Grab the facepaint, Faygo and flagrant disregard for civilization, the 2015 Gathering of the Juggalos is upon us. For 16 years now, Insane Clown Posse and the good people clowns at Psychopathic Records have amassed a long weekend of sheer Dark Carnival absurdity, and this year's looks to be no exception. Emanating from Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, the 2015 installment's theme of “The Year of the Juggalo” could imply that this year's has some can't miss shenanigans. Here's our list of Five Things You'll See at the 2015 Gathering of the Juggalos.
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1) The Usual Colorful Suspects
Let's get this out of the way, of course it wouldn't be a Gathering without some of the most famous face-painted rappers on Earth. Headlining every year are the Godfathers of Juggalo culture itself, The Insane Clown Posse. Joining them are an assortment of their Psychoapthic Records roster and alumni, including Twiztid, Big Hoodoo, Boondox, and Blaze Ya Dead Homie. The most interesting of the longtime Gathering veterans should be Psychopathic affiliate Tech N9ne whose coming off one of the biggest years of his career that's seen his new album, Special Effects, debut at #4 on the Billboard charts, tying ICP's all-time career best, as well as a successful crossover single in the Eminem-assisted “Speedom.”
2) The Mainstream Artists We're Surprised to See Listed
While the lines between mainstream and underground tend to get a little more blurred every year, The Gathering of the Juggalos listings usually make for a good game of “one of these things is not like the other.” 2015 sees the stage taken by Waka Flocka Flame, Rittz, Flosstradomis and Machine Gun Kelly. While we have no idea how they'll be received or what, if anything, they'll be pelted with, the idea of seeing Waka Flocka Flame riling up a field full of Juggalos is a visual we absolutely need to see.
3) The Throwback Artists We Immediately Told Friends When We Saw They Were Listed.
Probably the most unexpected name on this year's Gathering lineup has been alt-angsters Puddle of Mudd. Yes, the Fred Durst-discovered outfit who dominated the start of the millennium are bringing all that is “Blurry” to Juggalos. Rounding out the throwback contingent are Chicago speed-rap icon Twista and longtime ICP friends Da Mafia 6ix, the latest Three-6 Mafia project without Juicy J.
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4) The Random Notable Names We're Surprised Are in the Same Place at Once
It wouldn't be a Gathering without music, wrasslin' and comedy, and some of the names we see slated are pretty compelling. Florida rap antagonist Stitches, Los Angeles-by-way-of-Canada mic mistress Nova Rockafeller, and Dutch horror-rap outfit Dope D.O.D. are all on deck to perform. On the wrestling side of things, Bloodymania 9 this year has the inclusion of Matt Hardy, M.V.P. and Colt Cabana. Under the comedy tent are 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander and Godfrey. You don't get much more diverse of a lineup than that.
5) The Juggalo Attractions are Really Over-the-Top This Year
The promotion for the Gathering this year as “The Year of the Juggalo” (as opposed to other year's?) is not something to be taken lightly. While, like every year, there's also the promise of food and carnival rides, the 2015 Gathering of the Juggalos is boasting special Juggalo events including Juggalo Olympics (promoted with just a bunch of images of ninjas), Juggalo Family Feud (promoted by the Family Feud logo with the word Juggalo written over it) and DJ Clay's Horny Nutts and Big Butts Party (promoted with a bunch of club footage.) While each Gathering of the Juggalos informercial since the initial viral hit in 2009 has emphasized how the Juggalo family's camaraderie is the festival's greatest allure, this year's really going above and beyond to forge those memories with Juggalo for generations to come.
See also:
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