Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope at the 2017 March of the Juggalos, organized to protest the group’s FBI designation as a gang. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / SullyDC
Break out the Faygo.

Insane Clown Posse is scheduled to play San Antonio Friday, Sept. 12 at outdoor venue The Espee. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, Aug. 1.

The rap duo has had an interesting — and sometimes baffling — trajectory from the streets its hometown of Detroit to presiding over an empire with almost cult-like worship from its numerous disciples known as juggalos.

Under the auspices — the Big Top, let’s call it — of ICP’s empire are gold and platinum albums, a wrestling championship and the infamous music festival The Gathering of the Juggalos.

To say ICP is polarizing is putting it lightly. Also, speaking of polarized … “Fucking magnets. How do they work?”

The jury is still out, for example, as to whether ICP and their following are sinister or just silly.

According to the FBI, juggalos are a gang — a designation that resulted in a march on Washington and a lawsuit. However, many members of the general public consider them a joke.

The much-maligned ICP is aware of what you might think of them.

“[M]otherfuckers don’t just hate on us, they hate us,” member Shaggy2Dope told The Hard Times. “I don’t know what the fuck we did to anybody to deserve it, but we’re used to it. At this point, we embrace it. We know we’re the most hated band in the world, we’re not stupid.”
Despite the “white trash” public perception of the Midwest emcees, their politics are often refreshingly progressive. ICP’s Violent J endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. The horrorcore rap duo’s lyrics have also denounced racism, bigotry, elitism, domestic violence, child abuse and even the Gulf War.

“We’re not a political group, but we’re just not racist motherfuckers,” Shaggy 2 Dope insisted his The Hard Times interview.

Despite eschewing being labeled “political,” they keep making headlines for their stance on the issues. ICP’s consistent antiracist messaging and working class solidarity has earned the dubious duo nods from an increasing number of leftists.

Now, many who once laughed at the clowns (myself included) consider themselves — if not fans — then “juggalo-adjacent.”

Turns out all this time I mocked you, ’twas I who was the clown.

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed

Related Stories

This article appears in Jul 23 – Aug 6, 2025.

Stephanie Koithan is the Digital Content Editor of the San Antonio Current. In her role, she writes about politics, music, art, culture and food. Send her a tip at skoithan@sacurrent.com.