Insane Clown Posse – “Yum Yum’s Lure” review

The Insane Clown Posse are a horrorcore duo, the founders of Juggalo Championship Wrestling & the longest reigning JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champions consisting of Violent J & Shaggy 2 Dope. There have been a total of 6 members in the group since its inception in 1989, but has been boiled down to J & Shaggy since the release of their 1992 debut album Carnival of Carnage. Together, they would create an empire whether it be subsequent albums like Riddle Box & The Great Milenko or expanding the self-owned Psychopathic Records as a force to be reckoned with in the underground by signing artists from Twiztid to more recently Ouija Macc. Now I wasn’t the biggest fan of ICP’s previous full-length album Fearless Fred Fury back in 2019 because I felt like it was rushed, however I do respect how angry it was. But as they gear up for the next joker’s card Yum Yum Bedlam, the wicked clowns are preluding it by dropping Yum Yum’s Lure on Juggalo Day.

After the “Bewitching” intro produced by 1 Man Kru of the Keepaz of the Krypt, the next song “Loyalty” finds J & Shaggy detailing what it means to be faithful over an ominous piano instrumental whereas the track “Afraid of Life” might be one of the worst ICP songs I’ve ever heard, as they talk about preferring to be a zombie phantom over a rock-flavored beat from Alien Ant Farm of all people.

The song “Smell of Rain” talks about women consuming them including a reference to 新日本プロレス founder, 3-time IWGPヘビー級王座, 10–time G1クライマックス winner, WWE Hall of Famer & unrecognized WWE Champion アントニオ猪木 over a happy go lucky instrumental from Shaggytheairhead while the track “Ding Ding Doll” tells the story of a boy who buys a cursed Ecuadorian pull string doll from the dark web & the doll comes to life to wreak terror over a pillowy beat over a pillowy beat.

The song “I’ve Had It Worse” talks about how life sucks for everyone over a skeletal trap instrumental from the homie Devereaux while the penultimate track “Candyman” is a solo Shaggy cut with some of his most cringey lyrics on top of a more playful Mike E. Clark beat. The EP ends with “Clownheads”, which is a bloated & redundant advertisement for their Clownhead Paintings.

Coming from a Detroiter who’s been down with the clown since I was in middle school, I think the House Party Peep Show EP is much better because this is just as bad as The Calm & Eye of the Storm. I think the production is decent, but the execution on a good portion of these songs are terrible in my personal opinion. Really hope these songs aren’t on Yum Yum Bedlam & hopefully that album isn’t as disappointing as the material we got on here.

Score: 1/5

Insane Clown Posse – “ICP’s House Party Peep Show” review

This is brand new EP from Detroit horrorcore duo, Juggalo Championship Wrestling founders & the longest reigning JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champions the Insane Clown Posse. Consisting of Violent J & Shaggy 2 Dope, a lot of cats don’t know that 3 other members came & went during the first 5 years of the group’s inception. Not only would The Duke of the Wicked & the Southside Strangla go on to create seminal wicked shit albums like The First 6, but they gained an extremely loyal fanbase in the process & their self-owned Psychopathic Records became an independent hip hop powerhouse as the label’s roster continued to grow. They did a series of Paetron streams to commemorate what would’ve been the 27th annual Hallowicked show & to give back to everyone subscribed, the wicked clowns gifted them an exclusive 6-track EP.

The EP kicks off with “The Blob”, where Violent J tells the story of a killer blob from another galaxy over a dire beat from Devereaux. The next song “My Forehead” is literally J & Shaggy talking about how big Violent J’s forehead is over an old school instrumental from none other than Mike E. Clark while the track “Cartoon Goon” finds the duo going back & forth about an illustration that will seal your fate over a vilainous beat from Shaggytheairhead.

The song “Mighty Mote” sounds like a leftover from the Fearless Fred Fury sessions as J talks about a kid getting revenge on everyone from his step-dad to his school busdriver to the electronic/trap fused production while the penultimate track “The Ceremony” is a beautiful dedication to Shaggy, Billy Bill & Jumpsteady backed by an uplifting trap beat. The EP closes out with “Live Dead Forever”, which is easily the most wicked joint on the entire thing referencing the late Luke Perry only a month after his son Jack became the current AEW World Tag Team Champion.

