For those of you who might not know, I do an interview series for Faygoluvers.net called 20 Min with..... In this series I interview various artists for about 20 min. Now the difference in my interviews is that I take a lot of pride in asking questions that other interviewers may not. For instance I interviewed Potluck a while ago. At one point I began asking about their song "My Dad" and in the interview I ask 1 Ton about his father who just passed and how much of an influence their fathers were on their career. The question seemed to catch them off guard a little bit. But that is what I do. I actually research my interview subject and try my best not to ask the same thing they get asked all the time.
I also review albums on the website. All of my reviews are 100% honesty as far as my opinion. Now I have had artists ask me to remove my review once it was posted because they were not happy with my thoughts. I will never remove a review once it is posted. I also will never give a glowing review if the album does not deserve it. I take pride in giving constructive criticism. I also take pride in being genuine. I don't get paid to do reviews or interviews. I do it because I love music and the genre of Horror Core. I would be lying if I said I didn't hope at some point in the future I could get paid for those things but for now it isn't happening.
If you want to check out my interview series head over to https://www.youtube.com/user/FaygoluversHeaven/videos and check out my latest and greatest with Mr. Grey, Sozay, Ganxsta NIP, Zug Izland, Cryptic Wisdom, Slaine, and many more.
To read my album reviews head over to http://www.faygoluvers.net/v5/category/reviews/albumreviews/ and look for reviews posted by Juggalotus0069.
I hope to keep this blog more current as I have been hella busy and slacking. If you dig my blog here and want to help spread the word I would seriously appreciate it! Please leave me some comments and let me know you checked it out and where you are from. I am really interested in where my readers are at!
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
Showing posts with label Insane Clown Posse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Insane Clown Posse. Show all posts
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
Juggalo Family?
So this is my first post of 2014. The reason behind this is simple, I have been busy working music reviews over at Faygoluvers! I have tried to post at least one per week and for the most part have done well with it. Now lets get to the crux of this post and why now is the time for it to get posted, Juggalo family.
For those who don't know I was introduced to ICP back in 1997 shortly after Milenko was pulled from the shelves. I knew from the first track I heard that I was a Juggalo. It wasnt something I learned, became, took a test for, or any of that. When I heard the songs I knew I had been a Juggalo all along. I felt a sense of belonging. I found a group of people just like me. We don't fit in with other people. We are outcasts. We don't apologize for who we are. When I would go to shows I would feel like I was home. Everyone treated everyone else with respect. Regardless of our social class or background, if you had any merch on, or anything. We didn't need a list of rules. We didn't call ourselves gang bangers. We didn't cause havoc, tag shit, or destroy property. We managed to go to shows and have a blast without cops harassing us. We could hold a Gathering every year without worry of people dying, FBI showing up, or someone getting robbed. Well things have changed greatly in the past 17 years.
I am a member of quite a few groups on Facebook that contain "old school" and "Kid" Juggalos. More and more I am seeing a division in our group. Things are popping up like the 13 Juggalo Commandments, Juggalo code, etc. A lot of people think unless you know these by heart and follow them religiously you are not a Juggalo and thus not Family. This is complete crap. There is also a group of people that believe we are in a gang because of songs like Gang Related and groups like Psychopathic Rydas. These people also miss the point. The music we listen to is ENTERTAINMENT! Nothing more, nothing less. The Psychopathic Rydas are a group that rips off other rappers beats and puts their own lyrics on them. Once again, entertainment.
For the longest time I was not willing to call out these new school family. I was hoping they would fade away when the novelty of being a "Juggalo" wore off. Unfortunately that is not happening. There are people out there that think old school los and lettes have a mandatory requirement to train the new school on how to be a Juggalo. This also is crap. No one ever told me how to be a Juggalo. I never had to learn rules and follow trends. When I heard the music I knew I had been a Juggalo all along. For anyone who has called someone a Juggahoe for not knowing all the lyrics to every song, not wearing all the merch, or not paining up for the shows let me clarify something. You are the one who is wrong. Being a Juggalo isn't about all of that. It is about knowing no matter where you go there will be people looking out for you. When you go to a show you don't have to worry about being robbed, beaten, or killed. We have a sense of right and wrong and we always look out for each other.
Family is Family, period. No matter how "down" someone is or isn't if they support the movement they are family in my book.
We need to stop the in fighting. The world hates us enough without us making it worse. When we go to the Gathering we should not destroy everything we touch. We should take care of the site, each other, and the towns that welcome us (Because they are getting fewer every year). We saw this years Gathering have to be moved after it was announced because the community didn't want "Gang members" in their town. The same town that welcomes Hells Angels every year didn't want Juggalos. Let that sink in. The Hells Angels. A murderous biker gang. Notorious for murder, rape, and many other things is more welcome than us. Why is that? Simple, they respect other people and try to make positive changes in communities that welcome them in. Why can't we be the same way? One reason, the new school has embraced the gang tag, cause problems, and make no effort to improve anything.
Instead of us against the world and us against us we should embrace positivity. Make positive changes. Make an effort to change our community and help them understand we are just fans of a certain type of music. Nothing more. We need to stop destroying shit. Stop saying Fuck the police every time you see a cop roll by. Stop trying to make a statement. Once we embrace the positive we will see positive in return. In the most recent interview on Faygoluvers with ICP Joe Bruce said "When Twiztid left that was the end of the family era." I couldn't agree more.
