Wizard of the Hood | ||||
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EP by | ||||
Released | July 22, 2003 | |||
Recorded | The Lotus Pod, Novi, Michigan | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 34:27 | |||
Label | Psychopathic Records | |||
Producer | Violent J Mike Puwal | |||
Violent J chronology | ||||
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Wizard of the Hood is the debut EP by Violent J. Released in 2003, it is the Insane Clown Posse member's first solo release. The EP is a concept album based on The Wizard of Oz , which is retold in an urban setting. Several tracks from the EP also sample music from the 1978 film The Wiz , another urban reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. A song with the same title had previously been released on the album Carnival of Carnage .
Violent J takes on the role of this story's version of Dorothy, making his way through this strange new land to get back to his home. Along the way, he meets the Scarecrow (Twiztid's Monoxide), who only needs somebody to smoke with, the Tin Man (Twiztid's Jamie Madrox), who wants a "gat", and the Lion (Blaze Ya Dead Homie), who wants some "hoes". Anybody Killa has a brief cameo as a guard in the Wizard's palace as well as fellow Insane Clown Posse member Shaggy 2 Dope appears as the Wizard.
The EP contains nine story tracks and two "bonus tracks". It was also released in a "Collector's Edition" tin which featured two different bonus tracks and a package of "Violent Joint" rolling paper. [1] [2] In an early 2014 interview Violent J said that he would like to do a Wizard Of The Hood show. During ICP's 2014 GOTJ seminar he said that it may happen very soon. On July 24, 2015 during ICP's seminar Violent J said that he would like to do a Wizard of the Hood full album set at the 2016 GOTJ if Twiztid and Blaze Ya Dead Homie are down to do it also. Violent J announced in October, 2015 that they will be performing the whole Wizard of the Hood setlist for GOTJ 17 (2016) complete with changing sets and Twiztid and Blaze Ya Dead Homie will be on stage to do their parts.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [3] |
# | Title | Time | Writer(s) | Performer(s) |
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1 | "Intro" | 0:40 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J |
2 | "Let It Rain" | 2:42 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J |
3 | "Yellow Brick Alleyway" | 3:19 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J Legz Diamond |
4 | "Homies 2 Smoke With" | 3:52 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J Monoxide |
5 | "Thug Whilin'" | 3:13 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J Twiztid |
6 | "Horribly Horrifying" | 5:13 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J Triple Threat |
7 | "What You Thinkin' About?" | 3:30 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J Triple Threat |
8 | "Shiny Diamonds" | 3:44 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J |
9 | "The Wizard's Palace" | 2:51 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Dark Lotus |
Bonus tracks: | ||||
10 | "Axes Swingin'" | 2:04 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J |
11 | "Multiple Myselves" | 2:59 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J |
"Collector's Edition" bonus tracks: | ||||
10 | "My Shine" | 3:22 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J |
11 | "Bloody Bitch Dead" | 2:47 | Violent J Mike Puwal | Violent J |
Chart (1999) | Peak Position |
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Billboard 200 | 89 [4] |
Top Independent Albums | 3 [4] |
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 31 [4] |
Dark Lotus was an American hip hop group based in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Formed in 1998 as a side project of Insane Clown Posse and Twiztid, Dark Lotus was best known as a representative of the horrorcore subgenre. From 1998 to 2017, Dark Lotus' lineup changed multiple times, with the most consistent members of the group being Violent J, Shaggy 2 Dope, Jamie Madrox, Monoxide and Blaze Ya Dead Homie.
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Psychopathic Records, also known as The Hatchet, 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.
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