Dbbum's Full Review: Ringmaster by Insane Clown Posse
Ringmaster is the second Jokers Card released in 1998 by the group, Insane Clown Posse. Shortly after the first album, Carnival Of Carnage, many people started to like ICP for their different style of music. Really this is the album that allowed ICP to take off in a full fledged underground explosion. Any juggalo will tell you this is probably in their top 2 of all ICP albums. Carnival Of Carnage is the real starter album, but Ringmaster brings back to Dark Carnival for more deadly goodness. This album focuses on the Ringmaster, who is the leader of the Dark Carnival. He comes to collect dead bodies from lively Earth and bring them to the next Jokers Card, Riddle Box. Read my review on that to continue the Dark Carnival story. You'll find alot of songs about death, sex, and mystical mysterious murders. The main reasoning behind the album is to show the coming of the Carnival of Carnage. Since this is the second Jokers Card, you must learn what is going on and why. After hearing the cd, you will know for sure what evil lurks ahead. Following is a listing of the song titles, a short bit about the song, lyrics, and my rating of the song. Hopefully this will allow you to see what this album has to offer, and whether it sounds like something you'd buy, or just pass on by.
1. Wax Museum - Strange intro to the album. A guy gets his fortune read from a gypsy box at the carnival (remember this from the Tom Hanks movie, BIG). Anyways this is just a short intro message showing that the second Jokers Card has arrived and it's here because of your own evil doings. The Ringmaster is thus introduced as being the leader of the Dark Carnival. Usually I tend to skip the intro, since this isn't a real song. It's just a long musical introduction with some stupid guy talking, but the musical rifts here are kinda cool anyways.
[Lyric Clip]: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to the museum, the wax museum!! Thousands of dead souls covered in waxxxxx. All of the rare exhibits you are about to encounter are strange and wondrous creations of the one and the only, leader of them all! So both dead and undead please welcome the R-r-r-ringmaster
2. Murder Go Round - If you haven't guessed already from the title, here's ICP going around on a murdering spree. Everyone who tries to kill the Wicked Clowns will eventually get taken out. Basically, that's what this whole song is about, you try to stop ICP and they'll take you down. I tend to skip this track as well, I don't like the music and all those stupid screams, etc that are plugged into the song.
[Lyric Clip]: Once upon a time in the ghetto zone, A ten-foot lead pipe slapped up my dome, I'm laying in the street with blood oozing out my head, Excuse me, motherf!!ker, was it something I said?
3. Chicken Huntin' - Of course this is this most played song for ICP. It has been remixed quite a few times, but this is the original. The chicken huntin' songs are always played at the concerts, so consider this a classic. I like the slaughterhouse remix version better, because this one is more laid back and casual. Anyways, this is still a classic example of the old skool ICP.
[Lyric Clip]: Willy Willy chicken neck, chicken huntin', gotta love it, Hit him with the twelve gauge bucket, Chicken nuggets. Who's going chicken huntin'?
4. Mr. Johnson's Head - I'm sure everyone has hated a teacher at some point, but did you ever think of killing him/her? Well Violent J has topped off everyone's dreams, he kills Mr Johnson, and his head is nicely kept in a bookbag. This just shows of one man's life and how he couldn't stand the pressure of one teacher. I guess this pertains to alot of teens in high school who hate being there. I totally loved this song a few years ago when I hated an English Teacher at the time. Of course I'd never kill a teacher, but I could relate to this song 100%.
[Lyric Clip]: See, my head is spinning cuz I'm lonely and I'm twisted, But I have a secret everybody missed it, I'm just a nobody and I think it's a drag, But I got Mr. Johnson's head in my bookbag.
5. Southwest Song - This song is really great, Violet J & Shaggy take turns singing out the special message everyone will encounter at some point, DEATH. There are also some Mr Rogers clips here, I'm sure they weren't made for ICP, but they turn out to fir perfectly. I love this song, because no matter what happens in life, everyone sings the same song of death.
[Lyric Clip]: You see, Death awaits me on my narrow path, And when I stop to think, I can only laugh, Because I'm not alone, it didn't take me long, To see everybody singing that Southwest Song.
6. Get Off Me, Dog! - This is a really short song, only 1:47, but it's kind of funny. It's funny because of the lyrics and I have no idea what they are trying to say. I think it's something about people doing stuff to him, and he hates it? Anyways I usually skip this unless I'm driving and need some music.
[Lyric Clip]: Get off me, dog, before I sting yo' chin, I let my nutsac flap in the wind, Cuz I'm 2 Dope, clown love OG, And it's one chop, two, boing, boom, chop, three In the melon.
7. Who Asked You - This is one of my favorites, below is a short clip of why it's so funny. Anyways, ICP does some strange acts of violence and stupid stuff, and they don't care what anyone thinks. Why do we do the things that we do? Who asked you, uh? This is something we can relate to in life, and why does everyone question us why we do the things we do!
[Lyric Clip]: Screwed your mother at the Motel 8, Fingers in her booty, strawberry shake, Daddy walks in and see the sick clown, Moving his buttcheeks up and down Nate the Mack and Jumpsteady, Rude Boy, Regis, Kathy Lee, I make rap rhymes and make quick bucks, And everybody sucks my nuts, Shucks!
8. The Dead One - A slow deep dark dreary song. Violet J gets hit by a bullet and dies, or does he? Basically this song makes you think about life, and how fast you can die without knowing. It also shows what it might be like if you die, and what it's like to see yourself dead, and wondering if you really are dead or if it's just a dream. It's a creepy song all the way, makes you think about life.
