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| Before the first Joker's Card (Carnival of Carnage), Insane Clown Posse were two thirds of a up and coming ruthless southwest Detroit hard core gangster rap trio called Inner City Posse. Their 1991 self-produced release, Dog Beats, quickly gained recognition in the world of Detroit underground music. Heavily involved with gang activities, these were trubulent times for the group. Between explosive gang-related conflicts and stints in county jail, ICP was looking for direction in their music. The turning point happened in '91, when according to Violent J, he had a surreal dream about the "Dark Carnival" and six unique messages in the form of albums. Inspired upon walking, Joe Bruce (Violent J) he gave the name Insane Clown Posse, and a new and purposeful direction. Band members totally latched onto this, quickly developing their wicked clown alter egos. They begun painting their faces like clowns, in a trademark style the would remain unchanged until '02, with the release of the sixth and final Joker's Card album. Insane Clown Posse then immediately started to work on their first full-length album, and Joker's Card... Carnival Of Carnage. |
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| In October of '92, Insane Clown Posse's first LP, Carnival Of Carnage, began the series of six Joker's Card albums that took ten years to complete. Full of violently slapstick lyrics to vigilante style revenge against those who perpetrate evil in the world, Carnival of Carnage fully established ICP's look and musical style. With live shows also come new innovations, namely their trademark use of Faygo soda, which the group began dousing crowds with. Working closely with their self owned label, Psychopathic Records, ICP was quickly becoming a cult sensation in Detroit. Many were receiving the message locally, but it was time to expand into the national scene. |
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| '94 saw the release of the second Joker's Card album, Ringmaster. Fans were more than ready, and record sales reflected this. Strong sales caught the attention of local Detroit music leaders, and helped establish ICP as a group that was on the rise. By now, ICP had fully converted to professional musicians backed by a small but growing Psychopathic Records team. The face paint, the Faygo throwing, and hard core, carnival inspired musical style were quickly becoming the group's unmistakable trademark. A local hit radio single lead to growing recognition in Detroit and throughout the Midwest. Insane Clown Posse was entering the radar of national labels. Meanwhile, Psychopathic Records was itself growing into an established company, branching out into peripheral ICP merchanding as well. |
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| With over 100,000 records sold in the Midwest, Insane Clown Posse and Psychopathic Records looked towards the large record labels to further promote the group and its message. They signed with New York based Jive Recordsm who released The Riddle Box, the third Joker's Card album, in '95. While Psychopathic Records promoted the album in Detroit, Dallas, and elsewhere, Jive did relatively little. Psychopathic Records sent out street teams, covering the country coast to coast, city by city, without the benefit of radio support. From the groud up, these teams of vans laid the foundation of what would later become an underground nation of fans, callled Juggalos. Despite the lack of mainstream support, this was an exciting time in the lives and careers of Insane Clown Posse and the people behind Psychopathic Records. Two videos for a hit single were shot. ICP's cult following was growing into a nation-wide phenomenon, as the band broke ground in the underground. |