The Nappy Cat Chronicles

A Juggalo (male or female) or Juggalette (more commonly used for a female) is a member of the group that has grown up around the fanbase of the Michigan rap/horrorcore group Insane Clown Posse (ICP), and related recording artists at Psychopathic Records. Much of the predominant philosophy of the group stems from the Dark Carnival, a mythology that was carried as a theme in six ICP albums known as the 6 Joker’s Cards.

Yuppies, they are not. But, just as yuppies consider themselves the keepers of the finer aspects of American culture, Juggalos consider themselves the keepers of music. I think they consider themselves music’s gatekeepers because the Insane Clown Posse is so amusingly awful that their music is technically conceptual.

The Insane Clown Posse is comprised of these two fine gentlemen who appear to be impervious to the effects of fire:

But, fret not. According to Wikipedia, they are human:

The group consists of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler,

until they take the stage:

who perform under the stage names and personas of Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope, a pair of murderous “wicked clowns.” Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as “horrorcore,” and are known both for their dark and violent lyrics and their elaborate live performances.

in order to help us become better people:

The majority of their work centers on the Dark Carnival, an omnipotent force materialized as stories surrounding a series of characters, each one offering a specific lesson designed to change the “evil ways” of listeners before “the end consumes us all.”

Now, despite the lyrical violence and performative depravity, who are these better people? Ignoring this guy who “attacked patrons at a Massachusetts gay bar, murdered a police officer, shot a female companion, and ultimately shot himself after fleeing to Norfork, Arkansas”, the Juggalo subculture is really a portly and mostly congenial subculture who would be just like you and me if we dressed in black, wore face-paint, and kept our hair plenty greasy:

They have a meet-up every year called the “Gathering of the Juggalos” (FYI, the 2008 gathering will occur in Illinois which is, incidentally, the home of Popeye). Here’s the only photo from a gathering that I could find online:

You can find more on the Juggalo subculture at the Juggalo World website.