Where You'll Find the ICP Hatchet
Anyone unfamiliar with Insane Clown Posse, Psychopathic Records, Juggalos or horror rap in general would probably be worried to see a band's name associated with a weapon. But before you get all worked up and assume that Insane Clown Posse or Psychopathic Records sells ICP hatchets as merchandise to Juggalos at their shows, allow me to put your mind at ease.
When people refer to the ICP Hatchet, they are really referring to the famous hatchetman logo associated with the group (truth be told, it was originally drawn to represent the group's label, Psychopathic Records, but we'll get to that later) that was scribbled on a napkin by Insane Clown Posse founding member Shaggy 2 Dope more than 20 years ago.
To paint a picture, the hatchetman logo features a crazed, mohawked cartoon hoisting a hatchet (some claims it looks more like a meat cleaver) while running. This little guy comes in all shapes, sizes and colors, and more interestingly has been put to use in many creative ways by Insane Clown Posse's army of fans, the Juggalos.
So if you were a Juggalo, how would you honor the hatchetman? Publicizing any affinity for ICP hatchets might send the wrong message, so let's stick with the actual hatchetman cartoon for now.
Juggalo's inventiveness in honoring this hatchetman hero truly is astounding. Scratching the tip of the iceberg are ICP hatchet tattoos, but such a tribute is not uncommon for fans and their favorite bands across all genres of music. If anything, inking yourself with a hatchetman tattoo is more unique than getting the lyrics to your favorite Juggalo song printed across your rib cage.
What's more intriguing than hatchetman tattoos are some of the jewelry made in mass quantities featuring the ICP hatchet symbol. Hatchetman pendants, hatchetman necklaces, hatchetman charms, hatchetman chains, and even clothing like hatchetman shoes really do exist, and moreover, are swallowed up by Juggalos left and right. If this doesn't spell outjust how devoted Juggalos are to not only the ICP Hatchet symbol but also Insane Clown Posse in general, I don't know what does.
But where did this ICP hatchet symbol originate? If you're already a Juggalo, you'll be even more enthralled with the ICP hatchet imagery once you learn its background.
Legend has it that the younger half of Insane Clown Posse, Shaggy 2 Dope, sketched the symbol on a napkin after a crucial meeting with their manager. It is now told that in that meeting both ICP members and their manager, Alex Abbiss, decided to form Psychopathic Records, a record label that would distribute and market all ICP material. Psychopathic Records is still Insane Clown Posse's record label today, and wears the hatchetman stamp, be it for ICP hatchet imagery or the other horror rap artists it represents, with pride.
In hindsight, it's amazing to think how one quick sketch changed the course of so many Juggalo lives. That rudimentary image, printed on as much as it is, could very well be the number one marketing icon in ICP's hatchet-gear arsenal.
When people refer to the ICP Hatchet, they are really referring to the famous hatchetman logo associated with the group (truth be told, it was originally drawn to represent the group's label, Psychopathic Records, but we'll get to that later) that was scribbled on a napkin by Insane Clown Posse founding member Shaggy 2 Dope more than 20 years ago.
To paint a picture, the hatchetman logo features a crazed, mohawked cartoon hoisting a hatchet (some claims it looks more like a meat cleaver) while running. This little guy comes in all shapes, sizes and colors, and more interestingly has been put to use in many creative ways by Insane Clown Posse's army of fans, the Juggalos.
So if you were a Juggalo, how would you honor the hatchetman? Publicizing any affinity for ICP hatchets might send the wrong message, so let's stick with the actual hatchetman cartoon for now.
Juggalo's inventiveness in honoring this hatchetman hero truly is astounding. Scratching the tip of the iceberg are ICP hatchet tattoos, but such a tribute is not uncommon for fans and their favorite bands across all genres of music. If anything, inking yourself with a hatchetman tattoo is more unique than getting the lyrics to your favorite Juggalo song printed across your rib cage.
What's more intriguing than hatchetman tattoos are some of the jewelry made in mass quantities featuring the ICP hatchet symbol. Hatchetman pendants, hatchetman necklaces, hatchetman charms, hatchetman chains, and even clothing like hatchetman shoes really do exist, and moreover, are swallowed up by Juggalos left and right. If this doesn't spell outjust how devoted Juggalos are to not only the ICP Hatchet symbol but also Insane Clown Posse in general, I don't know what does.
But where did this ICP hatchet symbol originate? If you're already a Juggalo, you'll be even more enthralled with the ICP hatchet imagery once you learn its background.
Legend has it that the younger half of Insane Clown Posse, Shaggy 2 Dope, sketched the symbol on a napkin after a crucial meeting with their manager. It is now told that in that meeting both ICP members and their manager, Alex Abbiss, decided to form Psychopathic Records, a record label that would distribute and market all ICP material. Psychopathic Records is still Insane Clown Posse's record label today, and wears the hatchetman stamp, be it for ICP hatchet imagery or the other horror rap artists it represents, with pride.
In hindsight, it's amazing to think how one quick sketch changed the course of so many Juggalo lives. That rudimentary image, printed on as much as it is, could very well be the number one marketing icon in ICP's hatchet-gear arsenal.
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