Violent J, one half of the celebrated Detroit rap duo known as Insane Clown Posse (ICP), kicked off his new live show “Story Time with Violent J” last night at the Token Lounge in Westland. Born Joe Bruce, Violent J spent over thirty years in the heart of ICP crafting stories from his unique life experiences. Now he’s giving fans a chance to get a direct taste of these tales.
“Don’t expect a comedy show”, said J, “I’m just telling fresh stories, stories that made me happy and stood out in my life”. These stories range from his encounters with celebrities, life in the pro wrestling ring, and episodes from his music career.
The 52-year-old rapper carries his bag of stories everywhere he goes, drawing from them to entertain his audience. However, Violent J was quick to clarify that he’s not one of the celebrities he talks about. His stories come from being an outsider.
Violent J shared the stage with Ouija Macc, an artist from ICP’s Psychopathic Records, and ex-pro wrestler now podcaster, Colt Cabana. They mostly prompted J and sometimes chimed in. It’s remarkable to know how these stories from Violent J’s life, seen through the eyes of a “scrub”, have shaped his worldview and interactions.
The idea to tell his tales in public came from watching pro wrestlers like Mick Foley, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and the Undertaker whom have all switched from wrestling in the ring to narrating their tales in live, one-man shows.
Last night’s event kicked off Violent J’s tour which also covers Columbus, Joliet, and Indianapolis. While Violent J promises to keep his shows shorter than his debut performance, he doesn’t plan to change much else. “I’m just being myself” he says.
In other news, the Insane Clown Posse is getting ready for its 24th annual Gathering of the Juggalos festival, scheduled for Aug. 14-18 in Thornville, Ohio. Also in the works is a brand new ICP album since their latest in 2021, “Yum Yum Bedlam”, though J admits it’s coming along slowly. The album will be produced by Mike E. Clark, who moulded the group’s signature sound.
