Episode 5 - Convince Me To Like... INSANE CLOWN POSSE
For three decades, ICP have been largely reviled and almost universally acknowledged as the worst band in popular music. However despite all the vitriol and the ridicule they’ve received, the Detroit based duo have achieved remarkable success in their career, selling over 6.5 million records and securing two platinum and five gold records. Most importantly, they’ve inspired an incredibly dedicated, cult-like following of acolytes called, Juggalos.
So, is all of the harsh criticism levied upon Insane Clown Posse justified or is the Detroit based duo just entirely misunderstood? Is there a clever artistry to their rhymes and earnest wonder in their lyrical mythos they call, the “DARK CARNIVAL” or is it all low-rent ideology exploiting hip-hop culture for easy targets of white, disenfranchised youths?
Insane Clown Posse Hater, DERRICK BRAXTON, believes that ICP have no standing in the pantheon of Hip Hop's greatest. Braxton is an accomplished composer, recording engineer and producer who has worked with such greats as LUPE FIASCO, SWIZZ BEATZ, JAY-Z, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, and RAEKWON. On Episode 5, Braxton claims Insane Clown Posse have gotten by with bad production, cheap shock-rock antics and ersatz artistry.
However, Insane Clown Posse Super Juggalo, RANDALL HANKA McNEILL, has emphatically challenged those charges in this episode and explained the misunderstood ethos and the ultimate allure of Insane Clown Posse. There is no question that Hanka is the best Juggalo to defend The Clowns, as he is possibly the most fervent of all Super Fans. Hanka has seen ICP perform live over 220 times, has collected thousands of memorabilia items and he is also an accomplished photographer who has taken over 100,000 photographs of Insane Clown Posse.
THE GUESTS
THE SUPER-FAN
Randall “Hanka” McNeill
Some biographical notes on Hanka:
In 1999, Hanka’s father introduced him to Insane clown Posse at the young age of 9. His father soon took him to see ICP live and Hanka has been a an extreme Juggalo ever since.
Hanka has seen ICP perform live over 220 times and has attended the last 14 Gatherings (the festival that ICP themselves organized).
Hanka is an accomplished photographer who has shot and published photos of Insane Clown Posse, Ice Cube, Bone Thugs n Harmony, and Geto Boys and several professional wrestlers.
He is currently living in Japan and focused on bringing ICP to Asia for the first time!
THE HATER
Derrick Braxton
Some biographical notes on Derrick Braxton:
Derrick Braxton is an American record producer and composer best known for working with artists such as LUPE FIASCO, AMERIE, CASSIDY, JAY-Z, DIVERSE, RICH HARRISON, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, and RAEKWON.
Braxton attended Hampton University and during his matriculation, he started meeting other students that had a love for music which piqued his interest. At the age of 19, he met super producer Swizz Beatz at NYC's WQHT Hot 97's own Funkmaster Flex's annual car show. Braxton then signed under Swizz Beatz Fullsurface/J Records imprint for approximately 2 years. After that time, Braxton forged relationships and worked with Shae Haley, Chad Hugo, and Pharrell Williams also known as The Neptunes and ended up signing under their Blackhole/StarTrak Entertainment imprint. Shortly after, he contributed to the score of the blockbuster film “Step Up” and short film “Hug” which won the Columbia University Film Festival and earned a Sundance Film Festival selection.
In 2014, Braxton founded the trip hop downtempo duo Red Giant which released two critically acclaimed EP projects.
His upcoming production projects include Eryn Martin (Cinematic Music Group), Ken Cardo (Diem Records), Naja Young, and Brain Orchestra to name a few.