released by both entities. Various Subnoize artists might jump ship if Daddy X does not manage to get the label and forms his own, then again they might not. This is yet another camp diving into chaos. A few years ago the top labels in the underground were Psychopathic and Subnoize. Now they are both in a free fall due to internal conflict and Strange has quietly taken the top spot. I know there are those of you who would disagree but I guess it is all a matter of opinion and since this is my blog that is my opinion! I will continue to buy KMK albums, review KMK albums, and support their music. I will also continue to support Subnoize and any artists associated there. I have friends on both sides of this argument and respect everyone involved for their contributions to our music genre as a whole. If you were a KMK fan before this stuff, you should be a fan after, period.
This years Gathering of the Juggalos has been dubbed "Rise of the Underground". I have no issue with Psychopathic giving love and some spotlight to Underground artists as long as their intention is just that. I think Kung Fu Vampire deserves to have a slot on the main stage along with several other big names in the Underground. But my fear is that the shift in focus is due to Psychopathic saving money either but cutting corners and not trying to get big name artists (Ice Cube, Ice T, etc) or no big name artists being willing to show some love. As we have seen in the past few years big name artists get booked and just fail to show. I hope it is just that, a fear of mine. I do think Psychopathic should spotlight more Underground artists but I do feel there is a place for a few big names on the bill too. I hope to be able to attend the Gathering again this year and hope it is as fresh as it was last year. I would also like to see more Family love. Last year the golf carts were rarely seen and when they were the main guys (ICP, Twiztid) were not on em. I saw ABK, Chop, and a few other but the big guys stayed hidden away. Maybe I just missed em I am not sure. So that is my take on the Gathering this year.
Now with both of those topics out there let me say the past year and a half has been very eye opening to me. I have had the oppotunity to do some great interviews for Faygoluvers and meet a lot of good guy and bad guys in the business. That is when I discovered that breaking that fourth wall is a blessing and a curse. Now I am not going to name people who I love as artists but really have grown to dislike as people but I will give you all a glimpse at artists who say they support the family and actually are good people on and off stage. The first guy I can say is a down to Earth dude is Bukshot. I contacted him about a collab for my guys in Black Project and he was nothing but professional. We talk often and I consider him a friend in business and life. He has nothing but respect from me. Another is Kung Fu Vampire. I have met and talked with him quite a bit and he is always down to chop it up. Respect is definitely earned by me as well. Potluck, cool dudes who always have love for the Juggalos and have earned my respect on many levels. Liquid Assassin, great guy and I hope to work with him in the future. Mr. Grey, met him at the KFV show in Mesa, cool dude and definitely talented. Mars, some people hate him and some people like him, my interactions with him have been all on the positive. He sat down for my very first interview and has done several collabs with my guys. I consider all of these guys my friends as they have always held themselves to a higher standard and make me appreciate this business. Now on the other side there are guys I have met and they all seem dope at first but as I have gotten to know them and how they do business I realize they are self centered, egotistical jerks who will only be cool with you as long as you can do something for them. Unfortunately there are a ton of them in the business and they make me question being involved at all. Luckily the guys who I mention first have made it all worth while.
As a fan I had respect for many artists and as a reported/reviewer/interviewer I have lost respect for some. I guess that is the real pitfall of being involved beyond the fan level. Do I regret it, hell no! I love what I do. I love listening and reviewing everything submitted to me by artists and Scottie D. I have nothing but love and respect for all artists out there grinding on a daily. I hope to continue to provide this blog, Faygoluvers, and other media outlets positive vibes on the Family and movement. Most of all I appreciate everyone who comes here and checks out my brain droppings and then goes over the Faygoluvers and hits up my reviews. I have Much Family Love for life.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Twiztid leaves Psychopathic Records
So we found out today that Twiztid has officially left Psychopathic Records. The reason why is unknown at this time. When I heard the news I was not totally surprised yet completely shocked. I don't know how it is for you guys but for me I had always assumed that ICP would retire and turn the reigns of the company over to Jaime and Paul. Now I really don't know what to think.