I do expect a ton of hate for this post and I welcome any discussion you want to throw at me. I love the Juggalo Family. I want my kids and grand kids to bump the wicked shit if they choose. I want to see Gatherings happening when I am an old man. I do think without change we will become a dying breed.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
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
Friday, December 6, 2013
Turmoil and changes
Many long term established groups and record labels in the music business have begun to break apart this year. We have seen Twiztid and Blaze leave Psychopathic Records, we are seeing the downfall of Psychopathic Records due to horrible business decisions, Daddy X and the Kottonmouth Kings leave Subnoize Records, and Johnny Richter leave the Kottonmouth Kings and release an album on Subnoize. So why is this in my mind right now? Well I got an email today and will be adding another interview to my 20 Min with.. series on Youtube with none other than Johnny Richter himself when he rolls through Tempe on Dec 15. He did give an interview to Faygoluvers where he answered questions fans had submitted online and that cleared up a lot of his side of the story. By doing my interview I can ask expanding questions to hopefully clarify more about that situation.
It is sad to me that all of these situations have to do with two things, power and money. Let me make my points here before you guys hang me.
1. While Twiztid has been unable to say anything about why they left Psychopathic these themes seem to be universal in people that left the label. Violent J is too controlling with production and all things involved with recording and performing, they wont pay any other act on the label what they are worth, and the only group getting 100% production and promotion time is ICP. Violent J and Billy should have done everything to make Twiztid stay. They should have promoted them better, gave them a bigger cut of the money off their albums, and made them bigger decision makers in the label. But the money and power that those 2 guys couldn't let go helped make that decision easy for Jaime and Paul. I think all of these things contributed to Twiztid deciding it was better to walk away.
2. Psychopathic's business decisions are killing the label. We have seen them allow Twiztid leave when Twiztid was in my opinion the #1 group on the label. They have stripped everything they built away from the "Family" Violent J and Billy have made Psychopathic into a money machine that uses it's fans. Sure we have seen in the past 3 different covers of albums (Melinko and Riddlebox), but those were made in small numbers and made to be a collectable for the fans. Now we get 5 different versions of albums mass produced and each one has 1 or 2 new tracks to entice people to buy them. Then about a year or so later they re-release the same 3-4 albums in a huge box set with another "version" to get people to buy another copy of all the albums. In the past we saw them give away things to the fans, show love without buying the VIP pass for the shows, and basically present themselves as Juggalos themselves. Now we see that was just a ruse to gain a huge ravenous fan base to use for profit. They have become the big record label tycoons they told all of us they never would become. Last year's Gathering saw them cut checks to vendors, police departments, and Hogrock that all haven't cleared. I think this is why this year's Gathering is being moved to another place. I predict in the next 5-7 years we will see the end of the label.
3. KMK split from Subnoize Records with Daddy X claiming that they were the first of many groups we would see leave Kevin Zinger due to his "Shady business tactics." Since the split was released we have seen no other groups leaving the label. On top of that we now have Johnny Richter leaving KMK and making another album with Zinger on Subnoize. The more we hear Daddy X whine and complain the more their fans turn on the group. We still don't have all the facts but it is becoming very clear that Daddy X is falling on the losing side of the debate. I hope to be able to get some more clarification in the next week when I get a chance to talk with Richter and review his solo tour.
So as you can see all of these situations were because of shady business practices, refusal to give up power, or greed. I will always be a Juggalo. I will always love music and be willing to listen and review anything people send me. I will always speak my mind and give a 100% honest opinion on the albums, situations, and other things in the business. No one will ever make me tone down my honesty. I hate coming on here and talking about negative things. In this case I am so tired of seeing these great movements and groups dismantle and disappear while nobody is willing to stand up for the fans and say enough is enough. We deserve a little consideration and respect.
Respect is something that is earned in this community and these things make all of us wanna walk away. Truth is I considered it myself. But I feel like fighting for this because it means that much to me. I have nothing but clown love for all my Juggalos and Juggalettes. I have mad respect for Twiztid, Johnny Richter, and Subnoize Records.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
It is sad to me that all of these situations have to do with two things, power and money. Let me make my points here before you guys hang me.
1. While Twiztid has been unable to say anything about why they left Psychopathic these themes seem to be universal in people that left the label. Violent J is too controlling with production and all things involved with recording and performing, they wont pay any other act on the label what they are worth, and the only group getting 100% production and promotion time is ICP. Violent J and Billy should have done everything to make Twiztid stay. They should have promoted them better, gave them a bigger cut of the money off their albums, and made them bigger decision makers in the label. But the money and power that those 2 guys couldn't let go helped make that decision easy for Jaime and Paul. I think all of these things contributed to Twiztid deciding it was better to walk away.
2. Psychopathic's business decisions are killing the label. We have seen them allow Twiztid leave when Twiztid was in my opinion the #1 group on the label. They have stripped everything they built away from the "Family" Violent J and Billy have made Psychopathic into a money machine that uses it's fans. Sure we have seen in the past 3 different covers of albums (Melinko and Riddlebox), but those were made in small numbers and made to be a collectable for the fans. Now we get 5 different versions of albums mass produced and each one has 1 or 2 new tracks to entice people to buy them. Then about a year or so later they re-release the same 3-4 albums in a huge box set with another "version" to get people to buy another copy of all the albums. In the past we saw them give away things to the fans, show love without buying the VIP pass for the shows, and basically present themselves as Juggalos themselves. Now we see that was just a ruse to gain a huge ravenous fan base to use for profit. They have become the big record label tycoons they told all of us they never would become. Last year's Gathering saw them cut checks to vendors, police departments, and Hogrock that all haven't cleared. I think this is why this year's Gathering is being moved to another place. I predict in the next 5-7 years we will see the end of the label.
