American independent record label
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.
In addition to producing music, Psychopathic also produces merchandise, video, and professional wrestling. Psychopathic runs its own manufacturing and distribution operations for merchandise, with nearly 30 full-time employees. In 2009–2010, the label had about $10 million in annual revenue. The recording studio for the label was called The Lotus Pod.
History.
Establishment (1991–1994).
Following the release of their 1991 EP "Bass-Ment Cuts", Detroit hip hop trio Inner City Posse, consisting of Violent J, Shaggy 2 Dope, and John Kickjazz (John Utsler), hired local record store owner Alex Abbiss as its manager. Taking the advice of Violent J's brother, Jumpsteady, the group and Abbiss agreed to create their own label. After debating between the names Mad Paperboy Records and Psychopathic Records, they decided on Psychopathic and the label soon started operating out of Abbiss's mother's basement. A drawing Joseph Utsler scribbled on a napkin, now known as the Hatchet Man, became the company's logo.
Inner City Posse released their first professionally recorded album, "Dog Beats", on the label later that year. Shortly after, the group underwent a change in style, look, and name to become Insane Clown Posse, and created the Dark Carnival concept that would be continued by much of the label's other artists for years to come. Esham and Kid Rock were paid to appear on the debut "Insane Clown Posse" album to increase the album's marketability. The group and their label began to gain moderate popularity in the Detroit area following the releases of "Carnival of Carnage" and "Beverly Kills 50187", as well as through their extensive amount of independent promoting. Months before the release of "Carnival of Carnage" John Kickjazz left the group. Not wanting to show weakness early in the game, they replaced him with friend and fan Greez-e (Erik Olson). Greez-e's membership was short-lived, however, and after appearing on "Beverly Kills 50187" he left the group. ICP has remained a duo ever since.
Expansion and change (1994–2000).
Mike E. Clark was selected as the label's core producer, with his recording studio, The Fun House being the main studio. On March 8, 1994, Insane Clown Posse released "Ringmaster", which sold 40,000 copies independently by the summer. Later that year, Project Born was the first outside act signed to Psychopathic Records with the belief that they would become "the next Dayton Family". The group's debut album, Born Dead, received minimal sales, and they were subsequently dropped from the label in 1995.
Insane Clown Posse signed a record deal with Battery/Jive Records in 1995 but left the label the following year after it poorly promoted their new album, the "Riddle Box". In 1995, ICP and friends created a group to keep ICP busy until the release of Riddle Box, and called themselves Golden Goldies. Golden Goldies was a comical group whose lyrics focused solely on gold. The group consisted of Psychopathic Records employees and friends. Their only LP, "Gimme Them Fuckin' Nuggets Bitch, Or I'll Punch Your Fuckin' Face", was recorded in 1995 in a span of one week and was not publicly released. Golden Goldies was put together for entertainment purposes only. To add more humor to the album, each artist was given only five minutes to write their verses, and had only one take to record them, which resulted in some artists messing up their lines, and lyrics containing "some very strange things." The group held only one live performance, which occurred at the record release party for Insane Clown Posse's Riddle Box. The group consisted of: Golden Jelly (Joseph Bruce), Gold D (Joseph Utsler), Golden Gram (Robert Bruce), Gold Double B (Billy Bill), Gold Rocks (Alex Abbiss), Gold Digger (Mike E. Clark), Golden Warrior (Rich Murrell), Golden Frank (Frank G), Gold Teeth (Keith) Rold Gold (Josh), Gold Spud (Kelly Eubanks), Golden Toby (Fink the East Side G) and Gold Spakalantie (Matt Mackalantie). One day after the group left Jive and one day before it signed with Hollywood Records, Insane Clown Posse released "Tunnel of Love" on its Psychopathic label. The group released "The Great Milenko" in 1997 but were notified that Hollywood Records had deleted the album within hours of its release, despite having sold 18,000 copies and reaching number 63 on the "Billboard" 200. The removal caused a public controversy, creating major mainstream coverage of the group and their Psychopathic label.
In 1997, the label signed Myzery and former members of the House of Krazees Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric. Taking the name of Twiztid, Spaniolo and Methric created the identities of Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child, and released their first album, "Mostasteless", that year. Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, Myzery, and Blaze also formed the supergroup Psychopathic Rydas, and created Joe &amp; Joey Records to release the group's albums to avoid any lawsuits. Myzery soon left the label after releasing the EP "Para La Isla".
Later that year, Island Records bought the rights of "The Great Milenko" from Hollywood Records and signed Insane Clown Posse and Twiztid to their label. Island also helped Psychopathic Records expand into the movie business by funding Insane Clown Posse US$250,000 to begin work on a full-length movie, "Big Money Hustlas", written by Violent J. The film was released through Island Def Jam Music Group, Psychopathic Video, and Non-Homogenized Productions on July 18, 2000. In 2001 they were the first record label/music group to do a tour showing their own movie in concert venues across the US.
Following their success in WWF, WCW, and ECW, Insane Clown Posse founded the professional wrestling promotion Juggalo Championship Wrestling in 1999 and created the Psychopathic Sports department. In July 2000, Psychopathic Records staged the first annual Gathering of the Juggalos (GOTJ) at the Novi Expo Center in Novi, Michigan. Described by Bruce as a "Juggalo Woodstock", the Gathering of the Juggalos drew over 7,000 people to Novi, Michigan, for the two day event. Both Insane Clown Posse and Twiztid permanently returned to Psychopathic later that year, and the label soon built its own recording studio, named The Lotus Pod. Twiztid released the album "Freek Show", which debuted number 51 on "Billboard" 200.
Steady production (2001–2004).
