Twiztid

The war of words (and guns and courts) between the Insane Clown Posse camp and Eminem makes the Jay-Z/Nas feud seem downright cordial. Usually tongue-in-cheek as hell, ICP and company get dead serious right quick when stepped to. Slim Shady has infamously devoted fans, but followers of the other Detroit white-rap phenomenon — Juggalos, they call them — take the word “fan” a few letters further, stretching it into full-blown fanatic.

Case in point: Twiztid. Covered in fake blood and makeup, this raunchy rap duo are Juggalos to the bone. If you want elaborate rhyme schemes, complex wordplay, and immaculately crafted music, dye your hair blond, buy another copy of a multiplatinum record, and stay home. If you want something rougher, if you like your cult to be a little more exclusive, the Twiztid boys are your Clown-prince apostles. If you don’t like them, well, you’re not really supposed to.

This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2003.