3. KMK split from Subnoize Records with Daddy X claiming that they were the first of many groups we would see leave Kevin Zinger due to his "Shady business tactics." Since the split was released we have seen no other groups leaving the label. On top of that we now have Johnny Richter leaving KMK and making another album with Zinger on Subnoize. The more we hear Daddy X whine and complain the more their fans turn on the group. We still don't have all the facts but it is becoming very clear that Daddy X is falling on the losing side of the debate. I hope to be able to get some more clarification in the next week when I get a chance to talk with Richter and review his solo tour.
So as you can see all of these situations were because of shady business practices, refusal to give up power, or greed. I will always be a Juggalo. I will always love music and be willing to listen and review anything people send me. I will always speak my mind and give a 100% honest opinion on the albums, situations, and other things in the business. No one will ever make me tone down my honesty. I hate coming on here and talking about negative things. In this case I am so tired of seeing these great movements and groups dismantle and disappear while nobody is willing to stand up for the fans and say enough is enough. We deserve a little consideration and respect.
Respect is something that is earned in this community and these things make all of us wanna walk away. Truth is I considered it myself. But I feel like fighting for this because it means that much to me. I have nothing but clown love for all my Juggalos and Juggalettes. I have mad respect for Twiztid, Johnny Richter, and Subnoize Records.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Peeling off the masks in the Underground
I don't think this blog will come as a surprise to most that
frequent here. But in recent months, ever since Twiztid left Psychopathic
Records, there have been numerous reports, interviews, emails, and lawsuits
that are exposing a side of the label I think most of us didn't want to ever
see. The side of the label that is focused on money, lust, and mob style
tactics.
A report was released last week of a lawsuit from a former
"in-house" legal Counsel/publicist claiming that many employees
within Psychopathic Records engaged in prolonged sexual harassment,
intimidation, and creating a hostile work environment. Having read the lawsuit
here are the highlights:
1. She was consistently called a bitch by everyone
around her including Billy.
2. She was consistently subject to unwanted sexual advances
from Dirty Dan and others.
3. Sugar Slam created a hostile work environment due to her
jealousy toward the woman suing them.
4. Dirty Dan gave a glass dildo upon finding out she had
recently separated from her boyfriend.
5. She was asked to cover up wage issues being investigated
by the US Labor board.
6. She was asked to act unethically in a legal capacity to
cover up many things within the organization.
Now those are the major issues in the lawsuit. It is 17
pages long and filled with a ton of fluff such as "I was always being
flirted with" type comments. But looking at those six issues I can say if
they are true there is a serious issue within the label. Yet another sign
things are sliding downhill quicker than anyone in Psychopathic wants to admit.
Then a few days later it came out that many vendors from this year’s Gathering
either hadn’t been paid or the checks they were given would not clear the bank.
The total of those debts is around $300,000. Are we really seeing that
Psychopathic is broke? Maybe or maybe not but either way it doesn't look good
at this point.
So I log in today and see yet another story about the
business dealings in the label in the form of two anonymous emails sent to
testdummy22 from someone he says is in the inner circle of the label and a very
reliable source. Those 2 emails state:
ANONYMOUS MESSAGE SENT
TO: TestDummy 22 from ?????, (A EMPLOYEE AT PSYCHOPATHIC RECORDS, AND A VERY
RELIABLE SORCE) TESTDUMMY 22 *Some of this e-mail was cut out to protect the
identity of sender* I gotta be honest man, I'm deeply disapp...ointed in this
company. I had hooked up with Mike Clark down in Detroit at the fowling
warehouse. We had a long conversation that night about Psychopathic and at one
point Mike was almost in tears telling me about how he believed they were
brothers (Him,Joe and Joey) and when it came down to it Joe tossed their
friendship in the trash and chose to steal millions of dollars from him. The
money he was referring to was from the first 5 cards and associated Eps that he
was was tricked into signing away all his publishing on. Fucking devastating
right? What if you made millions and someone stole it from you? How would you
feel? I was fucking floored that they would do that to him but it doesn't
surprise me because its the music business and he was naive to the workings of
the music business. They fucked Mike HARD and it hurt him, he's still bitter
today make no mistake. The only reason he does shit with them anymore is
because he has to make money and he loves the juggalos. At the GOTJ last year
and he was literally sobbing because the potential for what this movement could
have been in the hands of people who cared could have been massive. Mikes just
going through the motions now, his heart is not with ICP anymore. Mike isn't a
problem, he's fine the way he is, its everyone else thats the problem. I mean,
Joe doesn't exactly pick Mikes best stuff and at the end of the day EVERYTHING
you hear out of Psychopathic is a product of Joe Bruce is some way shape or
form. Mike still makes great shit, but Joe don't know how to pick it and in my
opinion he actually picks some of the worst beats I have ever heard regardless
of who the producer is.
And:
ANONYMOUS MESSAGE SENT
TO: TestDummy 22 from ?????, (A EMPLOYEE AT PSYCHOPATHIC RECORDS, AND A VERY
RELIABLE SORCE) TESTDUMMY 22 Here's the reality of Psychopathic. It's not a
business, its a hustle. ... I noticed Kuma is not really talked about in the
juggalo community, First of all Kuma is Joe's bitch, I don't know if you know
that or not? Kuma wears all hats at psychopathic and basically fails at all of
them. When I first met Kuma I thought he was a super cool genuine dude and he
had me believing that for the majority of my time at psychopathic,but as time
went on and I started to question his abilities is when I started seeing a
drastic change in his attitude towards me. Kuma is the source of all things
generic at Psychopathic. He's the reason everything comes out like watered down
cheap rip offs, he's the reason the informercials suck, he's responsible for
the worst videos in ICP history and thats why Joe is using outside directors
and producers now, i'm not just being a dick i'm being honest, Kuma is the
source of suck but they refuse to fire him because he's loyal and he rides that
dick HARD. Ok, so, Eric Heiden is the only special effects guy at psychopathic
and he calls Kuma out on not being able to his job in front of Billy and Rob.