A few years ago I saw a shift at Psychopathic Records. Alex retired and Billy was tasked to take over. Since this time I have noticed several things change with the label and the way "business" is being done. While Alex was in charge the focus was on Family. Meaning that the ticket prices for shows, merch, the Gathering, etc were all kept at a relatively reasonable cost so more Juggalos could afford to take part in these live events. Examples of taking care of the Family are:
-$100 to go to the Gathering. Reasonable cost includes campsite and free swag.
-All albums had 1 version. Any added tracks would be a free giveaway with your order or made into another complete album and sold for cheap.
-Outside venues artists would occasionally hang our with the fans. No $100 VIP which didn't include a ticket for the show necessary.
-Merch at Hatchetgear was expensive but not as expensive as now.
Since Billy has taken over we have seen a shift away from Family and the focus move toward profit. Examples of this include:
-The Gathering now costs $150+ depending on if you want a good campsite or not. Swag bag is tiny and includes ads for albums coming out and a charm, that's it!
-When ICP releases an album they make at least 3 versions with the only difference being 1 or 2 tracks added to the end. They know the fans will buy all 3 and are just taking advantage of that fact.
-No more hanging out for free. Now you pay $100 for an hour of time and that price does not include a ticket for the show. You might get to hang out for an hour but be lucky to even meet any artist based on how many people show up.
-Hatchetgear is now a luxury item. No longer can a scrub save up for a few months and get a dope jersey, now it's like saving a months rent to get anything. And on top of that the quality has greatly declined.
You might be asking why I am bringing this up, well I firmly believe these changes have led to Twiztid leaving Psychopathic Records. They have always been more concerned with the fans than any artist on the label. They have always taken time out to sign autographs, tell jokes, and general be a face for the company. It was said to me not long ago "To even talk to Violent J is like talking to a mob boss. No one gets close to him unless he calls em." That really made me start to listen to what was being said by former artists, friends of artists, and other who have dealt with Psychopathic Records. The theme of the opinions were all similar:
Joe Bruce micro-manages everything and nothing get done, recorded, etc without his approval.
Joe Bruce is an asshole and tough to deal with.
Now I have no direct knowledge of this but if a majority of people who deal with the label have the same opinion something must be true in it. I have always liked ICP and their music but felt they were making Twiztid play second fiddle. Take Abominationz vs Mighty Death Pop. TMDP had a single, music video, and tons and tons of promo material months before the release. Abominationz had a few small promos, word of mouth and Twiztid self promoting. I firmly believe that Abominationz was the superior album by far and deserved more promotion and a much bigger tour set up. The same thing happened with W.I.C.K.E.D. Twiztid years ago became the better of the two groups and showed that the student has surpassed the master. Why then would ICP not take a back seat and let Twiztid shine? I can only guess Ego. They have to be the biggest and most promoted group, in their eyes. Twiztid has earned this opportunity to shine.
So when the news came out today I sat for an hour thinking about how I feel. Here is what I decided:
-Twiztid deserves a chance to shine and be more heavily promoted.
-If ICP and Psychopathic do nothing to change the course, they will be closing their doors within 5 years. They just lost one of the biggest money making groups. The other side is that Twiztid makes up a huge part of Dark Lotus and Psychopathic Rydas and those two groups can no longer exist either.
-Blaze will surely follow Twiztid's lead. They are long time homies and I fully expect Blaze will leave the hatchet as well.
-I will support both Twiztid and Psychopathic records. They both hold a special place in my life and I will not choose sides.
-The shape of the underground has shifted and I am excited to see what is to come.
Family I don't know what side you fall on, but I would hope you show support for both groups. They have both done a lot to earn and keep our respects. Lets not let this event shatter our Family. We all need to stand tall in the face of whatever is coming and bond together. I will wear the hatchet til the day I die with pride.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
A few years ago I saw a shift at Psychopathic Records. Alex retired and Billy was tasked to take over. Since this time I have noticed several things change with the label and the way "business" is being done. While Alex was in charge the focus was on Family. Meaning that the ticket prices for shows, merch, the Gathering, etc were all kept at a relatively reasonable cost so more Juggalos could afford to take part in these live events. Examples of taking care of the Family are:
-$100 to go to the Gathering. Reasonable cost includes campsite and free swag.
-All albums had 1 version. Any added tracks would be a free giveaway with your order or made into another complete album and sold for cheap.
-Outside venues artists would occasionally hang our with the fans. No $100 VIP which didn't include a ticket for the show necessary.
