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. 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. 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. 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,
The Wraith: Shangri-La, 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. 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 &
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 be released sometime in August 2014. A few days after Faygoluvers.net conducted the interview with Insane Clown Posse, Psychopathic Records, Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid and Blaze Ya Dead Homie released a picture of the Dark Lotus hand sign stating that all original members (Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid & Blaze Ya Dead Homie) were going to be back in the studio recording a new studio album on all their media outlets. Under the hand sign were Roman numerals translating to (7-29-2014). The album will initially be released at the 2014 GOTJ (July 23, 2014July 27, 2014). In June 2014 Insane Clown Posse announced that they will be releasing their first box set
The First Six with all first six Joker Cards (
Carnival of Carnage,
Ringmaster,
Riddle Box,
The Great Milenko,
The Amazing Jeckel Brothers,
The Wraith: Shangri-La/
The Wraith: Hell's Pit), along with a certification of authenticity signed by
Violent J and
Shaggy 2 Dope, six tarot cards, and an 8-song EP of all new music titled House of Wax, that will be released on October 28, 2014. In a July 6, 2014, interview Faygoluvers.net conducted with
Jumpsteady, he stated that Psychopathic is currently working with some new supergroups. At the 2014 GOTJ during
Anybody Killa's seminar, it was announced that he and Big Hoodoo have created a new group called The Have Nots. Insane Clown Posse have composed a group with
Da Mafia 6ix called The Killjoy Club, and will be releasing their debut album titled
Reindeer Games on September 2, 2014. ICP, DM6, Madchild, Jelly Roll and Mushroom Head plus others are to go on tour possibly titled "ShockFest" which will run from September 18, 2014October 31, 2014. ICP finally announced that they will release a Psypher featuring artists that are not signed to Psychopathic Records sometime before Hallowicked, including
Madchild. Also announced Otis of AMB and
DJ Paul will both release solo albums on Psychopathic records in 2015. On August 5, 2014, ICP released a promo flyer for their upcoming tour titled "ShockFest" with
Da Mafia 6ix,
Mushroomhead, Madchild and
Jelly Roll from September 30, 2014, through October 31, 2014. The tour was originally scheduled to be a 45-date tour, and scheduled to kick off on September 18, 2014, but due to Madchild performing in Australia with his group Swollen Members for a mini tour until September 27, 2014, the tour will now kick off on September 30, 2014, Columbus, Ohio, and will conclude on ICP's 21st annual Hallowicked concert on October 31, 2014, in Detroit, Michigan. Psychopathic Records released a video promo for "ShockFest" in early August 2014. The tour is now scheduled to run from September 25, 2014, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and will conclude on October 31, 2014, in Detroit. In the booklet released with the Reindeer Games album were four flyers in promotion of new albums. The first was for Insane Clown Posse, it said that the third Joker Card in the second Deck will be released "sooner than you think". The second was for Otis, it said that his debut solo album on Psychopathic will be titled Slaughter and it said that it too will be released "soon". The third was for DJ Paul, it said that his debut solo album on Psychopathic will be titled
Master Of Evil and it said that it too will be released "soon". The fourth was for Da Mafia 6ix, it was for their upcoming album titled "Watch What U Wish" which will be released on October 31, 2014, not on Psychopathic Records. In early October 2014 it was announced that "Watch What U Wish" will be pushed back to a 2015 release creating speculation that Psychopathic will release the album. Instead DM6 will release a mixxtape titled "Hear Some Evil" in October 2014.
The First Six was initially scheduled to be released on October 28, 2014, but after a minor setback it is now scheduled to be released on November 25, 2014. At the 2014 20th Hallowicked Anniversary, ICP revealed the third Joker Card in the second Deck which is broken up into two parts,
The Missing Link: Lost which will be released on
Violent J's 43rd birthday, April 28, 2015, and
The Missing Link: Found will be released July 28, 2015. On December 6, 2014, at the show in Topeka, Kansas, Tha Hav Knots a group composed of
Anybody Killa and Big Hoodoo released their first-ever debut track titled "Happy Wicked Holiday", a Christmas-themed single. During ABK's set during the tour they opened with their first official song titled "Don't Stop", no studio version of the song has been released, and ended with "Happy Wicked Holiday".