Billy and Rob decide instead of firing Kuma they will remove him from the video
department, fire me and stick him in the lotus pod. I honestly feel deep sorrow
for the fans at this point because the future of this label is pretty much
completely abandoned. It obvious they don't give a fuck and honestly Big Hoodoo
is just a way for Joe to make himself feel better about Twiztid leaving the
label, thats all. I wouldn't be surprised if he only lasted one or two records
tops. You said it yourself, when were juggalos most happy? That was when ICP,
Twiztid,Lotus,Blaze were rocking out. That will never happen again bro, it's
over.
Now with that out there let me just say if the first email
is true, which wouldn't surprise me, I am truly disappointed they would do Mike
Clark like that. I do feel that Mike Clark supports the fans and has nothing
but love for the movement. I also think that we are seeing that Violent J and
Billy have a firm grip on everything and everyone under Psychopathic, they have
given into greed and arrogance, and they have become everything they claim to despise
in the business.
I think things like this point to more and more reasons why
Twiztid walked away. Although they are
unable to say anything about their release publically I would not be surprised
if once the timeframe of that silence is over we see the final pieces fall from
the masks J and Billy have worn for so long.
I have long said that Alex leaving changed the entire
dynamic of the label. It went from a movement that meant something to a gross
exploitation of a dedicated and rabid fan base. I am going to get hate mail for
this post and I expect it. Don't misunderstand me, I support ICP and all other
artists on the label but I do not support the business tactics that Billy and
Joe have instituted to make millions. I respect what they built, what they have
done independently, and the movement they started. But having done business
with certain members within the label I can attest that the mob tactics are
used to get things out of people. Threats are made to ensure they make money
even if they do nothing to earn or deserve that money. They will threaten not
only the person they have the dispute with but also their wives, husbands, and
children to get paid. The reason the FBI began to investigate them was
extortion, wage payment issues, and illegal activities similar to street gangs.
As long as they and their fans continue to act like thugs we will never shake
this stigma.
I am saddened by the state of the record label. I am even
more saddened by the fact Joe has become everything he hated. I sincerely hope
He and Billy realize this is the wrong path to be on and can save what all of
us have come to love. If not I know Twiztid, Strange, Mad Insanity and Subnoize
are poised to take over the underground and make us proud.
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
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Evolution
So it became official today with Violent J's interview that Blaze is no longer with Psychopathic. Honestly it came as no suprise. I said in my blog about Twiztid leaving it was going to happen. So I have spent much of the day today reading forum posts, watching videos, and just feeling out the Family and how things are currently. Now I took a lot of hate and criticism because of my thoughts about Twiztid leaving. So let me say as plain as I can, I am and always will be a Juggalo. I will always support the music ICP makes, like it or not, I have nothing but respect for the Dons of Psychopathic. I will always support Blaze and Twiztid no matter where they go and what they do. Nothing can take any of my memories or feelings away that I have developed over the last 16 years. I will always support music I like and speak out if I don't like something. That is what makes the Family unique, our ability to be individuals while still being a Family.
All that being said I wanted to share my feelings on the state of Twiztid, Blaze and Psychopathic. Psychopathic will be fine and move on without Twiztid and Blaze. As long as ICP is making music the label will continue. My feelings on the current management of the label have been made clear throughout this blog. For two years I have opened myself up and told you all exactly how I felt things were going. I do not think the label will be as successful now that Twiztid is gone. The talent just isnt there. Twiztid will forge their own path and so will Blaze. I see nothing but bright things in their futures. One video I watched was a review of Abominationz. In the video the guy speaks exactly how I have been feeling. He says at one point he can't tell if Twiztid is speaking directly to ICP a majority of the time. He also feels like the album is Twiztid's stance against the current movement of the label, and I agree. It was Twiztid's renewal of their devotion to the Family and movement that ICP built. I feel like they have not agreed with the current shift in policy and product. That is why when I hear lines like:
"Your looking for acceptance in places your never gonna get it accept it
Our painted face is rejected
An abomination infected
With so much hatred collected
How can you say you didn't expected to go this way
Like bad directions
They're looking at me like a weapon
We got the world's attention
Were like this great invention
There all to afraid to mention
Shun me like bad intentions
But we'll see who really had agendas
A misconception I don't wanna be in your fucked up life or interventions"
I can't help but feel like they are speaking directly to ICP. Like I have said I will support the music ICP, Twiztid and Blaze make for life. on the business side of things I think things need to change. I do not agree with business decisions being made. Period.
We have been told recently that the Gathering this year will be a celebration of the Underground. When I heard that my first thought was "Huh?" I like the idea of people like Kung Fu Vampire, Bukshot, Liquid Assassin, Mars, Molly Gruesome, and others getting a chance to hit the mainstage and bring the house down. My biggest fear is this move is being made to save money because of the lost profit with Twiztid leaving. Do I think Twiztid will be at the Gathering?, yes. Do I think in 5 years they will be at the Gathering?, not sure. No one can disagree it is much cheaper for the label to have these underground artists on the main stage for $500-800 per set than to bring guys like Ice Cube, Ice T, and others out for $10,000 or more for a set. I am not sure at this point how I feel about the Gathering this year. I am hoping to get a chance to go out there as press and do an actual honest review of the Gathering. We shall see.
