Tunnel of Love (EP)

Last updated
Tunnel of Love
Insane Clown Posse - Tunnel Of Love-cover.jpg
EP by
ReleasedApril 19, 1996 [1]
Recorded1996
Genre Hip hop, horrorcore, indie hip hop, dirty rap
Label Psychopathic
Producer Mike E. Clark
Insane Clown Posse chronology
Riddle Box
(1995)
Tunnel of Love
(1996)
Mutilation Mix
(1997)

Tunnel of Love is the fourth EP by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse, released on April 19, 1996, by Psychopathic Records. It is the third and final "sideshow" entry in the group's Dark Carnival saga.

Contents

Background

Unsatisfied with their contract with Jive Records, Insane Clown Posse's manager, Alex Abbiss, set up a deal which would sign the group with Hollywood Records. After their Jive contract expired, ICP had two days on their own before officially being signed to Hollywood, so they decided to record and release an EP independently on Psychopathic Records. [2]

The EP consisted of "love songs" performed in the duo's trademark style. [2] [3] Like The Terror Wheel, there is a hidden track at the end which contains a phone number, which could be called to reveal the name of the next Joker's Card, The Great Milenko .

Release and reception

Tunnel of Love was released with an alternate pornographic album cover, which became rare and much sought after among fans. Insane Clown Posse - Tunnel Of Love-XXX-cover.jpg
Tunnel of Love was released with an alternate pornographic album cover, which became rare and much sought after among fans.

To promote the EP, Psychopathic sent out a pink Tunnel of Love van with flowers on it. [3] However, this promotional tactic proved to be incomprehensible to many people, who did not understand what the van was promoting, and onlookers yelled homophobic insults at the drivers. [3] After much disagreement between the heads of Psychopathic Records, label don Billy Bill pulled the van over and removed the wrapping promoting the EP. [3]

The album was released in an alternate version with a pornographic album cover, and a bonus track, "Mental Warp". [3] The cover was derived from a pornographic film VHS cover which depicted an actor with an erect penis standing next to two women, one of which is holding the erection in her hand. [2] The actor's face was replaced by Shaggy 2 Dope's. Because no stores would stock the album with this cover and it was sold mostly at Insane Clown Posse's concerts, this edition became rare and sought after by fans. [3]

Allmusic did not review the album, but gave it 3 out of 5 stars. [4] "Mental Warp", the bonus track from the XXX edition of the album, also appeared on the compilation Forgotten Freshness Volumes 1 & 2 . The songs "Cotton Candy" and "Super Balls" appeared in the film Big Money Hustlas . The song "Super Balls" originated the Juggalo slang "Whoop whoop!", which is used as a greeting among fans. The greeting and the song were also referenced in Twiztid's song "Meat Cleaver", which appeared on their 1997 debut Mostasteless . The pornographic alternate cover is discussed in the film Shockumentary by parents concerned about ICP's music.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Insane Clown Posse and Mike E. Clark.

No.TitleLength
1."Intro"1:20
2."Cotton Candy"4:35
3."Super Balls" (featuring Legz Diamond)5:31
4."Ninja"5:50
5."Stomp"2:48
6."Prom Queen"5:31
7."My Kind of Bitch"4:45
8."When I Get Out"9:47
Total length:40:10
XXX Version bonus track
No.TitleLength
9."Mental Warp"4:29
Total length:44:49

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Carnival of Carnage</i> 1992 studio album by Insane Clown Posse

Carnival of Carnage is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse, released on October 18, 1992, by Psychopathic Records.

<i>Riddle Box</i> 1995 studio album by Insane Clown Posse

Riddle Box is the third studio album by the American hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse, released in October 1995 on Battery Records and Island Records in association with Psychopathic Records. It is the third Joker's Card in the group's Dark Carnival mythology. It was released a second time by Battery Records and Jive Records. In 2008 it was re-released on a Riddle Box vinyl record. The album was the first Insane Clown Posse album in which the group worked with studio vocalist and guitarist Rich Murrell, who would work with the group throughout much of their career under the name Legz Diamond. It was released in four different versions, and earned a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2008, Riddle Box was re-released on vinyl double LP format. In 2015, Psychopathic Records reissued the album in a 20th anniversary edition, featuring bonus tracks.

<i>Ringmaster</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Insane Clown Posse

Ringmaster is the second studio album by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse, released on March 8, 1994, by Psychopathic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in 1993 at The Tempermill Studio. The album is the second Joker's Card in the group's Dark Carnival mythology. The album's lyrics describe the leader of the Carnival, who serves as one of the judges of one's soul in the afterlife, as being created from the listener's own evils.

<i>Forgotten Freshness</i> 1995 compilation album by Insane Clown Posse

Forgotten Freshness is a rarities album by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. Released in 1995, the album features unreleased and "lost" tracks that are harder to find elsewhere.

Psychopathic Records is an American independent record label headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The label is most associated with the hip-hop music subgenres horrorcore and rap rock. The label was founded in 1991 by Alex Abbiss and hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. The iconography of a man with a meat cleaver has been used for years as a symbol of the group, its fanbase, and its associates.

<i>Beverly Kills 50187</i> 1993 EP by Insane Clown Posse

Beverly Kills 50187 is the first EP by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse, released in 1993 by Psychopathic Records. It is the first "sideshow" entry in the group's Dark Carnival saga. The group felt that they should release EPs in between their studio albums during the Dark Carnival saga, in order to build and satisfy their fanbase. It is the 2nd overall release by Insane Clown Posse.