-Merch at Hatchetgear was expensive but not as expensive as now.
Since Billy has taken over we have seen a shift away from Family and the focus move toward profit. Examples of this include:
-The Gathering now costs $150+ depending on if you want a good campsite or not. Swag bag is tiny and includes ads for albums coming out and a charm, that's it!
-When ICP releases an album they make at least 3 versions with the only difference being 1 or 2 tracks added to the end. They know the fans will buy all 3 and are just taking advantage of that fact.
-No more hanging out for free. Now you pay $100 for an hour of time and that price does not include a ticket for the show. You might get to hang out for an hour but be lucky to even meet any artist based on how many people show up.
-Hatchetgear is now a luxury item. No longer can a scrub save up for a few months and get a dope jersey, now it's like saving a months rent to get anything. And on top of that the quality has greatly declined.
You might be asking why I am bringing this up, well I firmly believe these changes have led to Twiztid leaving Psychopathic Records. They have always been more concerned with the fans than any artist on the label. They have always taken time out to sign autographs, tell jokes, and general be a face for the company. It was said to me not long ago "To even talk to Violent J is like talking to a mob boss. No one gets close to him unless he calls em." That really made me start to listen to what was being said by former artists, friends of artists, and other who have dealt with Psychopathic Records. The theme of the opinions were all similar:
Joe Bruce micro-manages everything and nothing get done, recorded, etc without his approval.
Joe Bruce is an asshole and tough to deal with.
Now I have no direct knowledge of this but if a majority of people who deal with the label have the same opinion something must be true in it. I have always liked ICP and their music but felt they were making Twiztid play second fiddle. Take Abominationz vs Mighty Death Pop. TMDP had a single, music video, and tons and tons of promo material months before the release. Abominationz had a few small promos, word of mouth and Twiztid self promoting. I firmly believe that Abominationz was the superior album by far and deserved more promotion and a much bigger tour set up. The same thing happened with W.I.C.K.E.D. Twiztid years ago became the better of the two groups and showed that the student has surpassed the master. Why then would ICP not take a back seat and let Twiztid shine? I can only guess Ego. They have to be the biggest and most promoted group, in their eyes. Twiztid has earned this opportunity to shine.
So when the news came out today I sat for an hour thinking about how I feel. Here is what I decided:
-Twiztid deserves a chance to shine and be more heavily promoted.
-If ICP and Psychopathic do nothing to change the course, they will be closing their doors within 5 years. They just lost one of the biggest money making groups. The other side is that Twiztid makes up a huge part of Dark Lotus and Psychopathic Rydas and those two groups can no longer exist either.
-Blaze will surely follow Twiztid's lead. They are long time homies and I fully expect Blaze will leave the hatchet as well.
-I will support both Twiztid and Psychopathic records. They both hold a special place in my life and I will not choose sides.
-The shape of the underground has shifted and I am excited to see what is to come.
Family I don't know what side you fall on, but I would hope you show support for both groups. They have both done a lot to earn and keep our respects. Lets not let this event shatter our Family. We all need to stand tall in the face of whatever is coming and bond together. I will wear the hatchet til the day I die with pride.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
Monday, May 28, 2012
2012 Hatchet Attacks in Farmington, NM
So this weekend was the 4th annual Hatchet Attacks show. It came to Farmington, NM this year and I was lucky enough to not only be in attendance with my son for his first show but was able to take part in the setup of the show itself. So for those that follow my blog here is everything that I saw happen at the show!
We left our home in Clovis, NM and started our 8 hour drive across the state to Farmington, NM on Thursday. We got in about 2 am and along the way we found plenty of Family headed to the show as well. Friday morning we got up and went to the venue about 12 to start working with the road crew setting up everything in the venue. When we got there the venue was completely empty. Throughout the day we move a ton of equipment including the stage, sound and light equipment, wrestling ring, Faygo, etc. I worked about 13 hours that day and at the end of the day I was completely exhausted. But the stage was setup, the lighting was done, and most of the cables were in place. The next day we arrived at about 10 am and went to work putting the finishing touches on everything. Throughout the day we encountered many of our favs from Psychopathic including Billy and DJ Clay. I can say from that experience that DJ Clay is a cool dude. He was down to earth and didn’t avoid talking to any of us. We had a little break and then 3 pm rolled around and the doors officially opened. There ended up being about 6800 Juggalos and Juggalettes in the crowd so the show was the largest I have ever been a part of.
