The term juggalo indicates the followers of the hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse, ICP, originally from Detroit, and similar artists of Psychopathic Records, a label founded by members of the ICP, namely Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. The duo, formerly belonging to the Inner City Posse group, changed the name after some members ended up in prison. The juggalos are currently classified as a “hybrid gang by the generic organization” by the FBI. Do you want to become one too? Keep reading.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: The Music
Step 1. Listen to juggalo music
Because they share the same interests (unusual for most), juggalos often refer to themselves as a large family, or "fam". These individuals attach great importance to music and are fans of horrorcore, a sub-genre of hip-hop that features lyrics with horror themes.
- It begins with ICP's debut album, “Carnival of Carnage”. If you like it, continue with their four most popular CDs: “Ringmaster”, “Riddle Box”, “The Great Milenko” and “The Amazing Jeckel Brothers”.
- Learn the lyrics of the group's manifesto song, “Chicken Huntin”. The track was originally featured on the "Ringmaster" album, but it is the remix included on the "Riddle Box" CD that has become the band's manifesto. This song is about topics like chasing down racist rednecks and killing them.
- Embrace other horrorcore artists. Juggalos don't just listen to Insane Clown Posse, their tastes include a variety of Psychopathic Records rappers, such as Boondox, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Anybody Killa, Psychopathic Rydas.
- Expand the playlist. ICP's music has been influenced by great artists, such as Run-DMC, Ice-T, N. W. A., Ice Cube, Rodney-O & Joe Cooley, Esham, Afrika Bambaataa and Geto Boys.
Step 2. Attend a concert
Watching an ICP show live is incomparable. If this is your first experience, you should just relax and be yourself.
- On stage, ICPs have speakers of Faygo. They use this drink to fill spray bottles with a fan, in order to spray it on the public. Don't try to move away from the shooting line. Soaking yourself is a source of pride and part of the experience. In some cases, fans are invited to the stage to participate and bathe the audience.
- Live the experience of listening to your favorite album live. ICPs sometimes play all the songs on a single CD during a concert. Advertising posters will tell you if the show will focus on a particular record.
- Beware of the pogo. During an ICP concert, it can happen that people poke. Energy and enthusiasm are contagious, but the wounds are real and painful. Pay attention to avoid getting hurt.
Method 2 of 4: The Lifestyle
Step 1. Learn the hand gestures
The juggalos have a specialized code that allows them to communicate easily within the tribe and avoid being arrested. Part of being a member of a juggalo gang is learning the language.
- ICP is short for Insane Clown Posse.
- A juggalette she is a female ICP fan.
- Ninja means "friend".
- A juffalo is a person who pretends to be a juggalo.
- Whoop Whoop is a greeting among the juggalos.
Step 2. Locate the logo
The ICP logo represents a man with dreadlocks, running with an ax. The original design is cartoon style and was made by Shaggy 2 Dope. The band frequently sings about acts of violence committed with an ax. Incidentally, Psychopathic Records is known as the Hatchet Family, "Family with the Ax".
- You can identify other juggalos by looking for this logo on their clothing. Juggalos wear bandanas, necklaces, sweaters, hoodies and belts with this symbol. They also collect Ax Man puppets and decorate the walls with posters depicting him.
- Choose your juggalo name to be recognized in the gang. As most juggalos have been in prison or have significant problems with the law, it is important to opt for a nickname that keeps the authorities away. Select one that inspires awe. Try incorporating adjectives like wikkid (from wicked, "evil") or psyko (from the english psycho, "psychopath"), so that everyone knows that you are a member of a gang that there is little to mess with.
- Make sure the colors are the right ones. Ax Man is usually printed in red and black. These colors identify the gang. Wearing the wrong colors can be lethal.
- Share some curiosities. Violent J was a wrestler for a short time.
Step 3. Eat and drink like a juggalo
Drinking Faygo is essential (if you can get it). ICPs are big fans of this drink. They mention it in numerous songs and spray it on their concert attendees.
- Just like ICPs, the firm that makes Faygo is based in Detroit, so rappers have been drinking it since they were little. Two of the most popular flavors are Red Pop and Rock-n-Rye.
- Drink Diet Faygo without repercussions. The juggalos and juggalettes who hold their own line drink this drink and are not judged for it.
- Make a toast with Faygo. Raise the drink and share this line from an ICP song: “We are juggalos in front of a microphone and live we are great with a Faygo in hand”. Clink the glass with those of your ninjas and enjoy.
- If you can get them, eat the Milk Duds and Combos Pizzeria Pretzel - these are two very popular snacks for juggalos.
Step 4. Adopt the juggalo creed
ICP members come from poor families and were made fun of for second-hand clothes and lifestyle. As a result, they decided to welcome everyone, regardless of social status. You don't have to worry about your acceptance, potentially you are already a juggalo.
Step 5. Celebrate the day of the juggalos
A big party is held on February 17 at the ICP's hometown of Detroit. Juggalos from all over the world are encouraged to celebrate this special day to the full.
