What Makes a Juggalo a Juggalo

Sep 3
07:05

2011

Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney

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Whatever the key criteria for being labeled a Juggalo or Juaggalette may be, one thing is certain: Nearly 20,000 of them will be gathering at Cave-in-Rock, Illinois, Juggalo paint and all, starting August 14th for Insane Clown Posse’s annual four-day Gathering of the Juggalos festival! Juggalos come in many shapes, sizes, and colors of Juggalo paint, but there are a few tell-tale signs that mean you’re part of the Juggalo family.

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How to be a Juggalo

 

1) Insane Clown Posse

At its core,What Makes a Juggalo a Juggalo Articles the term is used to identify fans of the musical group Insane Clown Posse. It has since been used as a term for fans of any act on the Psychopathic Records roster, a record label created by Insane Clown Posse founders Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope.

Juggalo has been around since 1994, when Violent J (always blanketed in Juggalo paint) addressed the audience as Juggalos after performing the song “Juggla.” Needless to say, it caught on, and Insane Clown Posse fans have been using the term to describe themselves endearingly ever since.

2) Juggalo Paint

If it weren’t for the word “clown” in the name Insane Clown Posse, it would at times be difficult to identify the Juggalo paint on Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope’s faces as resembling that of a clown. Instead of the traditional clown paint, Insane Clown Posse and their Juggalo followers use predominantly white and black Juggalo paint with a little red dashed in to create the appearance of a wicked clown. Many Juggalos paint their faces at the annual Insane Clown Posse gathering, some with great success and others without so much.

3) Faygo

Insane Clown Posse hails originally from the area of Detroit, and uses their Michigan pride to its fullest capabilities. For one, many of the acts billed for the Gathering of the Juggalos are from Michigan, and many wear Juggalo paint.  Secondly, soda company Faygo is rooted in Michigan, and has become an invaluable staple of Insane Clown Posse gathering festivals over time.

Not only is the beverage sold and consumed at the festivals, it’s also the liquid used for the famous Insane Clown Posse Juggalette wet T-shirt contests. If one of your lady friends (or “lettes” as the Juggalo family refers to them as), comes to a party soaked in colored soda or smudged with Juggalo paint, you know she’s been up to something with the Insane Clown Posse family!

4) Family

While there are many tangible items one can claim make you a legitimate Juggalo, there’s one criteria more important than Juggalo paint, faygo, and an adoration for Insane Clown Posse combined: family mentality. It’s reiterated by Juggalos in Juggalo paint across the country at every year’s Gathering – Juggalos share many common traits, but they’re all connected through music and a way of life.