At 4 pm JCW took center stage. There were 5 matches in total. Here is how it broke down:
- Ryda Red, Ryda Blue and Zack Gowen defeated The Freak Squad (Dom, GQ & Joey) via pin- The Weedman defeated Officer Colt Cabana via pin
- The Necro Butcher defeated Shawn Daivari via pin
- J.W.O. (Kevin Nash & Sean Waltman w/Scott Hall) defeated The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) via pin
- 2 Tuff Tony defeated Kongo Kong via pin to become the new JCW Heavyweight Champion
All of the matches were hype and they put on a great show. Congrats to 2 Tuff Tony for being the new JCW Champion!
After that the ring was removed and the show was about to begin. DJ Clay was on the tables and hosting the show. First up was Cold 187. This was my first time to see him or hear his flavor of music. He put it down for West Coast Gansta rap. Since I grew up listening to that genre of the music I had a ton of respect for that guy. He had a section of his show which was a memorial to all of the fallen West Coast rappers in the game. He started with a cover of Boyz in the Hood by Eazy-E and ended with a combination of Tupac and Nate Dogg. It was completely West Coast and I absolutely loved it. After his set DJ Clay gave him a shout out and asked the Juggalos to give him another round of applause to which they booed him, which I thought was pretty shitty considering it was something new and it seemed like most really didn’t give it a chance.
Next up was Anybody Killa. His set was hella long and covered everything from his catalog of music. He killed it as usual and left Juggalos seething for more. Then came Blaze Ya dead Homie. He brought that Detroit Gansta shit to New Mexico like never before. He did all the favorites from Crypt Keeper to Dub Sack. Toward the end of his set he did a track I had never heard before and can only assume is a new track from him. It was good and was all about what he would do for a forty. Then it was time for one of the favorites, Twiztid! When they came out Madrox was sporting a blond Mohawk and Mono had the many tiny braids. This should come as no surprise to anyone but they killed it! They performed most of the favorites we have all come to know and love. They didn’t do any new material but the energy they had on stage was unmatched all night.
Finally it was time for the clowns, ICP! The stage was set and the family was ready to explode. They hit the stage with Mike E. Clark and blew the roof off of the venue. Faygo was flying and the dirt floor slowly became a nasty mix of dirt, cow shit, and faygo. They performed everything from Assassins to the dating game. Then we all got a taste of the forthcoming Mighty Death Pop. The track was really hype and I am looking forward to the album which is going to be released on 8-14-2012 at the Gathering of the Juggalos. In the end Faygo Armageddon hit Farmington and my son was finally indoctrinated into the family. We were front and center and I can say we both left totally soaked and sticky, and of course I wouldn’t want it any other way.
All in all the trip was worth the time and effort. I got to take part in a ton of stuff most of us never get to see. If you missed it this year I would suggest you don’t next year. It was one of the best shows I have been to. DJ Clay gets my respect for being the host and DJ for the entire 8 hours of music and mayhem. To all of the fam that was in attendance it should stand as a testament to the family love. I saw a lot of old school Juggalos there and the vibe made me remember why I love being a part of this family. There were only 22 arrests mostly for being drunk and disorderly and fighting. I saw juggalos picking up fallen los in the pit and making sure no one was injured there.
This blog is known as Juggalo support because we as a community need to support one another. In a previous post I covered why I love being a Juggalo. In some downer news one of our own was on his way home and got jumped by 14 young “juggalos”. I think this kind of crap needs to stop. The movement is about family love. The longer I have been a part of it the more I see young Juggalos acting stupid. Now not all of the new generation is like that but there has been a large number who have given new los and lettes a real bad name. Let’s stop family in fighting and start showing the love again. And for any young new gen Juggalos that were at the show remember that is what it is all about.
MMFWCL,
Juggalotus
Saturday, January 14, 2012
2012 Year of the Family
So Juggalo/Juggalettes we made it another year! Sorry I fell off the map but life got in the way. So what do we have to look forward to this year? Here is my list of things I am looking forward to this year:
1. The Dark Knight Rises! I have been looking forward to this since it was announced. Enough said.
2. The Mighty Death Pop. Newest ICP album should be out this year.
3. The Gathering of the Juggalos. Every year we look forward to it. Now with the IPPV I can actually see the performances without being there. That is one of the best additions Psychopathic gave us last year. One of these years I will make my trip to the Juggalo Mecca.
