Juggalo

A Juggalo is a generic term for a fan of the Detroit rap group, Insane Clown Posse a.k.a. ICP. The group invented a mythology behind the term to mean "a follower of the Dark Carnival ", as explained on their album, Legacy. Group member Violent J explained the term's origins in the ICP documentary, Behind the Paint, that during a live performance of "The Juggla" from the Carnival of Carnage album, he spontaneously addressed the audience, "What about you Juggalo? Are there any Juggalos in here?", and the name stuck. Juggalo is used to refer to all fans, J said in the 2002 Wraith semanar that he does not like the word juggalo because many people think that it only refers to the male fanbase but it pertains to all fans male or female. Juggalos can be possessive of the "Juggalo" label, often calling other fans "Juffalo" or "Juggaho", otherwise terms for "poser" or "fake fan".

Origin

The Story Behind the Juggalo

In Behind The Paint, ICP's older rap alias, the Inner City Posse failed to sell many albums because of the somewhat generic style and sound. They wanted to create something new and during their brainstorming they eventually came up with the idea of using a gimmick as serial killer clowns who kill those who deserve to be killed. Later that night Violent J went back to his apartment and tried to get to sleep when he got a creepy sensation -- the power of the Dark Carnival was coming to town. ICP then decided to base their future career as prophets of the Dark Carnival by releasing six albums each with a clown face on them as based in Violent J's vision.

After the release of their fourth album The Great Milenko, ICP found themselves caught in an updraft of popularity, after their record label Hollywood Records, owned by Disney dropped the album and pulled it off the shelves after its release only six hours earlier. The bands manager and co-founder of Psychopathic Records, Alex Abiss, then called a newspaper in Los Angeles asking if this would be news. The newspaper put it on the front page and also released it to other major news outlets. After this, many record companies started to bid for ICP's contract. Island records won the contract and made the movie Shockumentary and debuted it on MTV. In 1999 they went on their first national tour, and met up with the band House of Krazees. After the tour, one member from the House of Krazees decided to go his separate way. This would be the birth of Twiztid. ICP decided to leave Island records after the release of Bizzar/Bizaar.

When ICP released their sixth Joker's Card album, the Insane Clown Posse revealed the true nature of The Dark Carnival: the Carnival was in fact a supreme being, and each album prior to this was one of the tests of the Dark Carnival. Should one pass all of the tests the Wraith would take them to what is known to the Juggalos as Shangri-La (Juggalo Heaven). When this was revealed in the final track on the album many former fans became extremely upset and began to dislike and discredit the band intensly. Others, who looked past the graphic lyrics and who understood and appreciated the message, were considered true Juggalos. This created a subculture which were also followed by other Psychopathic Records artists such as Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Anybody Killa, Jumpsteady, Zug Izland, Project Deadman, and Axe Murder Boys.

Juggalo, as Subculture

The Juggalo community (also referred to as the Juggalo Family) had its semi-official creation in the early nineties, the result of social outcasts brought into a union through the music they enjoy (in this case, Insane Clown Posse). As seen in other subcultures, from parallels in music came parallels in interests, style and diction (see below for a list of slang terms). Much like urban culture, the Juggalo community is racially diverse, with African, Hispanic and Asian members amidst the larger group of European ancestry. Like religions, it is merely the principles and adherence to them that defines a Juggalo (although it is worth noting that some offshoots of main religious branches do forego some of their principles). Painting one's face in the style of the members of Insane Clown Posse has been referred to as the unofficial membership badge.

One looming conflict within the Juggalo community is that the term "Juggalo" has never been clearly defined by any one person. Insane Clown Posse have not commented on the subject, since the term has only truly been definable by their fanbase. It is generally accepted that someone who can understand and appreciate the underlying message of Insane Clown Posse's music, as well as able to adhere to a defined code of ethics and morals is a Juggalo; those who stray from the path are not considered Juggalos. Since the fanbase comes in all races, genders and classes, it is impossible to distinguish who a Juggalo is from looks alone.

The Juggalo Code

Anyone who takes claim to the name of "Juggalo" to follow the ways of the Juggalo. If the Code isn't followed, they are often not accepted as Juggalos and at times, depending on the persons involved, are branded "Juffalos" or "Juggahos", slang terms for "poser".

