Review Summary: The most hated group in the world’s most likeable album.
The thing about the Insane Clown Posse is that they didn't always make bad music. In fact, they made pretty good music for a while. While Horrorcore isn't the most widely accepted sub-genre of Hip-Hop, it has its place, and this Detroit duo put it there. What they were doing was creative, original, and entertaining. They took their dark sense of humor and put it to music, and what came out was a couple of solid albums; enter
The Great Milenko.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Insane Clown Posse mythology, the
Dark Carnival is where souls are sent for judgement based on their personal actions. They made 6 albums with this theme called the Joker Cards, and this is the 4th in the deck. The Great Milenko uses illusions to trick people into committing greedy and sinful acts; he’s essentially the Devil. The album starts out with an intro skit set in a bar with a man putting money in a juke box. The song plays, only for it to be interrupted by a demonic speech (voiced by Alice Cooper), warning of the arrival of The Great Milenko, and an impending apocalypse caused by the
Dark Carnival. The waitress assures the man that “it does that all the time.” The title track is next, and it’s somewhat of an extension to the intro, where Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope further explain who exactly this sorcerer is, and what he does.
With the thematics out of the way, how does the album itself fare after the introduction? It’s great. Violent J and Shaggy aren't the most technically proficient rappers out there. Their rhyme schemes are simplistic, but they deliver a lot of memorable punchlines and verses throughout this record. Completely aware of how ridiculous they can be, gimmick and all, they take advantage of it in the more comedic songs like “What Is A Juggalo?”, “House Of Horrors,” and “The Neden Game”; the latest of which is performed in the format of a dating show. The more serious tracks on the record have the subtle but recurring message of not being a deplorable human being, because you could face judgement when you pass. “How Many Times” is rapped from the perspective of a man fed up with daily grievances, and on the verge of snapping. “Halls Of Illusions”, perhaps the best song on the album, tells of a carnival ride that reveals what your life could have been if you had not been so disgraceful, like a Ghost of Christmas past/present/future. The funny songs are great, but the best tracks on the album are the ones where they take a break from comedy for a minute, because that’s the side of the Insane Clown Posse that people don’t often see. “Hellalujah” being from the perspective of a televangelist exposes the hypocrisy and manipulation in which they partake. With an ominous siren and a chunky staccato guitar riff under J’s gritty, taunting voice, it’s a real musical treat.
"Halls Of Illusions"
[Shaggy]
What do we have here? Oh yeah, no way! It looks like your kids and they’re okay. Your daughter’s chillin' up in college, top grade, and your son’s a f_ckin' doctor, phat paid! They got families and kids, and it’s all good. They even coach little league in the neighborhood! Is this true? Have you really seen the Holy Ghost? Nah, b_tch, not even close!
[Violent J]
Back to reality, your son’s on crack, and your daughter’s got nut-stains on her back. And they both f_ckin' smell like sh_t, and live in the gutter, and sell crack to each other! When they were kids, you would beat ‘em and leave ‘em home, and even whip ‘em with the cord on the telephone. And that reminds me, man, hey, you got a call; “Watch your step to Hell, it’s a long fall!”
Which brings me to the production.
Every instrumental on
The Great Milenko was produced by Mike E. Clark, with guest appearances by Alice Cooper (as previously mentioned), Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols on “Piggy Pie”, and Slash on “Halls Of Illusions” which led to the sound of the record having strong hard-rock influences. Mike Clark developed such a unique style for producing ICP's music, that it sounds like nothing else, especially for the time. He brought all the bells and whistles to give each song the sound needed to accompany the theme and lyrics. The beats are intricate, well-produced, and the skits at the end of some songs are simply hilarious.
From the intro track to “Pass Me By”,
The Great Milenko is an enjoyable listen. It’s funny and eccentric with touches of earnestness throughout. If you like Hip-Hop, Rock, and have a sense of humor, cast aside your animosity for the 67 minutes this record runs and you just might leave with an appreciation for Insane Clown Posse’s early work.
Recommended listens:
How Many Times
Halls Of Illusions
Under The Moon
The Neden Game
Hellalujah