4. New Psychopathic Radio. Wathced the first Twiztid show and it was off the chain. Can't wait to see what is new there this year. Oh also our friends over at Faygoluvers got a segment on the show as well, much proprs to Scottie and all of the faygoluvers crew.
5. New music! Hopefully we get new Twiztid, Blaze, ICP, Boondox, Cold 187 and ABK. Love new music from all of psychopathic.
6. Psychopathic Psyphers. 3 have been released and the speculation is there will be 10 and an album. Love the idea behind these and can't wait to see how it turns out.
7. The latest additionsto Psychopathic Records are Vanilla Ice and the West Coast sensation Cold 187 AKA Big Hutch, formerly of Above The Law! He is being marked as The Psychopathic Assassin! Can't wait to see where he fits in.
8. Joe Strange. Formally Eminem's producer is now a full member of the Psychopathic Family. We will see what doors it opens for collabs we might not expect.
Now I am looking forward to the 22nd of this month first and fore most because I and 5 other los and lettes will be hitting up Lubbock, TX to see the Low down and Dirty tour with Boondox! I would love to sit down with him and catch a quick interview to post here but I am not sure that would even be possible. If I can figure out how I will definitely post it here. I plan to update this blog on at least a weekly basis to keep you all up to date or just give shout outs as needed.
Gotta give a few shout outs right now to Scottie D and Ian over at Faygoluvers hit your site daily and look forward to seeing if we can do some stuff together this year, Draztik the Terrible Keep moving player and you will find the right studio to record from, and all the Juggalos and Juggalettes keep your head up and don't let anyone influence how you handle your business. We might be the outcast or whatever but it is us who can change the image and perceptions everyone else has of our family.
I wish you all a wondeful 2012 and look forward to expanding this blog and hopefully being a go to source for local west Texas/New Mexico underground artists.
MMFWCL,
Juggalotus
Me and my little Juggalo!
1. The Dark Knight Rises! I have been looking forward to this since it was announced. Enough said.
2. The Mighty Death Pop. Newest ICP album should be out this year.
3. The Gathering of the Juggalos. Every year we look forward to it. Now with the IPPV I can actually see the performances without being there. That is one of the best additions Psychopathic gave us last year. One of these years I will make my trip to the Juggalo Mecca.
4. New Psychopathic Radio. Wathced the first Twiztid show and it was off the chain. Can't wait to see what is new there this year. Oh also our friends over at Faygoluvers got a segment on the show as well, much proprs to Scottie and all of the faygoluvers crew.
5. New music! Hopefully we get new Twiztid, Blaze, ICP, Boondox, Cold 187 and ABK. Love new music from all of psychopathic.
6. Psychopathic Psyphers. 3 have been released and the speculation is there will be 10 and an album. Love the idea behind these and can't wait to see how it turns out.
7. The latest additionsto Psychopathic Records are Vanilla Ice and the West Coast sensation Cold 187 AKA Big Hutch, formerly of Above The Law! He is being marked as The Psychopathic Assassin! Can't wait to see where he fits in.
8. Joe Strange. Formally Eminem's producer is now a full member of the Psychopathic Family. We will see what doors it opens for collabs we might not expect.
Now I am looking forward to the 22nd of this month first and fore most because I and 5 other los and lettes will be hitting up Lubbock, TX to see the Low down and Dirty tour with Boondox! I would love to sit down with him and catch a quick interview to post here but I am not sure that would even be possible. If I can figure out how I will definitely post it here. I plan to update this blog on at least a weekly basis to keep you all up to date or just give shout outs as needed.
Gotta give a few shout outs right now to Scottie D and Ian over at Faygoluvers hit your site daily and look forward to seeing if we can do some stuff together this year, Draztik the Terrible Keep moving player and you will find the right studio to record from, and all the Juggalos and Juggalettes keep your head up and don't let anyone influence how you handle your business. We might be the outcast or whatever but it is us who can change the image and perceptions everyone else has of our family.
