When Insane Clown Posse (ICP) emerged from the darkness surrounding Detroit’s underground music scene in the early 90s, the world had yet to imagine the impact that the hardcore hip-hop style spawned by these two artists — Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope — would bring to bear on mainstream music. Shunned by mainstream music players like MTV and castigated in the media, banned from radio airwaves and yanked from the shelves of “conventional” retail outlets, ICP was dealt a hand that seemed destined for swift and certain failure. Instead, the duo amassed a following of millions of fans endearingly called “Juggalos” and smashed through the ceiling of music industry expectation.
Over the course of a career spanning three decades, ICP repeatedly spat in the faces of industry experts and popular convention, building what is now recognized as the “Dark Carnival,” a mythological community shrouded more with speculation than understanding. Based on the idea of an afterlife in which souls await their ultimate destiny in heaven or hell, the Dark Carnival was revealed in a series of ICP productions that vaulted the duo to uncharted industry heights in music, films, wrestling and festivals. ICP’s underground messaging was led by Psychopathic Records, whose rally call of “defiance” prompted independent success amid an industry packed with short-lived, industry-manufactured artists with fickle fan bases.
Over the past 30 years, ICP has released more than 23 albums, including more than 10 RIAA certifications and the Billboard Top 200’s longest running hip-hop record. Their latest release, “Bang! Pow! Boom!” debuted as Billboard’s No. 4 album in September 2009.
Despite ICP’s astounding album success, the true essence of the Dark Carnival emerges in the duo’s live performances, perhaps best-known for huge stage sets, multiple costume changes, character extras and the trademark spraying of hundreds of liters of Faygo on the twisted mass of painted Juggalos in the audience.
Moonshine Bandits
Central California’s country hip-hop rebels the Moonshine Bandits are making noise with their new album “Whiskey and Women”, as the album landed at position No. 54 on BILLBOARD’s Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists. The Moonshine Bandits’ intoxicating musical mixture of hip-hop and country won over fans of different genres as their new album simultaneously hit Billboard’s Rap chart at No. 44, Current Country chart at No. 65, and the Independent albums chart at No. 162. Take 1 shot of Johnny Cash influence, 1 shot of the Beastie Boys influence and a dash of dancing girls, and you’ve got the unconventional new duo, the Moonshine Bandits.
The Bandits have toured Nationally, recorded or performed with established artists such as Uncle Kracker, David Allan Coe, REHAB, TECHN9NE, Kottonmouth Kings, Everlast, Pepper, N2Deep, Twiztid, Boondox, Haystak, Vanilla Ice, Expendables, E-40 and the list goes on. Moonshine Bandits songs “Sweet Home California” , “Moonshine” featuring Danny Boone from the group REHAB (Sittin’ at a Bar song), and “Super Goggles” have all received Radio Airplay on FM Top 40 Stations in various regions. The Moonshine Bandits are definitely the working man’s champion and continue to earn their stripes in a tough industry. The Bandits endorse their own brand of Liquor beverage called “Moonshine Bandits Outlaw Moonshine” The 99 proof spirit sold in regional grocery/liquor stores and online at www.outlawshine.com. One of the reasons Tex and Bird became known as the Moonshine Bandits is because of Tex’s deep family roots of bootlegging booze during the Prohibition years. Tex’s great grandfather used a barber shop as a front while he peddled alcohol illegally in baby carriages to community members, family, friends and politicians. This all took place in Northern California during the years of the Great Depression.
The Bandits have earned a ton of industry credits with music placed in Extreme Sports DVDs, 4×4 DVD’s, and close to 1,000 live shows performed.
Moonshine Bandits have performed in Biker Clubhouses where most Police Departments wouldn’t even step foot in, Smoke Filled Dive Bars, Biker Bars, Clubs, Harley Davidson Events, Cage Fighting Events, 4×4 Mud Conventions, Beer Festivals, Music Venues, and just about every other type of venue you can imagine. The ultimate honor was receiving a phone call from the United States Military to perform at Fort Irwin, CA. The Moonshine Bandits performed on July 4, 2010 at the Fort Irwin Military Base located in the Mojave Desert for thousands of our U.S. Troops. Their Live performances rival many of today’s mega super stars. Their show consists of backup singer Derrty D, Award Winning DJ ChopStiqs, Shiner Girl Dancer Kristin aka Firecracker, their drummer B. Diddy and a lifted 4 x 4 Limo. If the Bandits are in your town, be ready for a Hell Raisin’ Good ol’ Time!
As the Moonshine Bandits gained momentum and their fan base started spreading outside of California to different states, and to Japan, Canada, Sweden, and troops stationed overseas, SHINER NATION WAS BUILT. Shiner Nation was formed to unite all the Moonshine Bandits fans. The Definition of a Shiner is a Rowdy Individual commonly known as a Moonshine Bandit Fan. Living the Shiner Lifestyle isn’t just about the music, it’s also about partying it up and raising hell your own way. You only live once. The Bandits Musical foundation was built with a blue collar approach from the ground up. Their success is truely a result of hard work and doing things “their” way.