Now back to the point of the post, evolution. As a long time Juggalo I have seen shifts in the movement. I have seen band wagon fans come and go. I have seen the music succeed (Melinko, AJB, Mostasteless, Abominationz) and I have seen it fail (The Calm, Tempest, Mutant) but the one thing that has remained constant is the fans. We support the music more rabidly than any other fanbase out there. We get hated on for it and it makes us ban together and put a middle finger in the air at the mainstream. The video review of Abominationz the guy makes a great point and that is this "BPB and MDP were great albums but they do not deserve to be called Jokers Cards. There is something missing that was in all six of the origional cards." They are well done, great as far as production, and have many tracks I can relate to. But the magic is missing. The story is a faint reminder of what we have been told for decades.
The one thing nobody can avoid is evolution. I will never be 100% behind every project that Psychopathic, Twiztid, or Blaze puts out but I can tell you I will give each and every release it's fair shake. I will listen to what is being put out and support the ones I enjoy while allowing the others to collect dust in my collection. I have nothing but love for each and every Juggalo and Juggalette in the world. The real los and lettes not the band wagoners that we seem to be gathering recently. Being a Juggalo isn't about a set of rules, a pledge, if you do drugs or not, or even the music. Being a Juggalo is a state of being. When you find the Family you know you belong no matter where you come from, how much money you have, or what your recreational activities are. Being a Juggalo is about being an individual. Liking what you like and standing firm on your beliefs. We are a Family. Evolution doesn't change that. J said it best in the interview posted today "But if one day you get to college and start hangin’ with a new group of friends and you start to like other kinds of music, just don’t be one of those bitches that’s like, “Can you believe I used to be a Juggalette? I was so young and stupid, I guess.” Never talk that shit about us. Never sell us out because the you at 14 is just as important to your legacy as the you at 34. Yes, it’s OK to be a 14 year old Juggalette. It’s even OK if you grow out of being a Juggalette one day, but do us a favor. Never sell us out. Always remember the good times you had as a Juggalette and cherish them. Don’t look back on them with regret, look back on these days as great days. Never bad mouth the family. Better yet, stay down with the family forever!" Thats it right there. Evolution is going to happen. People will outgrow the need for the music and the Family and that is ok. And if you leave the music behind for a while and find in the future you need that connection again, we will be here.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
All that being said I wanted to share my feelings on the state of Twiztid, Blaze and Psychopathic. Psychopathic will be fine and move on without Twiztid and Blaze. As long as ICP is making music the label will continue. My feelings on the current management of the label have been made clear throughout this blog. For two years I have opened myself up and told you all exactly how I felt things were going. I do not think the label will be as successful now that Twiztid is gone. The talent just isnt there. Twiztid will forge their own path and so will Blaze. I see nothing but bright things in their futures. One video I watched was a review of Abominationz. In the video the guy speaks exactly how I have been feeling. He says at one point he can't tell if Twiztid is speaking directly to ICP a majority of the time. He also feels like the album is Twiztid's stance against the current movement of the label, and I agree. It was Twiztid's renewal of their devotion to the Family and movement that ICP built. I feel like they have not agreed with the current shift in policy and product. That is why when I hear lines like:
"Your looking for acceptance in places your never gonna get it accept it
Our painted face is rejected
An abomination infected
With so much hatred collected
How can you say you didn't expected to go this way
Like bad directions
They're looking at me like a weapon
We got the world's attention
Were like this great invention
There all to afraid to mention
Shun me like bad intentions
But we'll see who really had agendas
A misconception I don't wanna be in your fucked up life or interventions"
I can't help but feel like they are speaking directly to ICP. Like I have said I will support the music ICP, Twiztid and Blaze make for life. on the business side of things I think things need to change. I do not agree with business decisions being made. Period.
We have been told recently that the Gathering this year will be a celebration of the Underground. When I heard that my first thought was "Huh?" I like the idea of people like Kung Fu Vampire, Bukshot, Liquid Assassin, Mars, Molly Gruesome, and others getting a chance to hit the mainstage and bring the house down. My biggest fear is this move is being made to save money because of the lost profit with Twiztid leaving. Do I think Twiztid will be at the Gathering?, yes. Do I think in 5 years they will be at the Gathering?, not sure. No one can disagree it is much cheaper for the label to have these underground artists on the main stage for $500-800 per set than to bring guys like Ice Cube, Ice T, and others out for $10,000 or more for a set. I am not sure at this point how I feel about the Gathering this year. I am hoping to get a chance to go out there as press and do an actual honest review of the Gathering. We shall see.
Now back to the point of the post, evolution. As a long time Juggalo I have seen shifts in the movement. I have seen band wagon fans come and go. I have seen the music succeed (Melinko, AJB, Mostasteless, Abominationz) and I have seen it fail (The Calm, Tempest, Mutant) but the one thing that has remained constant is the fans. We support the music more rabidly than any other fanbase out there. We get hated on for it and it makes us ban together and put a middle finger in the air at the mainstream. The video review of Abominationz the guy makes a great point and that is this "BPB and MDP were great albums but they do not deserve to be called Jokers Cards. There is something missing that was in all six of the origional cards." They are well done, great as far as production, and have many tracks I can relate to. But the magic is missing. The story is a faint reminder of what we have been told for decades.