For the 4 month wait, it was well worth it in my opinion. Violent J is still one of the greatest storytellers in hip hop history, Shaggy 2 Dope even though he only has very few verses on here is just as skilled & I do like how the production range from the touching “Medals” & the vintage “My Forehead” to the trap-flavored “Mighty Mote”. Safe to say it’s giving me hope for Yum Yum’s Lure next Wednesday as well as Yum Yum Bedlam later on in the year.

Score: 3.5/5

Big Hoodoo – “The Hoodini Chronicles: The Redbook” review

Big Hoodoo is a 42 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who originally came up as Doe Dubbla. Under that original moniker, he put out a double-disc full-length debut in 2008 called Stack’n & later followed it up with Hiatus in 2012. However it wouldn’t be until 2013 when Dubbla signed Psychopathic Records, put out his 3rd album Crystal Skull that summer & became the black magic practitioner that he is today. Now the last time we heard from Hoodoo solo-wise was in 2016 when he released asylum, which was pretty much a more refined version of Crystal Skull. But just a little over year after founding his own label Ear Drug Musik as well as teaming up with Anybody Killa to drop Tha Hav Knots’ debut EP, the man is now delivering his highly anticipated 5th album.

The opener “Juice” with Bam Beda sees the 2 talking about being grateful for making out the hood & getting lit when the pressure’s on over some keyboards, but then transitions into a Sada Baby type beat that isn’t too bad. The next song “HooDooinit” triumphantly celebrates his return over an anarchic trap instrumental while the track “Bitch I’m Gone” finds Hoodoo boasting over a sinister beat from Str8jaket.

“Hatchetman” is a full-blown Psychopathic anthem backed by a trap instrumental with some eerie keyboards while the track “7+3” hooks back up with Bam Beda to talk about murdering those who want beef with them over a solemn beat.

The song “Take Over” with Blac finds the 2 talking about running shit over a bass-heavy instrumental while the track “Ride High” talks about going at those praying on his downfall over a ghostly beat with a killer guitar riff. The song “Juggalo Love (Murder Medley)” with Ouija Macc sees the 2 talking about how juggalos don’t play over an instrumental with a creepy atmosphere to it while the track “RIP” talks those who tried to stop him & this is probably the most evil-sounding beat on the whole entire album.

“Against the Grain” recruits Hoodoo’s mentors the Insane Clown Posse to thank those who helped all 3 of their dreams come to fruition over a tranquil instrumental & then “Time of My Life” is an emotional finale as Hoodoo’s spitting some real life shit & the background singer throughout was a remarkable touch as well.

After a 4-year wait, this was very much well worth it because I think The Hoodini Chronicles: The Redbook is neck & neck with asylum for Big Hoodoo’s best work. His evolution throughout the past 7 years is quite evident as his lyricism has only gotten better with time & the production on here is just as raw. Great comeback effort.

Score: 4/5

Ouija Macc – “Zodiac” review

This is the 4th EP from Las Vegas, Nevada rapper Ouija Macc. Coming up in 2017 as a protege of the Insane Clown Posse & signing him to their label Psychopathic Records, his 2018 full-length debut Gutterwater saw him putting his own spin on the SoundCloud aesthetics & has consistently been grinding since with videos as well as mixtapes like Waterdamage & Resistance: The Walk to Wasteland, he just dropped Resistance II: Hell’s Holotape back in May & now after putting out PRETTY/UGLY just a couple months ago, Ouija is teaming up with Ayshon for Zodiac.

The opener “Fucc Face” is a moshpit anthem with rambunctious instrumental while the next track “Pussy Murda” gets sexual over a skeletal beat. The song “Pew Pew” taunts his haters over a plinky instrumental while the title track talks about receiving head from a Cancer bitch over a druggy beat.The song “Vertigo” continues the shit-talking while the track “Something New” talks about how he’s been working like crazy over a beat with a dark atmosphere to it. The song “Trash Can” talks about being built as if he was a dumpster over a demented instrumental & then the closer “Can’t Even Tell” talks about those who he thought were on his side over a cloudy beat.

Even though I prefer Resistance II: Hell’s Holotape & PRETTY/UGLY, this EP is still enjoyable. It’s refreshing to hear Ouija work with a different producer again & he continues to present himself as a unique face on the Psychopathic roster.

