Issue #86: Insane Clown Posse – The Amazing Jeckel Brothers

Released:  May 25th, 1999

Recorded:  1998 – 1999

Genre:  Hip-Hop, Horrorcore

Record Label:  Island / Psychopathic

Duration:  69:30

Producers:  Mike E. Clark, ICP

Personnel

Track Listing

Singles

Why The Amazing Jeckel Brothers is One of My Favorites

Although I am just ever so slightly more fond of The Great Milenko, both it and The Amazing Jeckel Brothers represent the peak of ICP’s creativity, in my opinion.  Riddle Box is up there as well, though I don’t think the guys had quite nailed down their musical distinctiveness at that point.  Anyway, Jeckel Bros. is a fitting follow up to Milenko with the same carnival themes and sounds, Clark’s unmistakable production style, and ICP’s wildly offensive yet humorous lyrics that often times conveyed real ruminations on poverty, morality, social injustice, and generalized alienation.

Whereas The Great Milenko was seemingly aimed at the “rock crowd” (who ICP has always been more popular with), Jeckel strives to earn back some of its street cred by employing guests such as Snoop Dogg and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.  However, I feel the albums are fairly similar in tone and style.  There may be a few less guitars in the background  (although several guitar tracks can be found), but it’s still the quirky, mentally unstable, sometimes brilliant music that ICP embodies.  In fact, “I Want My Shit” is nearly half rap and half rock, sounding a bit like Body Count or fellow Detroit musician Kid Rock.

If you’re following along with the Dark Carnival, there’s some shit here about Jack and Jake Jeckel representing the good and evil inside of man…or some shit.  ICP’s concept material has never really come together for me, though it certainly seems that they save their strongest material for such releases.  In a weird way these guys actually do have a positive message and speak out against things that are typically considered “bad,” they just tend to do so in a cartoonish way where they play characters who do these “bad things.”  Whatever the case, Jeckel Bros. is not to be taken seriously – it’s just a fun, out there record that manages to stay funny without easily growing stale.

“Bitches” was supposed to be ODB’s showcase on the album, but when they brought ODB in to record, all he gave them were incoherent mumbling about “bitches.”  Worse still, he couldn’t even stay with the beat.  ICP (and presumably Clark as well) had to completely redo the song to get ODB’s raps to fit.  But for all the difficulties, it turns out to be a pretty good song.  It’s got the group’s trademark sound with bizarre instrumentation, and though J and Shaggy carry the song well enough, it’s easy to hear ODB’s failings.

“I Stab People” is a shockingly accurate portrayal of severe mental illness given by Violent J, while “Another Love Song” was directly inspired by Beck’s “Jack-Ass” and serves as an almost melodic change of pace from the album’s largely rhythm-oriented tracks.  “Fuck the World” is one of Jeckel’s funniest moments, not merely because of the verbiage, but the semi-clever ways that it’s all brought together.

“The Shaggy Show” is the highlight of the album for me, falling along the same lines as “The Neden Game” from the preceding record.  Instead of game show, this track plays out like a late night show.  The “commercials” are hilarious and proof that the clowns don’t take themselves too seriously.  “Mad Professor” is another strong cut with a great beat, ample sound effects relating to the lyrics, and the solid horrorcore atmosphere that has come to define the group.  “Gimme ya tippy toes!”

“Assassins,” part cover and part homage to the original song by the Geto Boys, is another track of note.  With a slamming beat, this might just be the duo’s strongest display of rapping ability.  It moves closer to traditional hip-hop than their usual material and proves that these guys might just be a little more talented than people give them credit for.

I don’t want to read too much into The Amazing Jeckel Brothers; I don’t doubt that ICP crafted some kind of story within the lyrics, but ultimately this is music made for fun and I think they know it too.  Unfortunately, critics see it as little more than profane novelty, and it doesn’t help that many self-proclaimed Juggalos take ICP too damn seriously, thus making ICP fans appear to have the IQ of an ashtray.  Still, I think these guys deserve a fair amount of credit for continuing to go in their own direction despite the heaps of criticism leveled at them.  It can’t be easy when so many people are telling you that your work, your passion, your very art is absolute shit, and I love that these guys keep at it no matter what.  Their “fuck it” attitude is rock ‘n’ roll at its best.

I don’t know if the band started running out of ideas, or maybe their formula wore a little thin, or maybe they got too focused on concept over content, but the albums following Jeckel Brothers started lacking a certain degree of magic.  It still pops up from time to time, but when it comes to consistently funny, unnerving, and outrageous material, The Great Milenko and The Amazing Jeckel Brothers are the definitive ICP experiences.

Written by The Cubist

Other albums from Insane Clown Posse in this series:

• 1997 – The Great Milenko – Issue #33
• 1998 – Forgotten Freshness Volumes 1 & 2 – Issue #85

Back to The Cubist’s 90’s Albums

Written by The Cubist

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I collect as much video gaming paraphernalia as I can get my hands on, especially when it comes to hardware. With over 40 systems including oldies like the ColecoVision and Intellivision, obscurities like the CD-i and 3DO, and the latest and greatest including the Wii U, PS4, Xbox One, 3DS, and PS Vita, I get easily overwhelmed. Most of the time you can find me firmly nestled sometime between 1985 and 1995 when it comes to my games of choice, but I’m also having a great time seeing what the 8th generation has to offer.

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