Behind the Paint
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".
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]
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ Fostey, p. 539–540
- ^ Fostey, p. 106–119
- ^ Fostey, p.121–144
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Raftery, Brian (2010-11-29). "How Two Outcast Rappers Built an Insane Clown Empire". Wired.com. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
External links
- Insane Clown Posse website
- v
- t
- e
- Carnival of Carnage
- Ringmaster
- Riddle Box
- The Great Milenko
- The Amazing Jeckel Brothers
- Bizaar
- Bizzar
- The Wraith: Shangri-La
- The Wraith: Hell's Pit
- The Tempest
- Bang! Pow! Boom!
- The Mighty Death Pop!
- The Marvelous Missing Link: Lost
- The Marvelous Missing Link: Found
- Fearless Fred Fury
- Yum Yum Bedlam
- Intelligence and Violence
- Bass-ment Cuts
- Dog Beats
- Beverly Kills 50187
- The Terror Wheel
- A Carnival Christmas
- Tunnel of Love
- Dark Carnival Action Figures
- The Calm
- Eye of the Storm
- American Psycho
- House of Wax
- Flip the Rat
- Forgotten Freshness
- Mutilation Mix
- Forgotten Freshness Volumes 1 & 2
- Forgotten Freshness Volume 3
- The Pendulum
- Forgotten Freshness Volume 4
- The Wraith: Remix Albums
- Jugganauts: The Best of Insane Clown Posse
- The Old Shit
- Featuring Freshness
- Mike E. Clark's Extra Pop Emporium
- Forgotten Freshness Volume 5
- Tales from the Lotus Pod
- Black Rain
- Furious
- The Opaque Brotherhood
- The Mud, Water, Air & Blood
- Reindeer Games
- Hurricane of Diamonds
- "Chicken Huntin'"
- "Santa's a Fat Bitch"
- "Halls of Illusions"
- "Hokus Pokus"
- "Another Love Song"
- "Fuck the World"
- "Let's Go All the Way"
- "Homies"
- "Bowling Balls"
- "Miracles"
- "Leck mich im Arsch"
- "Chris Benoit"
- Dark Carnival
- Discography
- Behind the Paint
- Psychopathic Records
- Gathering of the Juggalos
- Juggalo
- Juggalo Championship Wrestling
- Mike E. Clark
- Legz Diamond
- Professional wrestling career