Behind the Paint
| Behind the Paint | |
|---|---|
 Behind the Paint first edition cover. | |
| Author |
Joseph Bruce Hobey Echlin |
| Cover artist | Meecal Gibson |
| Country | United States of America |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Autobiography |
| Publisher | Psychopathic Records |
Publication date | July 2003 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 596 |
| ISBN | 0-9741846-0-8 |
| OCLC | 53312411 |
Behind the Paint is the 2003 autobiography of American hip hop artist Joseph Bruce, better known as Violent J, one half of the Detroit, Michigan hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. The book focuses on Bruce's entire life up until 2002. It begins with a chronological account of his childhood, professional wrestling career, and musical career, including the conception of Insane Clown Posse's Dark Carnival mythology and the invention of the name of their fan base, "Juggalo".
Content
Behind the Paint opens with Bruce’s father stealing all of the family's money and leaving when Joe was two years old. His mother briefly marries an abusive man that molests Joe and his older siblings Robert and Theresa.[1] Joe later meets John and Joey Utsler, and the group’s backyard wrestling, musical, and gang activities are chronicled.[2] Bruce recalls briefly living in Bonnie Doone, North Carolina at the age of seventeen, and cites the open racism that he witnessed there as a source of the hatred for bigots referenced in future Insane Clown Posse's lyrics.[3]
After a brief professional wrestling career alongside Rob Van Dam and Sabu, Bruce formed the hip hop group Inner City Posse with John and Joey Utlser and they established the record label Psychopathic Records.[4] The following year, the trio created the mythology of their concept album series called the Dark Carnival, based on a dream Bruce had, and changed their name to Insane Clown Posse. Bruce then describes the group’s early struggles, including John leaving and a brief search for a third member while continuously releasing albums locally in Detroit.[5]
The middle chapters of the book focus on the duo signing to several record labels, including their highly publicized termination from Hollywood Records and subsequent signing to Island Records.[6] While also recording music, the duo wrestle for Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Entertainment, and World Championship Wrestling. In the midst of their popularity, Insane Clown Posse perform at Woodstock 1999, create the professional wrestling organization Juggalo Championship Wrestling, and release a full length feature film, Big Money Hustlas.[7]
The last third of the book focuses on Psychopathic Records' expansion after Insane Clown Posse return to the label. Multiple new artists and groups are signed, the Psychopathic Video Department is formed, and the annual four-day Gathering of the Juggalos music festival is established. The books ends with Bruce reflecting on the group's previous success with then-one platinum and three gold albums, and the release of the group’s sixth Joker’s Card, The Wraith: Shangri-La .[8]
Publication and reception
Behind the Paint was originally released in July 2003, with a revised second edition released in August 2004. Wired magazine writer Brian Raftery commented on the candid manner of Bruce's writing, calling the book a "soul-baring memoir filled with unpleasant details."[9]
References
- ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (2003). "The Butterfly". In Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (2nd Edition ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. 2–16. ISBN 0-9741846-0-8.
- ↑ Fostey, p. 539–540
- ↑ Fostey, p. 106–119
- ↑ Fostey, p.121–144
- ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (August 2003). "The Dark Carnival". In Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (second ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. 174–185. ISBN 0-9741846-0-8.
- ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (August 2003). "Banned by a Filthy Rat". In Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (second ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. 306–314. ISBN 0-9741846-0-8.
- ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (August 2003). "Big Money Hustlas". In Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (second ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. 414–433. ISBN 0-9741846-0-8.
- ↑ Bruce, Joseph; Hobey Echlin (August 2003). "Diamond Rain". In Nathan Fostey. ICP: Behind the Paint (second ed.). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Records. pp. 504–519. ISBN 0-9741846-0-8.
- ↑ Raftery, Brian (2010-11-29). "How Two Outcast Rappers Built an Insane Clown Empire". Wired.com. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
External links
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