Homies (song)
Encyclopedia
"Homies" is a song written by Insane Clown Posse
, Mike Puwal
and Twiztid
for ICP's 2002 album The Wraith: Shangri-La
. After the 1992 single "Psychopathic", "Homies" is the second single released by the group to not be produced by Mike E. Clark
, who had stopped working with Psychopathic Records
due to a disagreement with ICP's Joseph Bruce
and Joseph Utsler
. Clark later produced a remix of the song, which appeared on Forgotten Freshness Volume 4
, after Clark reconciled with ICP.
A single was released later in the year, and a music video for the song was produced, featuring appearances by the entire Psychopathic Records
roster at the time, which included Anybody Killa
, Blaze Ya Dead Homie
, Esham
and Zug Izland
. The song's lyrics focus on the positive aspects of friendship, and is more upbeat and cheerful than Insane Clown Posse is generally known for.
and Bizaar
, the duo had a falling out with producer Mike E. Clark, and decided to record The Wraith: Shangri-La without him. In 2001, Insane Clown Posse built its own studio called "The Lotus Pod" in Detroit, Michigan
. After brainstorming in seclusion about the album, the group traveled to recording studios across the United States to produce The Wraith: Shangri-La. They began writing and recording in Dallas, Texas
along with Zug Izland
and producer Mike Puwal
.
-oriented. Writer Bradley Torreano of Allmusic describes "Homies" as the group's most positive song, and a "laid-back rock
track." The lyrics describe the positive aspects of loyalty and friendship.
in 2007.
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
, Mike Puwal
Mike Puwal
Mike Puwal or Mike P , full name Michael J. Puwal III, is a guitarist and producer best known for his work with Psychopathic Records.-Biography:...
and Twiztid
Twiztid
Twiztid is an American hip hop duo from Warren, Michigan. The group is composed of Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric, who perform under the respective personas of Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child...
for ICP's 2002 album The Wraith: Shangri-La
The Wraith: Shangri-La
The Wraith: Shangri-La is the eighth studio album by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse, released on November 5, 2002, by Psychopathic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in 2002 at multiple recording studios throughout the United States. The album is the first of two...
. After the 1992 single "Psychopathic", "Homies" is the second single released by the group to not be produced by Mike E. Clark
Mike E. Clark
Mike Earl Clark is an American record producer and DJ from Detroit, Michigan currently signed to Hatchet House.Clark is best known for his work with Insane Clown Posse, for which he has produced nine studio albums...
, who had stopped working with Psychopathic Records
Psychopathic Records
Psychopathic Records, also known as "The Hatchet", is an American independent record label based in Farmington Hills, Michigan that specializes in hip hop music. The label was founded in 1991 by Alex Abbiss and hip hop group Insane Clown Posse....
due to a disagreement with ICP's Joseph Bruce
Joseph Bruce
Joseph Frank "Joe" Bruce is an American rapper, record producer, professional wrestler and actor. Bruce is most commonly known as Violent J of the Insane Clown Posse . He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow ICP rapper Joseph Utsler and their former manager,...
and Joseph Utsler
Joseph Utsler
Joseph William "Joey" Utsler is an American rapper, record producer, DJ, professional wrestler and actor. Utsler is known as Shaggy 2 Dope of the hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow Insane Clown Posse rapper Joseph Bruce and...
. Clark later produced a remix of the song, which appeared on Forgotten Freshness Volume 4
Forgotten Freshness Volume 4
Forgotten Freshness Volume 4 is a rarities album by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. It features rare and unreleased tracks recorded throughout the group's career. It also came with a bonus compilation album of all of the Insane Clown Posse's yearly Hallowicked song releases, titled...
, after Clark reconciled with ICP.
A single was released later in the year, and a music video for the song was produced, featuring appearances by the entire Psychopathic Records
Psychopathic Records
Psychopathic Records, also known as "The Hatchet", is an American independent record label based in Farmington Hills, Michigan that specializes in hip hop music. The label was founded in 1991 by Alex Abbiss and hip hop group Insane Clown Posse....
roster at the time, which included Anybody Killa
Anybody Killa
James Lowery, also known as Anybody Killa, or ABK, is a Native American rapper from Detroit, Michigan whose stage persona is that of a Native American warrior. He is signed to Psychopathic Records.-Biography:...
, Blaze Ya Dead Homie
Blaze Ya Dead Homie
Chris Rouleau, also known as Blaze Ya Dead Homie, is an American rapper from Romeo, Michigan. His stage persona is that of a reincarnated gang member killed in the late 1980s, and his music is a fusion of gangsta rap and horrorcore.-Biography:...
, Esham
Esham
Rashaam Attica Smith, better known by his stage name Esham , is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan known for his hallucinogenic style of hip hop which he refers to as "acid rap", which fuses rock-based beats and lyrics involving subjects such as death, drug use, evil, paranoia and...
and Zug Izland
Zug Izland
Zug Izland is an alternative rock band from Detroit, Michigan formerly associated with Psychopathic Records. Named after an industrial site in Detroit, the band broke onto the national competitive music scene in 2003 with their debut album, Cracked Tiles, produced by Insane Clown Posse member...
. The song's lyrics focus on the positive aspects of friendship, and is more upbeat and cheerful than Insane Clown Posse is generally known for.
Recording
During the recording of ICP's double album releases BizzarBizzar
Bizzar is the sixth studio album by Insane Clown Posse. Released on October 31, 2000, it is the first half of the Bizzar Bizaar double album, released the same day as its companion album, Bizaar.- Release and reception :...
and Bizaar
Bizaar
Bizaar is the seventh studio album by Insane Clown Posse. Released on October 31, 2000, it is the second half of the Bizzar Bizaar double album, released the same day as its companion album, Bizzar.- Release and reception :...
, the duo had a falling out with producer Mike E. Clark, and decided to record The Wraith: Shangri-La without him. In 2001, Insane Clown Posse built its own studio called "The Lotus Pod" in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. After brainstorming in seclusion about the album, the group traveled to recording studios across the United States to produce The Wraith: Shangri-La. They began writing and recording in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
along with Zug Izland
Zug Izland
Zug Izland is an alternative rock band from Detroit, Michigan formerly associated with Psychopathic Records. Named after an industrial site in Detroit, the band broke onto the national competitive music scene in 2003 with their debut album, Cracked Tiles, produced by Insane Clown Posse member...
and producer Mike Puwal
Mike Puwal
Mike Puwal or Mike P , full name Michael J. Puwal III, is a guitarist and producer best known for his work with Psychopathic Records.-Biography:...
.
Lyrics and music
Puwal offered Insane Clown Posse a sound Bruce described as being more popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
-oriented. Writer Bradley Torreano of Allmusic describes "Homies" as the group's most positive song, and a "laid-back rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
track." The lyrics describe the positive aspects of loyalty and friendship.
Music video
A music video was produced for the song, featuring Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid and Zug Izland, as well as appearances by Anybody Killa, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Esham and Psychopathic Records employees. It was reissued on the DVD Psychopathic: The VideosPsychopathic: The Videos
Psychopathic: The Videos is a DVD collection of remastered music videos released by Psychopathic Video. The film features videos by the artists Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, Boondox, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Esham, Axe Murder Boyz, Anybody Killa, and Psychopathic Rydas.- Content :The collection contains...
in 2007.