The one thing nobody can avoid is evolution. I will never be 100% behind every project that Psychopathic, Twiztid, or Blaze puts out but I can tell you I will give each and every release it's fair shake. I will listen to what is being put out and support the ones I enjoy while allowing the others to collect dust in my collection. I have nothing but love for each and every Juggalo and Juggalette in the world. The real los and lettes not the band wagoners that we seem to be gathering recently. Being a Juggalo isn't about a set of rules, a pledge, if you do drugs or not, or even the music. Being a Juggalo is a state of being. When you find the Family you know you belong no matter where you come from, how much money you have, or what your recreational activities are. Being a Juggalo is about being an individual. Liking what you like and standing firm on your beliefs. We are a Family. Evolution doesn't change that. J said it best in the interview posted today "But if one day you get to college and start hangin’ with a new group of friends and you start to like other kinds of music, just don’t be one of those bitches that’s like, “Can you believe I used to be a Juggalette? I was so young and stupid, I guess.” Never talk that shit about us. Never sell us out because the you at 14 is just as important to your legacy as the you at 34. Yes, it’s OK to be a 14 year old Juggalette. It’s even OK if you grow out of being a Juggalette one day, but do us a favor. Never sell us out. Always remember the good times you had as a Juggalette and cherish them. Don’t look back on them with regret, look back on these days as great days. Never bad mouth the family. Better yet, stay down with the family forever!" Thats it right there. Evolution is going to happen. People will outgrow the need for the music and the Family and that is ok. And if you leave the music behind for a while and find in the future you need that connection again, we will be here.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
Saturday, February 2, 2013
14th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos
So the 14th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos tickets went on sale today. In looking at the costs several things came to mind. Holy crap that is expensive and what is going to draw the Family this years. So let's take my reaction to each individually. I will give my experience from last years gathering in my analysis.
Here is the info directly from the most recent Hatchet Herald:
Running from February 1st until March 1st, when you purchase your Ticket from juggalogathering.com for $175 you will receive a free exclusive Gathering of the Juggalos t-shirt! That freshness can actually be seen in the picture above. This t-shirt combo will only run in the first month for the early bird ticket buyers. If you wait until after March 1st to get your ticket it will still be $175 but no t-shirt freshness. A ticket to The Gathering of the Juggalos will get you free parking in the parking lot outside of the grounds and access into The Hatchet Landings. This includes all the shows, all the concerts, all the madness, and free camping!
This was my personal experience last year with this package. We got into the parking lot fairly quickly. Then we realized we had to pack all our gear into Hatchet Landings, with out a cart of some kind this took us about 9 trips and a ton of lifting and hauling. Had we known this we might have put out the $$ for a car pass.
Next is the car pass option. Here is what it includes besides the ticket and entry:
Car Passes are available for $100. While there is free parking for everyone at The Gathering of the Juggalos outside of the grounds, if you would like to bring your vehicle into The Hatchet Landings then you will need to purchase a Car Pass.
As a side note, once your vehicle is parked at your campsite that is where it has to stay. For the safety of your fellow ‘Los and ‘Lettes you CAN’T drive around the grounds of The Juggalo Gathering unless it is an emergency situation. This is simply so you can have the convenience of having your car at your campsite and camp out in it if you want.
So with this option and an extra $100 you get the pleasure of not hauling your gear by foot and having more security for you things (a few people got caught stealing last year). I think $100 is excessive though.
Then we get to those who want to bring in RV's:
If you’re looking to bring in something bigger than a vehicle, an RV or a trailer, then the RV Pass for $150 is for you. It gives you the same sort of access as a Car Pass, but for a larger class vehicle. Same as before, when you park your RV or trailer at your campsite, that’s where it has to stay until you’re ready to pack up and leave The Gathering.
So $50 more on top of the car pass for a larger space. I saw a lot of RV's getting tagged and damaged. Nothing extra with it.
Finally they offer Big Ballas campsites:
Finally, for everyone who wants the top dog experience at The Gathering of the Juggalos we suggest the Big Ballas Campsites. The Big Ballas Campsites are a designated area for you to camp that will include an electrical outlet and a water source for your convenience. A Big Ballas Campsite will run you $400. These spaces are limited and there hasn’t been a year of the Gathering when they haven’t sold out quick as shit. So, we suggest if you’re even remotely interested with goin’ in on this site with your homies that you pool your cheddar and get to gettin’ before they’re gone.
This is the most expensive and really only adds water and electric to your rv spot. So for $400 you get an RV slot with utilities. Thats it. Last year many of the Ballas sites had a ton of issues with the utilities and I would say this option is not worth the money for that reason alone. All of the last three options do not include your ticket so that makes the total cost this:
Camping no car: $175 and a lot of footwork
Car Camping: $275
RV Camping: $325
Big Ballas: $575
Now keep in mind that none of these include the gas and food money. You are welcome to cook at your campsite but last year if you sold food to fam at a discount so they would'nt have to pay the $7-9 for a plate you were told to stop or be kicked out of the Gathering. The vendors at the Gathering know this and charge way to much for food, ie a slice of pizza $5. Then we get to the merch tent. The first day the lines are insane but the deals are pretty good. Then after that it is back to the same as buying on Hatchetgear minus shipping. So at least they didn't raise prices there.
Now on to my second reaction, what is going to draw the Family to the event. All the years we have had seminars from ICP, Twiztid, Blaze, ABK, etc. This year will Twiztid be allowed that courtesy? Perfromances have always had Twiztid headline a night. Will they get that this year? Will they even be at the Gathering? I would say yes to being there but I don't know to anything else. I guess as the lineup is announced we will see what Psychopathic will pull out of their hat.
Please don't misunderstand, I went last year and had an absolutely kick ass time. It was an experience I will never forget. But that being said, Psychopathic has gotten greedy and forgotten what brought them to the dance, The Family. In the beginning the Gathering was our yearly release and while it cost a little bit it didn't put us in debt. I can't tell you how many Los and Lettes I saw on the way out last year with signs asking for rides to all over the US because they had spent their last dollar just to get there. More and more people snuck in last year than ever before. Why? Simple most of us do not have $600-1000 to blow on the Gathering. I hate that Psychopathic has become this way. I love the music and principals we stand for but hate seeing the exploitation of the fans. Twiztid left and has since stood up and reclaimed the Family. All of their shows still have the magic. They preach the principals I stand for.