[Lyric Clip]: Guess it all began when the bullet finally struck, And I walked away harmless, it must've been good luck, Or maybe I'm dead, (I'm sorry but you're dead)
9. My Fun House - A richy rich wrecks his car and find the Wicked Clowns Fun House. We go through the fun house of death and see alot of strange things. It has many messages about how people can do mean things without knowing it, just as this guy has done. Now he gets to see things done to him, while we all laugh at HIM! We can all relate to the bullies at school, and how they picked on people, well this is what they would go through for revenge.
[Lyric Clip]: That's where you get beat by seventeen wicked clowns, For the seventeen dead bodies never found, And they jump on your back till your ribs crack, Toss you in the cart and push you down the deadly tracks.
10. For The Maggots - Another short song with Violent J And Shaggy switching roles in singing. Short message, you screw around in life and you die, One For The Maggots, in your grave.
[Lyric Clip]: One for the maggots, two for the b!tch, Three for the brick that smacks your lips, Cuz you's a sneaky, creepy ho, So don't f!ck around no mo', Yo!
11. Wagon Wagon - Bring Out Your Dead! Bring Out Your Dead! This is what you'd hear from the movie, The Holy Grail. Well no difference here on this song, the wagon is being driven by the Ringmaster, and they're picking up the dead bodies. Good song, just talking about random people meeting their deadly fate.
[Lyric Clip]: Here it comes, the horrifying midnight wagon, Saggin', Laggin', Dead bodies draggin', On a piece of string, They flop around and fling.
12. The Loons - Violent J calls a special woman to freak her out (Think of the movie, Scream). Violent J insane is coming to her, and the results are going to be bloody. He calls from every block, letting her know the situation that is set in place. Along the way, the loons are suppose to make things freaky or something, plus he takes out a few people before getting there. Again, more death talk, so be carefully if you can't handle stalkers. I always listen to this song, just fore pure entertainment. I play the PC game, Thief, and some scenes here remind of that game. In the end, her husband is there and kills Violent J Insane.
[Lyric Clip]: Well now I'm getting closer so I crawl under a house, I'm waiting for the car to pass and then I crawl back out, Another block down just a little ways to go....*ring* Hello?
13. Love Song - A love song, but not like any you're ever heard. ICP gives it to us in a slow loving song of sexual episodes with his special neden hoe. Anyways it's mostly a love song about guys who just want to move love with women, and not love them. I guess this could be a theme song for the "malewhores" of the world. I find this one very amusing, it's a hit in my book.
[Lyric Clip]: I guess you want me to take you on a big date, But what you're saying don't sound all that straight, All I wanna do is feel your butt and squeeze your t!tt!es, Cuz I can't feed your fat a$$ on a buck-fifty, Let's make love my sweet little dove, I wouldn't get near that neden without a glove.
14. Bugz On My Nutz - Probably my really really favorite song on this cd. Shaggy talks about screwing girls and he getting crabs. Well those bugs overtake his life, and this song talks about it. The bugs sing the chorus line, it's just mad funny you have to hear it! I always listen to this song, even if I don't play the whole album.
[Lyric Clip]: Probably shoulda known cuz I thought I heard crickets, In your neden, but I wasn't sayin' nuttin' though, I wasn't sayin nuttin' till I'm done nuttin', ho, And now I'm like, b!tch, how can this be, Tryin' to sleep and my nuts are up watchin' TV, And they try to walk to the store and get a 40, How'd these bugs get on me?
15. House Of Mirrors - Another creepy song like The Fun House. Richy comes into the house, and sees his devilish life in the mirror. There's only way to solve this problem, by taking the magical ride to hell, death. Again, just another song about the Ringmaster sorting out the evil beings in the world. If you're heard the song by ICP "Let's Go All The Way", you'll know by then the Carnival is setting up while all the juggalos gather up for the final Jokers Card to come out. This is when we'll see everything come together, and the real purpose of all this should be revealed.
[Lyric Clip]: Step inside, come my way, This here is your fatal day, You have lied, They have cried, Now your life has been denied, Look into the big mirror, Your reflection is so clear, Devil's head, rotting flesh, With the snakes inside your chest.
16. Ringmaster's Word - Just a slow ending with music and the Ringmaster talking about himself and his purpose to the Dark Carnival. It's actually a good ending to the album and this part of the Dark Carnival story. It sums up everything we just heard, and is a reminder that the Ringmaster sorts of the evil beings to clear the way for the juggalos.
[Lyric Clip]: I have a purpose...Take your dill knife, stab me, go, strike my heart... Such things cannot exist...You will tell them of me and how one day, I shall come for them... Quietly, I will come over your bed I will lean over and gently bite your neck...You will tell them of me and how one day, I shall come for them.
Since this album is widely loved among the real juggalos, even non juggalos may enjoy this one. Be warned you must have an acceptance for death and sexual materials. Other songs with this type of deathly humor are: Eminem - Kim, Twiztid - Die Mofo Die!, Project Pat - Redrum. Other similar artists: Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, Project Pat, Three Six Mafia, Blaze Ya Dead Homie. So, I guess you'd have to listen to deep dark murderous music to enjoy the humors that Ringmaster has to offer. Ringmaster is found at most online stores and select music stores throughout the US.
That's the whole deal with the Ringmaster. I'd recommend this cd to anyone who wants to follow ICP, or is already doing so. ICP fans MUST have this album, otherwise you are missing out on a major part of your life. Non fans of ICP will probably not enjoy hearing one bit of this album. Be warned this album contains racial slurs, sexual content, violent episodes, and alot of cussing. If you have a twisted sense of humor, this cd may grow on you after awhile, otherwise just forget it.
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