I wish you all a wondeful 2012 and look forward to expanding this blog and hopefully being a go to source for local west Texas/New Mexico underground artists.
MMFWCL,
Juggalotus
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Denver American Psycho Tour
Juggalos and Juggalettes this is your homie from New Mexico Juggalotus. I just got back from the Juggalo Infantry 4 day road trip to Denver, CO to see the ICP American Psycho tour with Draztik the Terrible. I decided to hop on the blog and give you a quick review.
Wed Sept 28th- Day started about 1 pm as we arrived at the venue to get in line. Doors opened at 7pm so we had a long wait. Just chilled in line with a few homies. We watched them unload the truck and at one point who do we see walking toward us but Blaze ya Dead Homie, Mono, and Madrox! They walked by and we gave them a "whut up fam!" Then some jack hole hound dogs approached them offering weed and shit. They went next door to the music shop and spent about 20-30 min in there. When they came out they had to walk through the isiots again. As they went by Jamie came over to us and dapped our hands. It was fresh. So 7 pm finally comes and the venue opens. We make our way inside and wait for showtime. The opening acts hit the stage I think they were called the SK records crew or something. The first group were ok but the second were horrid. Then Mike E Clark hit the stage. He hit us with the murder mix for about 45 min and then left the stage. Finally it was time for Dark Mutha Fuckin Lotus! They hit the stage in the standard lotus paint, black pants, black dress shirts, and white ties. They flipped our wigs for over an hour covering tracks from the entire catalog that is Dark Lotus. All of them had smiles from ear to ear the entire show. It was unbelievable. That was the first of many amazing shows this few days, tomorrow would hold Blaze, Twiztid, ICP, and another special guest.
Thurs Sept 29th- Day started a little earlier around 12 cause we knew this show would be packed. Not much happened in line other than a Denver Sheriff van rolling by and the passenger (a cop) leaning out of the window flashing East side and shouting "Whoop Whoop Ninjas!" that cop is the shit! We get inside and wait for the show. First up was the Wolpac. There show was alright. Standard for them strippers, rolling papers, and mosh pits. They left the stage and the crew removed their equipment. Then like 10 min later Ya dead homie hit the stage. To say he left anyone alive would be an understatement, he straight murdered it. He played all the hits and left no one disappointed. Next up was the demented duo themselves. Stage was set up with padded institutional walls, 2 decrepit wheelchairs, and 2 bis of bloody body parts. They hit the stage and blew my wig off! The set started with Ha ha ha ha ha ha and went from there. The covered their entire collection and even had Blaze come back onstage and perform Triple Threat with em. As if their show was not enough we still had ICP to go. I was blown away at this point but wanted the Dons themselves. As we waited the crew rolls 4 yes I said 4 huge barrels full of Faygo onto the stage in front of the curtain. I knew even in the balcony I was not safe. Then the speakers hit with the Star Spangled Banner and the curtain slowly opened to reveal Mike E Clark in the DJ booth spinning. He slows the music down to a demented sounding om age to America before the carnival music kicked in. Then the clown came on stage in a slow robotic like style. Lights went out and the show kicks off with "In Yo Face". ICP owned the stage for more than an hour and we were all blown back and wondering if we still had domes. It was awesome. They finished of course with Faygo Armageddon and Bang Pow Boom. All in all the show alone would have been enough, but this is Denver and we were lucky enough to have 1 of the Rydas after parties!
We made our way to the other venue and when we got in Mike E Clark was on stage murdering shit again! He is unstoppable. After about an hour we hear gunshots and the Rydas creep onto the stage. To say I was eager to see it would be an understatement. I have never had the privilege to see the Rydas. So this was the greatest moment for me in recent times. They hit the stage and left no one in the place with any watches, jewelry, and wigs. The robbed everyone of all their shit and blew our minds at the same time. If the Rydas are in your town look out mutha fackos. The night ended with Bullet on stage telling us how much they loved us all and how much they missed being in Denver. He did not seem to want to leave the stage. It was Amazing.
So all in all I had the most entertaining week I have had in a long time. As a long time Juggalo I loved every moment of these shows. Psychopathic did not disappoint and if you miss this show you WILL regret it. Check it out Ninjas and Ninjettes. Paul Andresen of Big Money Rustlas fame was also there filming all week so we may be getting a documentary of the tour soon (I hope it happens). Juggalo Infantry was on spot and representing all week so look for twitter, youtube and facebook posts from the trip cause that's how we do.