<i>The Terror Wheel</i> 1994 EP by Insane Clown Posse

The Terror Wheel is the second EP by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse, released on August 5, 1994, by Psychopathic Records. It is the second "sideshow" entry in the group's Dark Carnival saga. The EP contains six studio tracks. "The Dead Body Man" which was subsequently re-released in 1995 on Insane Clown Posse's third studio album Riddle Box, in a slightly higher key. "The Dead Body Man" received significant local radio play in Detroit following the release of The Terror Wheel. The song "The Smog" was originally known as "The Swarm", and was about a deadly swarm of insects. "The Smog" was also intended to be released on Riddle Box. The final track on the album contained a number you could call to find out the name of the next Joker's Card, Riddle Box. The cover of the album is from the Moby single, Go

<i>Dog Beats</i> 1991 EP by Inner City Posse

Dog Beats is a 1991 EP by Inner City Posse, later to be known as Insane Clown Posse. Having previously created and released three homemade "basement tapes" that were recorded on cassette via karaoke machine, Dog Beats was both the Inner City Posse's first release to be recorded professionally and was also the first record ever released by Psychopathic Records.

<i>Forgotten Freshness Volumes 1 & 2</i> 1998 compilation album by Insane Clown Posse

Forgotten Freshness Volumes 1 & 2 is a rarities album by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. Released in 1998, it features unreleased and lost tracks that are harder to find elsewhere. It also contains some tracks that were remixed or changed. Before this album's release the ICP released Forgotten Freshness in 1995, but because of sample-clearing problems it was only released in the Detroit area and the mid-west. Many of the tracks on that album appeared again on these albums for wider distribution purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaggy 2 Dope</span> American rapper

Joseph William Utsler, known by his stage name Shaggy 2 Dope, is an American rapper, record producer, DJ, podcast host of Shaggy and The Creep Show, and professional wrestler. He is part of the hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse. He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow Insane Clown Posse rapper Violent J and their former manager, Alex Abbiss. Along with Bruce, Utsler is the co-founder of the professional wrestling promotion Juggalo Championship Wrestling, where he currently acts as color commentator.

<i>Tales from the Lotus Pod</i> 2001 studio album by Dark Lotus

Tales from the Lotus Pod is the first album by American hip hop group Dark Lotus. Released on July 17, 2001, the album featured the only appearance of former member Marz, who was soon dismissed from the group. This was the first Insane Clown Posse/Twiztid related album to be released after their label Psychopathic Records left Island Records.

<i>Fuck Off!</i> Debut solo release by Shaggy 2 Dope

Fuck Off! is an EP by American rapper Shaggy 2 Dope inspired by the success of "Fuck Off!", the rapper's first solo single. "Fuck Off!", the single, was released on November 22, 1994 through Psychopathic Records. Written by Insane Clown Posse, it was recorded at Pulsar Sound Studio and produced by Mike E. Clark.

<i>Behind the Paint</i>

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".

<i>A Carnival Christmas</i> 1994 EP by Insane Clown Posse

A Carnival Christmas is the third EP by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse, released on December 6, 1994, by Psychopathic Records. It was reissued in 1997 by Island Records with alternate artwork. The reissue removed the EP's final two tracks. The first two songs on the EP are included in the compilation Forgotten Freshness Volumes 1 & 2. It is the 5th overall release by Insane Clown Posse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homies (song)</span> 2002 single by Insane Clown Posse featuring Twiztid

"Homies" is a song written by Insane Clown Posse, Mike Puwal and Twiztid for ICP's 2002 album The Wraith: Shangri-La. After the 1992 single "Psychopathic", "Homies" is the second single released by the group to not be produced by Mike E. Clark, who had stopped working with Psychopathic Records due to a disagreement with ICP's Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler. Clark later produced a remix of the song, which appeared on Forgotten Freshness Volume 4, after Clark reconciled with ICP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuck the World (Insane Clown Posse song)</span> 1999 single by Insane Clown Posse

"Fuck the World" is a song by hip hop duo, Insane Clown Posse, performed by member Violent J, and is their second single from their album The Amazing Jeckel Brothers. The song is one of their best known, notable for using the word "fuck" 105 times, 93 times by Violent J, 10 times by Shaggy 2 Dope, and twice by Jumpsteady.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicken Huntin'</span> 1995 single by Insane Clown Posse

"Chicken Huntin'" is a single by hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse, from their second studio album, Ringmaster. The "Slaughter House Mix", from the group's third studio album, Riddle Box, has become one the duo's most popular songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insane Clown Posse</span> American hip hop duo from Michigan

Insane Clown Posse, often abbreviated as ICP, is an American hip hop duo. Formed in Detroit in 1989, ICP's best-known lineup consists of rappers Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. 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 had 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 an American retired rapper and professional wrestler who would go on to become a Don for Psychopathic Records.

References

  1. "Instagram".
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (2003). "Fuck Jive". In Nathan Fostey (ed.). ICP: Behind the Paint (2nd ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. p.  280. ISBN   0-9741846-0-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (2003). "Complete Discography". In Nathan Fostey (ed.). ICP: Behind the Paint (2nd ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp.  554, 555. ISBN   0-9741846-0-8.
  4. Allmusic review