The Insane Clown Posse (ICP) are a two-piece horrorcore rap / rapcore group originally from Wayne, Michigan, consisting of Violent J ( Joseph Bruce) and Shaggy 2 Dope ( Joseph Utsler). They almost always professionally display themselves in full black and white " evil clown" makeup that could be compared to the corpse paint of black metal musicians or the makeup of the rock group KISS. Violent J's makeup is usually drawn as a smiling face, while Shaggy's is an angry face. The group is also well known for on-stage antics such as dousing the audience with Faygo–brand soda at its shows and lighting fires.
The first incarnation of the group was in 1988 as The JJ Boys, a trio that Violent J, Shaggy, and John Utsler (a.k.a. John Kickchazz) had formed while still in their early teens. This later became "Inner City Posse", and consisted of three members: J, Shaggy, and Kickchazz (Shaggy's brother) (who performed on Inner City Posse albums Bassment Cuts and Dog Beats). Kickchazz left the group before Carnival of Carnage was released. J and Shaggy still wanted ICP to be a trio, and so brought in a local rapper called Greez-E, who appeared on Beverly Kills 50187. He subsequently left as well, and ICP have been a duo ever since, forming Psychopathic Records with manager Alex Abbiss in 1991.
In 1992, ICP released Carnival of Carnage, which they designated as "The First Joker's Card". The group hinted at the next five major-release albums being numbered in this fashion. They also stated that "the end of time will consume us all" once the Sixth Joker's Card was revealed, and that their fans would know all there is to know about The Dark Carnival (alternatively referred-to as "The Dead Carnival" on The Riddlebox)— something the band refers to on every album as a powerful force which has spoken to them and is directly opposed to the Devil. In ICP's songs, the Dark Carnival often took the shape of a travelling carnival road-show, where instead of harmless entertainment, the clowns and rides serve up death and pain as punishment for the wicked.