Peace out,
Juggalotus
Wed Sept 28th- Day started about 1 pm as we arrived at the venue to get in line. Doors opened at 7pm so we had a long wait. Just chilled in line with a few homies. We watched them unload the truck and at one point who do we see walking toward us but Blaze ya Dead Homie, Mono, and Madrox! They walked by and we gave them a "whut up fam!" Then some jack hole hound dogs approached them offering weed and shit. They went next door to the music shop and spent about 20-30 min in there. When they came out they had to walk through the isiots again. As they went by Jamie came over to us and dapped our hands. It was fresh. So 7 pm finally comes and the venue opens. We make our way inside and wait for showtime. The opening acts hit the stage I think they were called the SK records crew or something. The first group were ok but the second were horrid. Then Mike E Clark hit the stage. He hit us with the murder mix for about 45 min and then left the stage. Finally it was time for Dark Mutha Fuckin Lotus! They hit the stage in the standard lotus paint, black pants, black dress shirts, and white ties. They flipped our wigs for over an hour covering tracks from the entire catalog that is Dark Lotus. All of them had smiles from ear to ear the entire show. It was unbelievable. That was the first of many amazing shows this few days, tomorrow would hold Blaze, Twiztid, ICP, and another special guest.
Thurs Sept 29th- Day started a little earlier around 12 cause we knew this show would be packed. Not much happened in line other than a Denver Sheriff van rolling by and the passenger (a cop) leaning out of the window flashing East side and shouting "Whoop Whoop Ninjas!" that cop is the shit! We get inside and wait for the show. First up was the Wolpac. There show was alright. Standard for them strippers, rolling papers, and mosh pits. They left the stage and the crew removed their equipment. Then like 10 min later Ya dead homie hit the stage. To say he left anyone alive would be an understatement, he straight murdered it. He played all the hits and left no one disappointed. Next up was the demented duo themselves. Stage was set up with padded institutional walls, 2 decrepit wheelchairs, and 2 bis of bloody body parts. They hit the stage and blew my wig off! The set started with Ha ha ha ha ha ha and went from there. The covered their entire collection and even had Blaze come back onstage and perform Triple Threat with em. As if their show was not enough we still had ICP to go. I was blown away at this point but wanted the Dons themselves. As we waited the crew rolls 4 yes I said 4 huge barrels full of Faygo onto the stage in front of the curtain. I knew even in the balcony I was not safe. Then the speakers hit with the Star Spangled Banner and the curtain slowly opened to reveal Mike E Clark in the DJ booth spinning. He slows the music down to a demented sounding om age to America before the carnival music kicked in. Then the clown came on stage in a slow robotic like style. Lights went out and the show kicks off with "In Yo Face". ICP owned the stage for more than an hour and we were all blown back and wondering if we still had domes. It was awesome. They finished of course with Faygo Armageddon and Bang Pow Boom. All in all the show alone would have been enough, but this is Denver and we were lucky enough to have 1 of the Rydas after parties!
We made our way to the other venue and when we got in Mike E Clark was on stage murdering shit again! He is unstoppable. After about an hour we hear gunshots and the Rydas creep onto the stage. To say I was eager to see it would be an understatement. I have never had the privilege to see the Rydas. So this was the greatest moment for me in recent times. They hit the stage and left no one in the place with any watches, jewelry, and wigs. The robbed everyone of all their shit and blew our minds at the same time. If the Rydas are in your town look out mutha fackos. The night ended with Bullet on stage telling us how much they loved us all and how much they missed being in Denver. He did not seem to want to leave the stage. It was Amazing.
So all in all I had the most entertaining week I have had in a long time. As a long time Juggalo I loved every moment of these shows. Psychopathic did not disappoint and if you miss this show you WILL regret it. Check it out Ninjas and Ninjettes. Paul Andresen of Big Money Rustlas fame was also there filming all week so we may be getting a documentary of the tour soon (I hope it happens). Juggalo Infantry was on spot and representing all week so look for twitter, youtube and facebook posts from the trip cause that's how we do.
Peace out,
Juggalotus
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