In 2001, the supergroup Dark Lotus debuted, consisting of Jamie Madrox, Monoxide Child, Violent J, Shaggy 2 Dope, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, and non-Psychopathic artist Marz. Later that year, Anybody Killa was signed to the label. While also working on his own album, "Hatchet Warrior", Killa replaced Marz in Dark Lotus for a short period. Detroit rapper Esham, whom Violent J considered to be an influence, also signed with Psychopathic Records for a large contract, and released a greatest hits album, "Acid Rain", the following year.
Jumpsteady released his debut EP "Chaos Theory" in 2002. At that year's Gathering of the Juggalos, rapper V-Sinizter won an MC Contest and was awarded a one-year contract with Psychopathic Records. On November 5, Insane Clown Posse released their sixth Joker's Card, "", which debuted at No. 15 on the "Billboard" 200. V-Sinizter released "Hunting Season" in 2003, but was soon released by the label due to minimal sale.
Ax &amp; Smash Records (2002–2004).
Later that year, alternative rock group Zug Izland was signed and quickly released "Cracked Tiles" on January 28, 2003. They released their last album on the label, titled "" on June 1, 2004. The label closed after Zug Izland left.
Continued releases (2005–2007).
After releasing "Master of the Flying Guillotine" in 2005, Jumpsteady retired from music to become an EMT in the metro Detroit area.
That summer, the two supergroups Soopa Villainz and Drive-By were created. The first, consisting of Mr. Diamond (Violent J), Mr. Club (Shaggy 2 Dope), Mr. Spade (Esham), and Mr. Heart (Lavel), released "Furious" in August. The latter, consisting of Blaze and Anybody Killa, released "Pony Down (Prelude)" in October. Although Esham had achieved his highest level of success at Psychopathic, he left the label that month to reform his own label, Reel Life Productions, and the group Soopa Villainz was disbanded. Anybody Killa left the following February. Later that year, Psychopathic Records and hip hop group D12, representing Eminem, ended their rivalry by holding a bowling match.
In April, Axe Murder Boyz won a single album contract with Psychopathic Records and released "Blood In, Blood Out" before being released from the label. That June, Alex Abbiss announced his retirement. Long time body guard and friend of Insane Clown Posse William Dail, referred to as Billy Bill, was named new president and CEO of Psychopathic Records. Later that month, the label launched its own internet radio station called WFuckOff Radio. Boondox signed with the label at that year's Gathering of the Juggalos, becoming the first southern rapper on the label. Boondox was a Psychopathic Records favorite in the Underground Psychos contest who was voted out by the jugglaos in the second round. His name in the contest was "Turn Coat Dirty".
Hatchet House (since 2007).
In 2007, the third former member of "House of Krazees" The R.O.C. signed with newly created Psychopathic sub-label, Hatchet House.
More signings to PSY and HH (2008–2012).
In 2008, Anybody Killa re-signed with Psychopathic. That May, the label hosted the first annual "Hatchet Attacks". Axe Murder Boyz signed with Hatchet House on August 22. At the 2008 Gathering of the Juggalos a documentary on Juggalos, entitled "A Family Underground", was filmed and was released on May 12, 2009.
On February 17, 2010, Psychopathic Records signed a contract with Universal Music Group's Fontana Distribution. During this period, the label was nominated for Outstanding Local Record Label by Detroit Music Awards. In Blaze's Gang Rags album The Dayton Family was shown to appear courtesy of Hatchet House.
Vanilla Ice and Cold 187um signed with Psychopathic Records in 2011.
On January 3, 2012, WFuckOff Radio was rebranded as Psychopathic Radio. During the 2012 Gathering of the Juggalos, it was announced that both former acts Zug Izland &amp; Jumpsteady have returned to Psychopathic Records. Boondox and Twiztid left the label. The December 21, 2012, issue of "Hatchet Herald" indicates that two new artists will issue albums on the label in 2013.
Expansion (2013–2014).
On February 4, 2013, it was revealed that one of the new artists was Legz Diamond. An entire issue of "Hatchet Herald" was devoted to the guitarist, discussing his Psychopathic debut album, "9 Pistolas". In March, Violent J commented on Twiztid's departure revealing that there was no animosity between Twiztid and Psychopathic, and speculated that Blaze Ya Dead Homie had also left the label, but that Twiztid and Blaze were still a part of Dark Lotus and Psychopathic Rydas. Blaze later spoke openly about the subject during a concert, stating that he had not departed from Psychopathic. Insane Clown Posse publicly apologized to Blaze via Twitter for the misunderstanding.
Doe Dubbla, a rapper from Detroit, officially signed to Psychopathic in June 2013, under the alias Big Hoodoo. In July, Psychopathic released Big Hoodoo's debut, "Crystal Skull", Cold 187 um departed from the label At the 2013 Gathering of the Juggalos, it was confirmed that Axe Murder Boyz and Boondox are returning to Psychopathic, while Blaze Ya Dead Homie ended up leaving Psychopathic Records.
A former employee is suing the label for sexual harassment.
In early February 2014 Faygoluvers.net conducted an interview with Insane Clown Posse, and they said that they hope they will work with some artists that they have been wanting to work with for a while. Also they were asked if they were going to do the second leg of The Mighty Death Pop! Tour, and they said that they will go on tour in 2014 but it won't be called The Mighty Death Pop! Tour. During an interview in March 2014 DJ Paul of Da Mafia 6ix announced that they will be doing a collaboration album with Insane Clown Posse, and will tour to promote the album. In June 2014 Psychopathic Records announced that Insane Clown Posse and Da Mafia 6ix were working on a collaboration album, and Insane Clown Posse posted pictures on their official Instagram page of them and Da Mafia 6ix sitting around in Violent J's home studio. The album is scheduled to