Kung Fu Vampire is an American rapper from San Jose, California and the vocalist of the musical group of the same name. He has toured and/or performed with Redman and Method Man, E40, 2 Live Crew, Dresden Dolls, Thriving Ivory, Medina Lake, Fountains of Wayne, They Might Be Giants, Naughty By Nature, Bushwick Bill, Lyrics Born, Blackalicious, Tha Alkaholiks, Digital Underground, Mars, Esham, Violent Femmes, Kool Keith, Twiztid, KRS-One, Papa Roach, The Pharcyde, Del The Funky Homosapien, Potluck, Phenomenauts, Insolence, The Jacka, Mob Figgaz, Tech N9ne, Anybody Killa, AP9, Andre Nikatina, D12, King Gordy, Liquid Assassin, Hieroglyphics and more.
Kung Fu Vampire began breakdancing at the age of six, and taught himself how to rap and sing after a few conflicting bouts with drums and bass in school bands. At the age of ten his aunt and mother began taking him to see concerts such as Metallica, Testament, Fear Factory, Nine Inch Nails, The Cult and KFV even went to see The Who and Grateful Dead while in the womb. He formed a band, “Loc Style Psychedelix aka LSP” in 1991 with good friends The Huelsenkamps. In 1999, he adopted the name “Kung Fu Vampire” during a conversation in which he discussed the idea of a martial arts film featuring vampires. Concepts from an unpublished novel he wrote also formed the basis for the group’s stage act and influenced some of the overall beliefs of the group and the artist himself. Some of these concepts include “The Yin and Yang of Fang” and having a genuine affliction for the blood of life and staying timeless.
In 2006, KFV performed at the movie release party for Saw III, as well as at The Playboy Mansion. Also in 2006, the group was voted as the “Best Local Band” by Metro Silicon Valley readers and again in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
In 2010, Kung Fu Vampire was featured in Fangoria Magazine and is considered to be one of the fastest rising bands in the Horrororcore/Juggalo subculture and is considered to be the most succesful Independent artist to ever come out of San Jose, CA. Also in 2010 The Vampire joined forces with one of Alternative Hip Hop’s more prominent Labels *Mad Insanity Records ran by the most controversial artist in the world “Mars”. Due to that new found affiliation KFV found himself in the spotlight and on the news representing and defending “Horrorcore” after some recent murders that are allegedly linked to minds of the killers/fans of the genre.
Kung Fu Vampire performs a style of music fusing Lyrical Hip Hop, Goth, Horrorcore, Glitch Hop and Hardcore Rap. Kung Fu Vampire referred to this style as “Gothic Hip Hop” and “Goth Hop”, but later learned that it was also similar to the pre-existing style Horrorcore (with the exception of KFV’s implementation of live instruments). Kung Fu Vampire has collaborated with Eddie Gale, Cougnut, Mars, Z Man, Kid Crusher, Mastamind of Natas, Poe Whoesaine, Dem Hoodstars, Platinum Recording artist Spice 1 and has been compared to The Gravediggaz, Tech N9ne, Necro, Outkast, Del The Funky Homosapien, Bone Thugs and more…
In April of 2010 Kung Fu Vampire returned home after a 2 month tour with Twiztid of Psychopathic Records (the label formed by Insane Clown Posse) and Potluck of Suburban Noize. His new Re-Release of Dead Sexy is being promoted across the globe alongside the brand new video “iCount” which was written and produced by Kung Fu Vampire and directed by John Kim. Dead Sexy features the hit song “Dead Girl’s Don’t Say No” which is featured on major motion picture “Mother’s Day” set to hit movie theaters worldwide in mid-late 2010. Dead Sexy has sold over 4,000 copies Independently and is still going strong.
Shortly after the Slaughterhouse Tour with Twiztd, Kung Fu Vampire was asked to headline his own tour by the promoters and fans across America. KFV answered back by going on the road and headlining the Dead 4 Life Tour with Cohorts Mars and Liquid Assassin(most famous for his affiliation with Strange Music and his guest appearance on Psycho Bitch 2 by Tech N9ne as well as being one half of the group signed to Strange “Grave Plott”). This tour hit 15 cities across the US including A prime stage slot of Friday The 13th (August 2010 @ 1am on The Freak Show Stage)) at The Gathering Of The Juggalos. This event attracts 15,000 fans annually and features artists such as Gwar, Slipknot, Tech N9ne, Method Man and Redman, ICP, Lil Kim, Tom Greene and many many more wonderful acts. This is one of the highest honors in the world of Hip Hop and Horrorcore and for Kung Fu Vampire. KFV will be down with the Juggalos and The Family and put them before any other fans til the casket drops.
Currently Kung Fu Vampire’s in the studio right now recording music for the up and coming album “Love Bites” featuring songs like “Hot Zombie”, “Hunger Pains”, “1 Family” and “Knockturnal” and features some of the most respected underground Hip Hop artists of today. Other projects in the works include a music video for the song “Dead Girls Don’t Say No” a Behind the Scenes tour DVD as well as a collaborative project featuring unreleased and never before heard verses from Kung Fu Vampire and friends.