Insane Clown Posse Album: “The Great Milenko”

Sure, they are obnoxious, annoying, overweight morons parading around in clown suits and makeup. But their aggressive, fiery attitudes earned them a cult following in their hometown of Detroit, Michigan. "The Great Milenko", ICP's major-label debut, released on Hollywood Records, was a success. They had a realistic budget for the record ($1 million), and guest spots including Alice Cooper, Slash, Steve Jones and Legs Diamond. It's obviously an early tangled web of rap-metal, that focused mainly on white suburban kids. But ICP does bring some original flavor to the table. I'm not what you would call a Juggalo, but as a teenager, I was a huge fan of this album. These guys have talent, but several of their albums miss the mark. That's not the case with "The Great Milenko". The songs aren't groundbreaking, per se, but they are intoxicatingly fun to listen to. This album will turn as many people on, as it will turn off. Some people will never get past the fact that these guys are gimmick-ridden fat evil clowns. But when looked at musically, ICP shines nicely on "The Great Milenko".

Hollywood Records pulled the album from the shelves, claiming that they "didn't know" about the vulgarity of the lyrics held within (a little strange for a label that invested a million bucks in the project). The album was picked up by Island Records and it kept on moving. At this point, the shock factor had turned ICP into nationally known figures, and subsequently many more copies of "The Great Milenko" were sold. It seems a bit odd that their mix of metal and gangsta rap satire would have a cult following at the time, but here I am, writing a review about it almost 10 years later. There are some pretty solid tracks here. The highlights include the title track, "Hokus Pokus", "How Many Times?", "What Is a Juggalo?", "The Neden Game", and "Hellalujah".

I won't lie. There are some duds in the mix. Not all of this material will stand the test of time, but the strong cuts will. This is one of those albums that I consistently revisit, then I get sick of quickly. But I'd have to say, that there's got to be a reason that I keep revisiting the album. And the reason for that, is because it's simply fun to listen to.

This is Insane Clown Posses best effort. I love ICP,I have 7 of thier albums (THE GREAT MILENKO,RIDDLE BOX,RINGMASTER,FORGOTTEN FRESHNESS VOL.1,AND 2(2 cds),THE AMAZING JEKEL BROTHERS,and BIZZAR.Ive heard the others too. If your not fimiliar with ICP,than you wont know,but other than the 2 cds called (BIZZAR,and BIZAAR), the 3 FORGOTTEN FRESHNESS albums and all the EPs and the cd singles,they were doing six faces and here are the order from BEST TO WORST.

1.THE GREAT MILENKO

2.THE AMAZING JEKEL BROTHERS (TIED WITH MILENKO)

3.THE RIDDLE BOX

4.THE WRAITH

5.THE CARNIVAL OF CARNAGE

6.THE RINGMASTER

ps But dont get me wrong they are all 5 star cds!

Wow, I finally listened to an ICP album. I'm a huge rap/hip hop fan and I got to tell you this is a bunch of crap-I'm having a hard time understanding how bad these guys really are. They rely on "gimmick," I give them creativity and pure marketing genius but when it comes down to the music and just the music, it is some real crap. I think people pull for them because they are keeping there fingers crossed for a white breakthrough rap artist, I got to tell you, this ain't it. If you want to listen to some serious rap from the streets hit "Season of Da Siccness" by Brotha Lynch Hung.

In my opinion this is the last ICP album with their classic wicked clowns sound. From AJB and onward their sound and style changed. It's one of my favorite albums by them although i don't think it's as solid as The Riddlebox. The production, beats and vocals are more polished since they recorded this with a major record label. Mike E. Clark does wonders with the beats as always. Besides Slash The big name guest appearances don't do much for me but still give them props for it. My review of the tracks-

Intro- Alice Cooper does a mediocre intro although ICP does better and i prefer them doing the intros. Cooper later lied and said he didn't know what ICP was all about and regretted doing a track with them, what a putz! 5/10

Great Milenko- ICP always did a self titled album song for all the jokers cards. This one as the others is pretty fresh. 7/10

Hokus Pokus- A funny song introducing ICP to the mainstream world and what they're all about. 8/10

Piggy Pie- Awesome remake wicked clown style of the three little pigs. Details killing evil rednecks and selfish richies. Nice beat here, Shaggy also does a good job on his part. 8/10.

How Many Times?- A more serious song and one of my favorites on this record. Violent J puts his heart into the lyrics and explains everyday occurences in life that shouldn't happen the way they do. 10/10

Southwest Voodoo- A funny song about ICP's voodoo practices on people they hate. It samples a old rap song from "Guerilla's in the Mist". 8/10

Halls of Illusions- A great song basically about how a bad childhood can mess up a persons life. ICP takes revenge on a domestic and child abusers. Slash does some great riffs here for the wicked clowns. 9/10.

Under the Moon- One of ICP's most serious sad songs. It details J taking revenge on a rapist and then the girl eventually forgetting him while he serves his prison sentence. Classic ICP song right here. 10/10

What is a Juggalo- A funny track explaining what a juggalo is or isn't? Basically explains that theres no rule of being a juggalo and juggalos come from all walks of life and it doesn't matter whether you've been down for 2 months or 15 years. 8/10

House of Horrors- A great song its kind of like a sequel to "House of Mirrors". ICP explains graphically what they're gonna do to a richie caught in their world. 8/10

Boogie Woogie Wu- ICPs version of the infamous boogie monster, a scary horrorcore track. Good production on this song. 7/10

The Neden Game- One of ICP's most popular songs and why a lot of people bought this album. ICP's rapping is probably the strongest on this track. A hilarious ICP version of the Dating Game show. 9/10

Hellalujah- Great song that details about how at the time corrupt televangelists were scamming people out of money by claiming miracles. ICP explains the issue in their style. 8/10

Down with the Clown- Awesome juggalo anthem about how juggalos will never die and always be a hatchet family no matter what ICP does. 7/10

Just like That- Awesome track i just wish it was longer. Mike E. Clark did a fresh beat right here. Details how life can end when you least expect it. Sets the listener up for the final track. 9/10

Pass me by- Serious ICP track about the afterlife and how all our troubles will end once we go to shangri la. 10/10

...can 2 talentless morons sell a million copies of a totally worthless album... Go buy something to eat instead...