Violent J and Shaggs began making their own music and made a tape called Basement Cuts in 1990. They went to a local record store to see if they would sell their tape. A worker at the store named Alex Abiss saw their talent and became their manager. Then ICP made a tape in 1991 called Dog Beats. Other gangs in the area started to notice the success of ICP and wanted them dead. All the gang members quit the gang and left Violent J and Shaggs by themselves. Scared and confused, J and Shaggs were visited by a Dark Carnival. It told them about six joker cards and when all six are revealed a Dark Carnival will sweep across the land, as a shadow, plagued with destrution. This is when they would turn into Wicked Clowns and become the Insane Clown Posse.
The first jokers card was released on Psychopathic Records in 1992. The first joker card is the Carnival of Carnage. This joker card sets the tone and is really the force behind the Dark Carnival. The next joker card, Ringmaster, was released in 1994 on Psychopathic Records. The Ringmaster runs the Dark Carnival. The third joker card is the Riddle Box released in 1995. When you die, you walk up to the Riddle Box and you turn the crank and what's inside of the Riddle Box is your fate. The fourth joker card, The Great Milenko is the most controversial ICP album to date. Great Milenko was released in 1997 on Psychopathic/Island Records. The Great Milenko is the necromaster who uses magic through the dead. Milenko is powered by your own evil and wickedry and casts them back on yourself.