Anyway that is my take on the big announcement today.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
Here is the info directly from the most recent Hatchet Herald:
Running from February 1st until March 1st, when you purchase your Ticket from juggalogathering.com for $175 you will receive a free exclusive Gathering of the Juggalos t-shirt! That freshness can actually be seen in the picture above. This t-shirt combo will only run in the first month for the early bird ticket buyers. If you wait until after March 1st to get your ticket it will still be $175 but no t-shirt freshness. A ticket to The Gathering of the Juggalos will get you free parking in the parking lot outside of the grounds and access into The Hatchet Landings. This includes all the shows, all the concerts, all the madness, and free camping!
This was my personal experience last year with this package. We got into the parking lot fairly quickly. Then we realized we had to pack all our gear into Hatchet Landings, with out a cart of some kind this took us about 9 trips and a ton of lifting and hauling. Had we known this we might have put out the $$ for a car pass.
Next is the car pass option. Here is what it includes besides the ticket and entry:
Car Passes are available for $100. While there is free parking for everyone at The Gathering of the Juggalos outside of the grounds, if you would like to bring your vehicle into The Hatchet Landings then you will need to purchase a Car Pass.
As a side note, once your vehicle is parked at your campsite that is where it has to stay. For the safety of your fellow ‘Los and ‘Lettes you CAN’T drive around the grounds of The Juggalo Gathering unless it is an emergency situation. This is simply so you can have the convenience of having your car at your campsite and camp out in it if you want.
So with this option and an extra $100 you get the pleasure of not hauling your gear by foot and having more security for you things (a few people got caught stealing last year). I think $100 is excessive though.
Then we get to those who want to bring in RV's:
If you’re looking to bring in something bigger than a vehicle, an RV or a trailer, then the RV Pass for $150 is for you. It gives you the same sort of access as a Car Pass, but for a larger class vehicle. Same as before, when you park your RV or trailer at your campsite, that’s where it has to stay until you’re ready to pack up and leave The Gathering.
So $50 more on top of the car pass for a larger space. I saw a lot of RV's getting tagged and damaged. Nothing extra with it.
Finally they offer Big Ballas campsites:
Finally, for everyone who wants the top dog experience at The Gathering of the Juggalos we suggest the Big Ballas Campsites. The Big Ballas Campsites are a designated area for you to camp that will include an electrical outlet and a water source for your convenience. A Big Ballas Campsite will run you $400. These spaces are limited and there hasn’t been a year of the Gathering when they haven’t sold out quick as shit. So, we suggest if you’re even remotely interested with goin’ in on this site with your homies that you pool your cheddar and get to gettin’ before they’re gone.
This is the most expensive and really only adds water and electric to your rv spot. So for $400 you get an RV slot with utilities. Thats it. Last year many of the Ballas sites had a ton of issues with the utilities and I would say this option is not worth the money for that reason alone. All of the last three options do not include your ticket so that makes the total cost this:
Camping no car: $175 and a lot of footwork
Car Camping: $275
RV Camping: $325
Big Ballas: $575
Now keep in mind that none of these include the gas and food money. You are welcome to cook at your campsite but last year if you sold food to fam at a discount so they would'nt have to pay the $7-9 for a plate you were told to stop or be kicked out of the Gathering. The vendors at the Gathering know this and charge way to much for food, ie a slice of pizza $5. Then we get to the merch tent. The first day the lines are insane but the deals are pretty good. Then after that it is back to the same as buying on Hatchetgear minus shipping. So at least they didn't raise prices there.
Now on to my second reaction, what is going to draw the Family to the event. All the years we have had seminars from ICP, Twiztid, Blaze, ABK, etc. This year will Twiztid be allowed that courtesy? Perfromances have always had Twiztid headline a night. Will they get that this year? Will they even be at the Gathering? I would say yes to being there but I don't know to anything else. I guess as the lineup is announced we will see what Psychopathic will pull out of their hat.
Please don't misunderstand, I went last year and had an absolutely kick ass time. It was an experience I will never forget. But that being said, Psychopathic has gotten greedy and forgotten what brought them to the dance, The Family. In the beginning the Gathering was our yearly release and while it cost a little bit it didn't put us in debt. I can't tell you how many Los and Lettes I saw on the way out last year with signs asking for rides to all over the US because they had spent their last dollar just to get there. More and more people snuck in last year than ever before. Why? Simple most of us do not have $600-1000 to blow on the Gathering. I hate that Psychopathic has become this way. I love the music and principals we stand for but hate seeing the exploitation of the fans. Twiztid left and has since stood up and reclaimed the Family. All of their shows still have the magic. They preach the principals I stand for.
Anyway that is my take on the big announcement today.
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
Saturday, August 25, 2012
ICP Mighty Death Pop Review
Yes it is finally here, my review of ICP's newest release "The Mighty Death Pop!"
The Mighty Death Pop Review
Insane Clown Posse
By: Juggalotus
I have the awesome task of reviewing ICP’s newest release, The Mighty Death Pop. Being an old-school Juggalo, I take great pride in giving my most honest assessment of the album and its bonus disks. I’m going to break it down into four parts (one for the main album, and one per each bonus disk), give my impression of each part, and then give each disk a rating. At the end, I’ll give what I think are the top three tracks from each album (not including the black bonus disks).
