yesterday I made a post in c/chat lightly making fun of ICP, because I heard about this movie. ended up watching it last night and it honestly fucking blew me away
it’s genuinely sincere and heartfelt while also being funny as fuck, like several parts got an audible laugh from me, and I watched it alone. it does get super dark towards the end and there’s some gross, disturbing stuff that might not be for everyone, but it’s never mean-spirited or cynical and knows just when to pull back and ease the tension with comic relief
it’s also very ACAB, as the plot revolves around our two protagonists getting hassled by small-town cops on their way to the Gathering. I don’t want to say too much more other than that you should watch it. my only regret was not grabbing a bottle of Faygo first
WHOOP WHOOP!
the only juggalo I’ve ever known also happens to be the only person I’ve known to hear blatant racism and immediately go to 11
Did his shirt come off? Yes.
Did he beat some ass? Yes.
Was it awesome? Yes.
I was a juggalo back in the late 90’s. ICP’s most problematic aspect is unfortunately that they started during a time period where misogyny and homophobia were flat out normalized. So when you listen to their old stuff, even though it’s a lot of class based, anti-cop narratives, there’s still way too much Bish this, Frog that. Like if they started today they would probably just be considered Dirtbag Left. I haven’t listened to much of their newer stuff, but I imagine they’ve gotten better about some of it. I know Twiztid, who they partnered with, has apologetically stopped using the N word, which was also too normal of a thing back then. Also, it’s carnival based religious music, I always got a kick out of how many people didn’t realize that.
I’m not that familiar with ICP’s music, that’s unfortunate but doesn’t sound much worse than most rap music from that time, or even today when it comes to the misogyny. the impression I got is that a lot of their earlier music is pretty edgy due to being in the horror rap genre, one of the characters describes the music “like a mini horror film set to a dope-ass beat”
I noticed that some juggalos call each other “ninja” instead of the N-word and say stuff like “ninja please” which… is way better than saying the actual word but still feels a little sus to me, like a way of saying it without saying it. but idk, if black juggalos are cool with it then whatever
I think the ninja thing is a sort of… dialectical racism? Like it’s a synthesis of Nick Mullen “almost saying the word” and Orientalist kung fu movie worship a la Wu Tang Clan.
Fuck, you got me listening to shit now.
This one is a really good example of them just being silly, but also sounds amazing. Throw some headphones on and close your eyes and it’s a fun time.
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
I’m not that familiar with ICP’s music, that’s unfortunate but doesn’t sound much worse than most rap music from that time, or even today when it comes to the misogyny.
It really wasn’t, it just makes them rather difficult to recommend to leftists now. They were incredibly talented and teamed up with their incredible producer Mike E. Clarke were putting out amazing stuff.
the impression I got is that a lot of their earlier music is pretty edgy due to being in the horror rap genre, one of the characters describes the music “like a mini horror film set to a dope-ass beat”
Yeah, they were in a genre known as Horrorcore. It was a very niche genre largely pioneered by a guy named Esham the Unholy. ICP was super violent, and it was largely about going after rich people and cops and corrupt politicians. And then there’d be just silly shit about eating pussy and getting laid, it was fun tbh.
If you wanna taste, this is from Great Melinko which is about the time they started going mainstream. There was a lot of controversy around this album because Disney bought up the record label they were on also about that time. It was probably one of their most polished albums so far and imo still holds up reasonably well. The song Halls of Illusions on the same playlist is also pretty representative of their vibe.
I noticed that some juggalos call each other “ninja” instead of the N-word and say stuff like “ninja please” which… is way better than saying the actual word but still feels a little sus to me, like a way of saying it without saying it. but idk, if black juggalos are cool with it then whatever
Yeah… it’s complicated. I really can’t emphasis how much using the n word was normalized among white rap fans in the years following NWA and Dre and Snoop and everybody else. If you rapped or were into rap, you said the N word (soft a), even if it was just singing along. ICP kinda bucked the trend with Ninja. I still can’t listen to LL Cool J because I wanna sing along and can’t stop myself from saying it in the moment. And he says it sooo much.🙃
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
I found a YouTube link in your post. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
It’s honestly surprising I’m not a juggalo tbh. Midwestern furry with a love for horror aesthetics, occasional white boy rap, and faygo? Should be a dead fit, right? Never actually even heard a ICP song somehow
