Behind the Paint

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Behind the Paint
Behind the Paint.JPG
Behind the Paint first edition cover.
Author Joseph Bruce
Hobey Echlin
Cover artistMeecal Gibson
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Subject Autobiography
Publisher Psychopathic Records
Publication date
July 2003
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages596
ISBN 978-09741846-0-9
OCLC 53312411

Behind the Paint is the 2003 autobiography of American hip hop artist Joseph Bruce, better known as Violent J, one half of the Detroit, Michigan hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. The book focuses on Bruce's entire life until 2002. It begins with a chronological account of his childhood, professional wrestling career, and musical career, including the conception of Insane Clown Posse's Dark Carnival mythology and the development of their fan base, known as "Juggalos".

Contents

Content

Behind the Paint opens with Bruce's father stealing all of the family's money and leaving when Joe was two years old. His mother briefly marries an abusive man that molests Joe and his older siblings Robert and Theresa. [1] Joe later meets John and Joey Utsler, and the group's backyard wrestling, musical, and gang activities are chronicled. [2] Bruce recalls briefly living in Bonnie Doone, North Carolina at the age of 17, and cites the open racism that he witnessed there as a source of the hatred for bigots referenced in future Insane Clown Posse's lyrics. [3]

The book describes the group's genesis, including Bruce's involvement in professional wrestling, the formation of group Inner City Posse with John and Joey Utlser, as well as establishing their record label Psychopathic Records. [4] The book also discusses the beginnings of what would become Insane Clown Posse and the origins of the group's Dark Carnival mythology, and the albums inspired by it.

The book also documents the group's early struggles, personnel changes and the changing local Detroit music scene. [5]

The book also focus their highly publicized falling-out with Hollywood Records and subsequent signing to Island Records, [6] their eventual return to Psychopathic Records and the production of their full-length feature film, Big Money Hustlas . [7]

The books ends with Bruce reflecting on the group's previous successes, their one platinum and three gold albums, and the release of the group's sixth Joker's Card, The Wraith: Shangri-La . [8]

Publication and reception

Behind the Paint was originally released in July 2003 with a revised second edition released in August 2004. Wired magazine writer Brian Raftery commented on the candid manner of Bruce's writing, calling the book a "soul-baring memoir filled with unpleasant details." [9]

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Insane Clown Posse

Insane Clown Posse, often abbreviated as ICP, is an American hip hop duo composed of Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Founded in Detroit in 1989, Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore and is known for its elaborate live performances. The duo has earned two platinum and five gold albums. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the entire catalog of the group has sold 6.5 million units in the United States and Canada as of April 2007. The group has established a dedicated following called Juggalos numbering in the "tens of thousands".

Psychopathic Records is an American independent record label based in Farmington Hills, Michigan that specializes in hip hop music. Owned by Insane Clown Posse members Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, the label was founded by the group and their manager Alex Abbiss in 1991. Then known as Inner City Posse, the group released the label's first album, Dog Beats, that year. Since its foundation, the label has featured 23 artists and bands from the United States, predominantly around Detroit, Michigan.

Robert Bruce is a retired rapper and professional wrestler who would go on to become a Don for Psychopathic Records.

Richard Murrell is an American guitarist and singer from Detroit, Michigan, United States, better known as Legz Diamond. A former member of the rock band Coup Detroit, Murrell is best known as an affiliate of the hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse, for which he has provided production work, guitar and backing vocals and has also served as a Ring Announcer on their JCW wrestling tours. In 2013, Murrell signed as a solo artist with Psychopathic Records.

References

  1. ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (2003). "The Butterfly". In Nathan Fostey (ed.). ICP: Behind the Paint (2nd ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp.  2–16. ISBN   0-9741846-0-8.
  2. ↑ Fostey, p. 539–540
  3. ↑ Fostey, p. 106–119
  4. ↑ Fostey, p.121–144
  5. ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (August 2003). "The Dark Carnival". In Nathan Fostey (ed.). ICP: Behind the Paint (second ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp.  174–185. ISBN   0-9741846-0-8.
  6. ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (August 2003). "Banned by a Filthy Rat". In Nathan Fostey (ed.). ICP: Behind the Paint (second ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp.  306–314. ISBN   0-9741846-0-8.
  7. ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (August 2003). "Big Money Hustlas". In Nathan Fostey (ed.). ICP: Behind the Paint (second ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp.  414–433. ISBN   0-9741846-0-8.
  8. ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (August 2003). "Diamond Rain". In Nathan Fostey (ed.). ICP: Behind the Paint (second ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp.  504–519. ISBN   0-9741846-0-8.
  9. ↑ Raftery, Brian (2010-11-29). "How Two Outcast Rappers Built an Insane Clown Empire". Wired.com. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
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