Releases and other happenings (2015–2016) Psychopathic Records artist
Boondox will be going on tour with
Majik Ninja Entertainment artist
Blaze Ya Dead Homie on MNE's first tour and the first "Psychopathic/Majik Ninja Entertainmen Tour" titled "Back From The Dead Tour", which kicks off February 14, 2015, which coincides with
Twiztid's "My Bloody Valentine Show". In the booklet for
Insane Clown Posse's
The Marvelous Missing Link: Lost it was announced that
Otis's debut solo album titled Slaughter will be released September 1, 2015. The second "Psychopathic Records/
Majik Ninja Entertainment Tour" will be with Boondox from Psychopathic Records, and former Psychopathic Records artist
Blaze Ya Dead Homie from
Majik Ninja Entertainment. It will also be
Majik Ninja Entertainment's third tour, and their first in Australia. The tour will take place in Australia, will be called The Underground Assault Tour and will feature Australian rapper
KidCrusher. The tour will take place June 25, 2015, through June 28, 2015. The third Psychopathic Records/Majik Ninja Entertainment Tour will take place in the fall of 2015 with
Twiztid,
Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Boondox,
Prozak,
Wolfpac and Scum, and will be called the Welcome To The Underground Tour. On July 24, 2015, during ICP's GOTJ seminar, it was announced that Boondox had left the label to sign with Majik Ninja Entertainment, which turned out to be a false flag as Boondox had chosen to branch out on his own. On February 21, 2016, in celebration of the Juggalo Day Show, ICP released the dates for their 20th Anniversary: Riddle Box Tour. The tour was scheduled to kick off on May 5, 2016, and was slated to conclude on June 18, 2016. On April 8, 2016, ICP released their tour dates for their Canada tour. The tour was scheduled to kick off on June 25, 2016, and to conclude on July 17, 2016, just in time for the GOTJ, which was to start on July 20, 2016. In an early April 2016 Faygoluvers.net interview with Violent J, J said that the possible acts being talked about for Riddle Box Tour are:
Esham,
Project Born,
The Dayton Family, and
Young Wicked. Also stated was that he and Shaggy are working on their solo albums. In the same interview it was announced that Young Wicked has a new project revolving around him coming out soon. On April 25, 2016, via Twitter, Young Wicked announced that he is on the 20th Anniversary: Riddle Box Tour. It was also announced via The 17th annual Gathering of the Juggalos infomercial that the label has a new artist that they will be announcing at Gathering 17 along with a new six-song EP from this new "discovery" that will be available at the event. Also it was stated that many people will find out what group they used to rap with and who they used to go by. ICP will go on their first Canadian Tour for the first time in 13 years. The tour is scheduled to kick off on June 24, 2016, at the Canadian Rockfest, and concluded on July 17, 2016. During
Insane Clown Posse's GOTJ 2016 seminar it was announced that
Shaggy 2 Dope will make his wrestling return on August 2, 2016, at the Pro Wrestling Syndicate show in New Jersey. Also announced was that work on the third film in the Big Money film series titled
Big Money Thru$ta$ had begun, and with no definite release date,
Violent J said "maybe in the next two years". It was also stated that a new
The Killjoy Club album may be out in November 2016. With
Juicy J reuniting with
DJ Paul and
Crunchy Black to reform
Three 6 Mafia it is unknown if he will join The Killjoy Club. The second leg of
Insane Clown Posse's "20th Anniversary: Riddle Box Tour" will feature sets from
Anybody Killa,
Big Hoodoo and
Blahzay Roze. "Juggalo Day Show 2017" will take place in Florida and will feature sets from
Insane Clown Posse,
Twiztid,
Blaze Ya Dead Homie and
Dark Lotus will perform the
Tales from the Lotus Pod album in its entirety. The "Canadian Juggalo Day Show 2017" will take place on March 17, 2017, and will feature performances from the entire Psychopathic Records roster as well as performances from
Twiztid and
Blaze Ya Dead Homie. Also it was announced that the 2017 Gathering of the Juggalos will take place in Denver, Colorado, and there is a possibility of a
Soopa Villainz reunion. Also a documentary on former
Insane Clown Posse member and
Shaggy 2 Dope's older brother
John Kickjazz, and another documentary on
Axe Murder Boyz member
Young Wicked will be out in 2017.
Shaggy 2 Dope's upcoming album
F.T.F.O.M.F. is now scheduled to be released in 2017. Finally it was announced that on September 17, 2017, there will be a "Juggalo March on Washington" in Washington DC and will be a 2-day event which will begin at
Lincoln Memorial and will end at
Washington Monument with speeches. The only confirmed artists so far is the roster from Psychopathic Records; however, any artists that has performed at the Gathering or is associated with the juggalos or whoever truly supports the family, should attend as well to support the movement. In the November 17, 2016, edition of the hatchet herald it was announced that Psychopathic Records new in-house engineer is Native World Inc.'s own artist
Str8Jaket, and he is currently working with the new artist on the label. In late November 2016 it was said that a new Psychopathic Psypher titled "If We Were A Gang" would be released on January 1, 2017, with an accompanying music video. It was also stated that with the speculation of who is on or not on Psychopathic Records, the Psypher will feature all artists currently on the label. Also a website for the Juggalo March on Washington will be up on January 1, 2017. On the December 22, 2016, edition of Psychopathic Radio, Violent J stated that over 200 acts have been invited to the march. He also stated that on the website one can view each invitation (invitations were created specifically for each individual artist) and if the artist accepts (a yellow diamond will appear) or if the artist declines (a red x will appear). Violent J also stated that for each artist that accepts they will be sent an audio clip and will record a 16 bar verse, and then will record it and shoot a video for their verse, for a special cypher that will be released aside from "If We Were A Gang". On December 31, 2016, at 3:00 pm EST it was announced that
Young Wicked of
Axe Murder Boyz has left Psychopathic Records and has signed with
Majik Ninja Entertainment.