- Contribute to become official. In 2012, an unleashed fan started a petition for February 17 to be declared "National Juggalo Day". It has only collected a handful of signatures so far, but you too can do something about it.
- Watch out. The juggalos are not a gang, but they have been labeled as such by the FBI.
- Don't dress up like you're going to a job interview, ninja! Taking a bath and putting on deodorant is juffalos.
Step 6. Attend a Gathering of the Juggalos (GOTJ)
It is a five-day summer festival. Held annually at a private campground in Cave-in-Rock, Illinois. Thousands of juggalos from all over the world attend, so it's a great opportunity to meet people who share your interests.
- Immerse yourself in the music. The GOTJ includes concerts by artists from Psychopathic Records as well as some mainstream musicians.
- Enjoy variety. GOTJ is not based only on music. It also features comedy performances, wrestling fights between naked women, neden games (a term used to indicate the female sexual organ), competitions, autograph sessions, rap sessions and art seminars.
- Read “The Gathering of the Juggalos” by Daniel Cronin for a broad perspective on the depravity of the event.
Method 3 of 4: The Look
Step 1. Paint the face as Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope
But don't copy them entirely. It is more important to have a personal and completely original touch.
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Juggalos paint their faces to look like evil clowns. They mostly use black and white makeup, but sometimes add red to get a "bloodthirsty" look.
- Cover your face with whitening makeup. Use a sponge. If you are using greasepaint, rub a small amount into the palm of your hand to warm and soften it, so it can be spread more easily and fixed better.
- Cover your face completely. Apply it evenly to the areas around the eyes, nose and mouth as well. Do not spread too thick a layer.
- Dab the make-up using fast, decisive movements. This will help you get even coverage.
- Use a cotton swab to trace the shape of the mouth and eyes you want to create. Remove the white layer from the areas marked by the stick.
- Perform the same procedure on the other areas of the face that you want to emphasize.
- Blot again to smooth out the wrinkles caused by the cotton swab. Apply the powder to fix the product.
- Use a make-up or paint brush to fill in the areas you have “cut out” with black. This way, you will get the final look.
- Get inspiration from old horror movies (the poorer the better) and images of freak phenomena.
- Don't expect to get good at this art form right away - it takes time. The ICPs have been dealing with it since 1991. In an interview broadcast by MTV News, Shaggy 2 Dope said: "I can paint my face with my eyes closed." Violent J added: “I would say it takes about 10 minutes”.
- You don't have to wear makeup. Not all juggalos paint their own faces. However, to feel more integrated into the community, you should also show solidarity in this way.
Step 2. Style your hair
The juggalos do what they want. There are several variations of this look, but you typically create twisted sections of hair that pop out as if they were spider legs.
- Use the tip of a regular or long-handled comb to create a small square or triangular section of hair along the front of the scalp, in the center of the forehead.
- Lift the hair from the roots so that it is shot vertically.
- Secure the spider "legs" with small rubber or other rubber bands. Get as close to the roots as possible.
- Continue the process by moving left and right to create multiple small sections from ear to ear.
- Create as many sections as you want, working from front to back. If you want to do them all over your head, you will need a mirror in front of you and one behind you so you can see what you are doing. Otherwise, ask a friend for help; will take care of the sections on the back of the head.
- Apply gel to each attached "leg" and twist it from root to tip.
- Twist again before the gel dries completely. Add more rubber or other bands to each "leg" so that it is upright and stiff, just as if it belonged to a spider. The number of extra rubber bands you add will depend on the length of the hair.
- Finish by spraying the hairspray. While it's still wet, manipulate the tips of the sections to bend them, so they look even more like spider legs.
Method 4 of 4: Extra Activities
Step 1. Try wrestling
Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J met thanks to this sport. They are still involved as founders of Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW), so many juggalos follow the sport.
- Attend a JCW event. It is the high point of wrestling and draws inspiration from Extreme Wrestling. Matches are held in areas that organizers and wrestlers are proud of. If you can't see them, many of the shows are available online or on DVD. Several indie wrestlers from JCW appear in "Backdoor Action: Don't Try This at Home" and "Backyard Action 2: There Goes the Neighborhood".
- Try to spend more time with the juggalos to learn more about the culture.
- Play video games. If you don't have a job, you can spend more time on it.
- Approach the wrestling matches held in the backyards behind the houses with caution. Some juggalos participate in it. It is a dangerous pastime that prompts groups of friends to fight each other, sometimes with the use of makeshift "weapons" such as garbage lids and pieces of wood.
Step 2. Attend a convention dedicated to horror, even if this activity is not widespread among all juggalos
These events include interviews with horror film actors, sessions to sign autographs, writing and make-up workshops for special effects, merchandising and film sales.
- ICP were called in to contribute a song (taken from the album "The Mighty Death Pop") to the horror movie called "MIMEIS". The film is about people inspired by ICP music to do evil deeds.
- Horror events can be a good opportunity to meet like-minded people. Don't get swayed by those who hate juggalos, try to get to know them yourself if you are interested in this culture.