The main album, The Mighty Death Pop, comprises seventeen tracks and one bonus track of outtakes. Right from the intro, I knew this would not be anything like Bang Pow Boom. While I liked that album, I could tell right away that this one was geared more toward old-school Juggalos. The first six tracks bring back great memories from my intro to ICP back in 2006-2007. The next three are more humorous and intended to lighten the mood. Then we get to my favorite track on the disk, “Hate Her to Death.” This track stands alone as the deepest track on the album, with a very slow but deliberate beat. Next is the only track on the album with guests, called “Screeem!,” featuring Tech Nine and Hopsin. It’s a good track in which all the artists get a chance to shine with their various styles. “Ghetto Rainbows” follows, and I can say that I was VERY apprehensive when it first came on, due to the music alone. As I have listened further, it really works for them, and it’s catchy, although it’s definitely a departure from the norm for ICP. After that, the album becomes somewhat disjointed, however it ends on a very emotional track called “Forever,” which is a fitting culmination to the main album. There is one more track that contains outtakes from the album recording process. All in all, the main album does not disappoint. You can definitely tell that ICP made it with their long-time fans in mind.
MDP Disk Rating: 9/10
The Red Pop set is called Smothered, Covered, and Chunked. It contains ICP’s covers of popular tracks from the past. With collabs on this disk from Fred Durst, Downtown Brown and Lil Wyte, there’s really nothing to complain about. ICP did all of the songs justice, while also making them their own. The remake of the Tears for Fears track, “Shout” is a little weird at first, but it grows on you. Their collab with Fred Durst, “Bitch Betta Have My Money” is dope as hell. The Yo Gabba Gabba track, “Hold Still,” (yes you read that right) is fresh and will make for an interesting concert experience. This disk is fun and has a lot of energy.
SC&C Disk Rating: 8/10
The White Pop set, called Mike E. Clark’s Extra Pop Emporium, is a blend of remixes and outtakes from the main disk. Hands down, my favorite remix is “Chris Benoit.” Ice Cube and Scarface come in with some amazing verses, and the beat Kuma came up with is absolutely killer. My major criticism of this disk is track 3. It’s a remix of “When I’m Clownin, feat. Kreayshawn.” I didn’t know her music prior to this track and I won’t be going out to find any hereafter. Her verse kills one of the better tracks from the main disk, and not in a good way. My other criticism is that the remix of “Ghetto Rainbows, feat. Color Me Badd” should have been the one on the main disk. It sounds so much better than the version that made the album. Mike E. Clark and Kuma do an amazing job of remixing the tracks.
EPP Disk Rating: 8/10
The Black Pop set, titled Freaky Tales, is an hour long sex-rap inspired by Too Short’s song of the same name. The biggest problem with this one is that more than sixty minutes of hearing about J and Shagg’s sexploits was, at least for me, about fifty minutes too long. Too Short kept his track to eight minutes, and that was just about perfect. This disk is ICP going over all the hoes they have been with and the special “features” of each girl. I was able to listen to about 35 minutes of it before it got stale and repetitive. I went to track 2, which was the outtakes, hoping for some good humor, but found none. I feel like this disk should have been left off the release, but others out there might enjoy the novelty.
FT Disk Rating: 2/10
Track listing:
MAIN ALBUM:
1. Intro
2. The Mighty Death Pop
3. Night Of The Chainsaw
4. Chris Benoit
5. The Blasta
6. Kickin’ Kickin’
7. Bazooka Joey
8. Shooting Stars
9. Juggalo Juice
10. Hate Her To Death
11. SKREEEM!! feat. Tech N9ne and Hopsin
12. Ghetto Rainbows
13. When I’m Clownin’
14. Dog Catchers
15. Daises
16. Where’s God?
17. Forever
RED POP (Smother, Covered, and Chunked):
1. Prelude feat. Psychopathic Family
2. Jump Around
3. Shout feat. Blaze Ya Dead Homie
4. Ain’t No Future In Yo Frontin
5. Hold Still feat. Downtown Brown
6. Bitch Betta Have My Money feat. Fred Durst
7. Night Of The Living Baseheads
8. Beautiful (Indestructible)
9. Mind Playin’ Tricks feat. ABK and Lil Wyte
10. State of Shock
11. Love For Dem Gangsters feat. Cold 187um
12. Guess My Religion
WHITE POP (Mike E. Clark’s Extra Pop Emporium):
1. Traveling Circus
2. Chris Benoit (Kuma’s Crub remix feat. Ice Cube and Scarface)
3. When I’m Clownin’ (Kuma’s Clownin’ Remix feat. Kreyshawn)
4. Lost In The Music feat. Swollen Members
5. Up Ya Ass (outtake)
6. Ghetto Rainbows (Soft Ass R-N-B remix feat. Color Me Badd)
7. Birthday Party (outtake)
8. Scrubstutite Teachers feat. Twiztid and Willie D
9. Playin’ In The Woods (outtake)
10. Pass It To The Sky feat. Kottonmouth Kings
11. Shugston Brooks 1959-2004 (outtake)
12. Night Of The Chainsow (Joe Strange remix feat. Three Six Mafia)
13. Forever (Extended Geto Mix feat. The Geto Boys)
BLACK POP (Freaky Tales):
1. Freaky Tales
My Top 3 Tracks:
Main Album
1. Hate Her to Death
2. Night of the Chainsaw
3. Where’s God?
Red Pop bonus disk
1. Bitch Betta Have My Money, feat Fred Durst
2. State of Shock
3. Guess My Religion
White Pop bonus disk
1. Chris Benoit Remix, feat Ice Cube and Scarface
2. Birfday Party
3. Night of the Chainsaw remix, feat Three 6 Mafia
Length:
Main Album- 62:14
Red Pop- 54:00
White Pop- 53:45
Black Pop- 60:15
Record Label:
Psychopathic Records
Release Date:
08/14/2012
There you have it. My own personal opinion of all of the albums included in the release. Take it for what it is.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
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