New roster and plans (since 2017) On January 1, 2017, it was announced that
Lyte formerly known as Young Lyte was the new artist on the label. Also the same day the free downloadable song "Hurricane Of Diamonds" featuring
Insane Clown Posse,
Anybody Killa,
DJ Clay, Big Hoodoo,
Blahzay Roze and
Lyte was released. On January 19, 2017, in an interview with faygoluvers.net,
Insane Clown Posse announced that they were cutting ties with
Twiztid and
Majik Ninja Entertainment, as they had repeatedly declined invitations to the
Juggalo March on Washington, and the alternative to not march, going on a
Wizard of the Hood Tour, which they also declined. Also in doing so,
Insane Clown Posse stated that Psychopathic Records will stop reaching out to
Twiztid and
Majik Ninja Entertainment for
Juggalo Day and the Gathering of the Juggalos. Also during the interview it was announced that new music will come from
Insane Clown Posse,
DJ Clay, Big Hoodoo,
Blahzay Roze,
Lyte and a new group that includes
Insane Clown Posse, as everyone on the label recently signed a new three-album deal with the label. It was also stated that since the March 2016 interview, a lot more about of the new Joker Card (4th Card, 2nd Deck), but is not ready to be revealed yet, but
Violent J did state that it will be released in 2018. Albums set for a 2017 release is
F.T.F.O.M.F. from
Shaggy 2 Dope,
American Life/Lives from
Violent J,
My Life from
Blahzay Roze, and the debut album from
Lyte, and more to be announced. On January 26, 2017, the title of Lytes debut album Broke But Shining. On February 20, 2017, the psypher
If We Were A Gang was released and featured
Anybody Killa,
Lyte,
Shaggy 2 Dope,
Big Hoodoo,
Blahzay Roze,
DJ Clay,
Violent J. On February 26, 2017, it was announced that artist
Blahzay Roze has left Psychopathic Records. On September 6, 2017, at ICP's Surprize Guerrilla Show it was announced that one half of the underground hip-hop duo "Swag Toof" by the name of
Ouija Macc was signed to Psychopathic Records. On February 25, 2018
Violent J took to Twitter to announce that the
Hurricane Of Diamonds CD would be available during the SlamFest Tour (March 1, 2018, through April 1, 2018) with
Attila,
Sylar,
Cage,
Lil Toenail,
Lyte,
Ouija, and would be available in a few weeks (middle of March 2018) on Psychopaticmerch.com. It was also said that the CD would feature 17 tracks in total, with songs that had music videos made for them in 2017, also with at least 13 being never released on CD before, and three being brand new, unheard
Insane Clown Posse songs. During
Insane Clown Posse's 2018 Gathering of the Juggalos seminar, it was announced that
Fearless Fred Fury would be released on October 26, 2018, and also
Flip The Rat EP would be released the same day, with instructions on how to obtain the EP inside of FFF. It was also announced that any reconciliation in any way with
Twiztid, or a
Dark Lotus reunion, will not happen in any way, with
Violent J saying, "It'll be that way in five years, and will still be that way in ten years. Sorry Juggalos, but we wanted to address it upfront for anybody holding out hope that it might happen, but it's not". It was also announced that the
Bloody Brothers, (a concept that featured
Violent J and
Shaggy 2 Dope as backwoods, serial killing hillbillies, that was later used as the
Boondox gimmick), would be happening soon, as well as other alter ego albums, with ICP saying "We've come up with a lot of gimmick ideas that were used for other artists, but we're not doing that anymore, if we come up with it and want to use it as a project of ours, that's what we're gonna do". It was also revealed that a new supergroup was on the label called
The Loony Goons and features
Insane Clown Posse,
Big Hoodoo,
Lyte and
Ouija Macc. It was also announced that TLG will begin recording their debut album after they return to Detroit after the GOTJ. Violent J stated "The album will have something you'd hear in 1985, and the next track will be something you'd hear in 2019". During
Lyte and
Ouija Macc's seminar they were asked if they were doing a Lil Rydas album. They then asked the crowd if they want it, with a positive response they said to expect it in 2019. Since ICP announced that they were going back to do other supergroups that they had pushed aside, during their 2018 GOTJ Seminar, rumors have been circulating that a group that was created in 2003 called Planned Panic, (that featured
Insane Clown Posse,
Anybody Killa and
Tech N9ne), could make an appearance with an EP, or a couple song set at the 2018 Hallowicked Show. On October 21, 2020, ICP confirmed during the 2020 Psychopathic Don Shoot Interview that the only artists on the label are them & Ouija Macc. The CD booklet of Insane Clown Posse's 2021 album
Yum Yum Bedlam referred to the
horrorcore rapper Zitro as "the newest member of the Psychopathic Records Family." However, there has been no announcement of him being officially signed to the label. == Artists ==