Score: 3.5/5

Insane Clown Posse – “Fearless Fred Fury” review

The Insane Clown Posse are a Detroit horrorcore duo, the founders of Juggalo Championship Wrestling & the longest reigning 2-time JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champions consisting of JCW Commissioner Violent J & the shortest reigning JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion Shaggy 2 Dope. They’ve been at it since the very late 80’s & through their own label Psychopathic Records, the 2 have managed to become independent titans. The last we heard from J & Shaggy in a full-length capacity was in 2015 with The Marvelous Missing Link double disc set which has been regarded as the weakest Card of the 2nd Deck but almost 4 years later, they’re returning with their 15th full-length album.

As with every album in the duo’s Dark Carnival mythology, the intro & the first song “Red Fred” serve as an introduction to the album’s titular character. The track “Fury!” is all about fighting back & not only do the verses make you feel like the adrenaline is starting to flow inside, but so does the MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 & Str8jaket production. The song “West Vernor Ave.” is a Shaggy solo cut that pays tribute to the titular street in downtown Detroit while the track “W.T.F.! (What The Fuck!)” talks about the problems of the world today over a chaotic beat. The song “Satellite” sees the 2 is an empowerment anthem with a spacious beat referencing former 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, FTW Champion, ECW World Television Champion, 3-time ECW World Tag Team Champion, JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, IWGPジュニアヘビー級王座 & the longest reigning XPW World Heavyweight Champion Sabu while the track “Seriously Hilarious” gets murderous over a haunting beat dissing their former protégés & Majik Ninja Entertainment founders Twiztid. The song “Game Over” sees J making fun of gamers over a trap beat with an AMAZING Super Mario sample thanks to Devereaux throughout while “Night of Redrum” nocturnally continues their acclaimed “Night of” series.

The song “Low” is mostly a take on the classic Zombies joint “Time of the Season” including a reference to the inaugural IWGPヘビー級王座, former 12-time WWE world champion, WWE tag team champion & WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan while the song “TripleX” is a clever tale taking place in a therapy session over a demented beat. The song “Nobody’s Fault” is a painfully corny emo rap cut while the song “Hot Head” is a boring, sluggish angst anthem. The song “Shimmer” is a guitar ballad to God showing the Duke of the Wicked’s storytelling abilities while the track “Freedom” sees J & Shaggy talking about just that over an uplifting beat. After the “Beware!” interlude, the closer “I Like It Rough” is a disgusting sex tune (not in a good way either) with a bland trap beat.

After the intro of the Flip the Rat bonus disc, “A Face 4 Fighting” starts the deluxe run with Violent J wickedly expressing his love for engaging in fights if shit gets ignited & Shaggy returns on “Fight Back” produced by DJ Paul talking about nobody wanting smoke with them over hi-hats & bells. “Revenge” goes for an futuristic trap vibe with the help of Mike P. making room for them warning that you’re never safe when they’re hunting for you prior to “I’m That Type” featuring Psychopathic’s biggest solo act Ouija Macc finds him & his mentors talking about the scrub life over a rap rock/trap mix.

Another artist on the Psychopathic roster Big Hoodoo join the clowns on “Hungry” to talk their desire for more paper & Brian Kuma giving it a trap flare generally while “Splish Splash” again brings Violent J’s storytelling abilities in the fold portraying a man whose house is 85% baths. “Friend Request” samples “100 Miles & Runnin'” by the N.W.A with J & 2 Dope poking fun at the concept of sending friend requests on the Meta Platforms-owned Facebook while “I Could Never” is another trap cut showing a more religious side to the Duke.

“Hawking” reaches the backend of Flip the Rat satirizing absurdism & conspiracy theories as the wicked clowns trading bars back-&-forth with each other sampling “Kiss” by the late Prince while “Tha Dogg” samples “Man in the Box” by Alice in Chains venting Violent J’s frustration of being treated like a bad dog, calling back to the familiar theme in ICP’s music of being outcasted. “Be Safe” concludes the collection of a dozen bonus tracks with both Shaggy & J playfully telling the juggalos to watch your step & take it easy.

I was legitimately excited going into this after I got to see them film the “Fury!” video at my uncle’s store back in October but now that it’s here, this thing absolutely shits on The Marvelous Missing Link. Other than a small handful of skippers, I appreciate it for going back to a darker sound & featuring around themes of standing up for yourself, fighting back against injustice, & having self-respect making Fred embody this “fight back” mentality. Sucks that the MNE/PSY fallout happened due to Young Wicked of the Axe Murder Boyz signed to MNE after he was having an affair with J’s niece as someone who grew up in Michigan at a time where Psychopathic was a roster full of artists, but it certainly made the clowns sound the angriest they’ve been a while.

Score: 3.5/5