2 April 2019
Marge Arita [13]
The Insane Clown Posse (ICP), composed of Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope, is one of America’s greatest musical treasures because they represent the unrepresented voices of our nation.
Their lyrics, while on the surface aggressive and violent, are a metaphorical expression of the inner struggles that comes from growing up isolated for whatever reason. The problem stems from the lack of empathy that exists in most people; they just do not understand the message that lies underneath the lyrics.
Creating a mythology the way that Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope did, helps people exercise their challenges with the seven deadly sins, which are a representation of universal vices that humans face. However, their message is potent with people who are involuntary loners.
Giving these loners a sense of community through music will alleviate social pressures placed on them, and better help these unloved loners fit into a society that they would otherwise not fit into, which will increase the overall production of society.
Instead of demonizing ICP, moral lessons are found in the violence that covers the surface of their lyrics.
Further emphasizing their support for loners, ICP has spent a large part of their career helping boost up independent artists, giving them a platform that would have been difficult to acquire on their own. Without ICP, Kid Rock likely would never have found success in the music industry and we would all be worse off for it.
Culture is a way for us to express ourselves and find community, and ICP does that for a group that needs it.