Juggalos are encouraged to follow one's instincts and to believe and be one's self, while striving for acceptance and popularity is strongly discouraged, as is discrimination and/or prejudice based on race, religion, nationality, or social background; Juggalos are expected to judge others by their personalities. For the Juggalo community, the overall message of staying true to oneself and refusing to change for anyone is the true meaning and purpose of living.

Some of the expectations placed on Juggalos are honesty and selflessness, with loyalty being a large factor. Juggalos have a lot of pride and are extremely loyal to themselves and their fellow Juggalos, whom they support without question. In a sense, this is similar to the mentality of a street gang; this notion has come under fire from opposing figures of gangs and cliques. Despite the intense loyalty between Juggalos, it is favourable to still be viewed as an outcast. The camaraderie between Juggalos has led to an explosion of pride between Juggalos, who are all too happy to admit that they are Juggalos and are "down with the clown". Some have even coined the term "Juggalo Power" for the increase in energy and stamina associated with having pride and strength that various Juggalos seem to experience.

It has been stated by Shaggy 2 Dope that "even some dude who doesn’t even listen to ICP or Psychopathic Records can be a Juggalo, because it’s about more then just listening to the music." Although enjoying both is favourable, neither is as important as sharing the same ideology as other Juggalos.

Conflicts

Juggalism has met resistance on several fronts. Parents often become confused and frightened by the idea of their child being involved in a street group that enjoys rap music. Many parents find the idea of rapping clowns taking themselves seriously as a large joke and will dismiss Juggalism as pure fanaticism. Since parents usually discourage their children from painting their faces any time of the year other than Halloween, they will also frown upon their child sporting face paint similar to that of ICP's members.

Juggalo Pride has led to the idea that there is a strong gang mentality in the Juggalo community, to the point where Juggalos are considered actual gang members. As a result, several splinter groups have been cited in newspaper editorials which claim that Juggalism is socially detrimental to its followers. Juggalos universally dismiss these individuals, claiming that they are missing the point completely.

Many schools oppose to any graphic association with gangs and/or rap music, and Insane Clown Posse is no exception. Some schools even force students to remove or reverse their T-shirts to avoid conflicts with other students and staff members. Schools also oppose the wearing of face paint on any day other than Halloween or its nearest school day.

Juggalo Terminology

The following is a partial list of slang terms usually used by Juggalos in conversation. For a more complete list, see the links section.

• Chicken - a term first used in the song "Chicken Huntin’", meaning "racist".
• Clown Luv - a term used to show the love Juggalos have for one another, first heard on 1994's The Ringmaster.
• Cotton Candy - A vagina. Specifically the pubic hair.
• Dark Carnival – the supposed driving force of ICP and Juggalos. On The Wraith: Shangri-La, it was revealed that the Dark Carnival was the supreme being. all six Joker’s Cards were based on this divine being and the supposed apocalypse.
• Faygo - a cheap soda which ICP have been drinking since their youth; today they douse Juggalos with it during concerts.
• Juggalo Power- an unexplainable internal power that Juggalos supposedly possess; whether this is comparable with an adrenaline rush is subjective. Also regarded by some Juggalos as "Shine".
• Hound Dog - a term for a fan who obsesses over a group for no apparent reason. See also: Juggaho.
• Juggalette - Female version of Juggalo, also known as a Ninjette
• Juffalo - a person who tries too hard to fit the "Juggalo" stereotype and is easily forseen as "fake".
• Juggaho - a person who listens to Psychopathic Records artists for superficial reasons only.
• MCL - abbreviation for “Much Clown Love.” There are also other variations of the abbreviation such as, MFCL, MNCL, MMFCL and etc.
• Missy - a term for a large overweight woman. Comes from Insane Clown Posse’s movie Big Money Hustlas.
• Mothafacko – a term used instead of motherfucker.
• Neden - a term for a vagina that ICP has been using since their youth.
• Ninja/Ninjette -comes from Violent J’s childhood fascination with Ninjas. It’s used to identify another Juggalo, such as “What up, Ninja?” Some argue that this is actually a replacement for the word nigga
• Nizzos - a term for a man’s testicles.
• Piggy – a term used for an officer of the law.
• Props - a term for giving someone encouragement or recognition of one’s work.
• Scrub - a term for a poor individual.
• Sheep - a term for anyone who blindly follow without question.

The terminology is explained in Violent J's Autobiography Behind The Paint and on hallsofillusions.com [1]

External links

• An online dictionary of Juggalo Terminology
• What IS a Juggalo?