Editing Horrorcore (section)

==History==
===Origins===
''[[LA Weekly]]'' listed [[Jimmy Spicer]]'s 1980 single "Adventures of Super Rhyme" as the first example of "proto-horrorcore", due to a lengthy segment of the song in which Spicer recounts his experience of meeting [[Count Dracula|Dracula]].<ref name="Kangas"/> The group [[Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde (group)|Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde]] specialized in horror-themed music. [[Dana Dane]]'s song "Nightmares" related a frightening narrative.<ref name="Kangas">{{cite news|url=https://www.laweekly.com/the-history-of-horrorcore-rap/|title=The History of Horrorcore Rap|author=Chaz Kangas|date=November 5, 2013|work=[[LA Weekly]]|access-date=August 1, 2020|archive-date=November 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103113249/https://www.laweekly.com/the-history-of-horrorcore-rap/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 1986, [[Ganksta N-I-P|Ganxsta N.I.P.]] has performed horror-themed lyrics that he has described as "Psycho Rap", but he was not commonly considered to be horrorcore until the term came into mainstream prominence.<ref name=allhiphop>{{cite web|url=http://allhiphop.com/2014/09/29/ganxta-nip/|title=AllHipHop » Ganxta NIP: The Psycho Becomes A God Of Horrorcore|work=AllHipHop|date=September 29, 2014|access-date=March 26, 2015|archive-date=March 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327002224/http://allhiphop.com/2014/09/29/ganxta-nip/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ganxsta N.I.P. has written lyrics for other groups, including [[Geto Boys]], who were also an influence on the early horrorcore sound.<ref name=allhiphop/>

In 1988, [[DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince]] released "[[A Nightmare on My Street]]", which described an encounter with [[Freddy Krueger]],<ref name=Kangas/> and [[the Fat Boys]] recorded the similarly-themed "[[Are You Ready for Freddy]]" for the film ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master]]'' and its soundtrack. 1988 is also the year [[Insane Poetry]] (at the time called His Majesti) released "Armed & Dangerous", followed by their debut single as Insane Poetry, "Twelve Strokes Till Midnight", one of the first examples of music specifically made to be horrorcore.<ref name=Kangas/> The following year saw the release of ''[[Boomin' Words from Hell]]'', the debut album of [[Detroit|Detroit-based]] rapper [[Esham]], who would become particularly influential on [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] horrorcore (though he rejects the term, preferring "acid rap").<ref name="Kangas"/> 

Although [[Kool Keith]] claimed to have "invented horrorcore",<ref name=UKHH>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukhh.com/features/interviews/kool_keith/index.html |title=Kool Keith Interview |access-date=August 4, 2008 |author=Kane |author2=QED |date=July 19, 2007 |publisher=Original UK Hip Hop |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621054450/http://www.ukhh.com/features/interviews/kool_keith/index.html |archive-date=June 21, 2008 }}</ref> the first use of the term appeared on the group KMC's 1991 album ''[https://www.discogs.com/master/163094-KMC-Three-Men-With-The-Power-Of-Ten Three Men With the Power of Ten]''. Nonetheless, Kool Keith brought significant attention to horror-influenced hip hop with his lyrical content as a part of [[the Ultramagnetic MC's]] and his 1996 debut solo album ''[[Dr. Octagonecologyst]]''.

In 2024, writers at [[Complex magazine|Complex]] described [[Nas]]' 1994,  debut studio album ''[[Illmatic]]''  as "shocking, borderline horrorcore (before horrorcore was a genre)". The album showcased Nas's early '90s style of rap and was credited with generating significant hype for the MC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Complex Staff, Insanul Ahmed, OrNah, Noah Callahan-Bever, Christine Werthman, Ernest Baker, Rob Kenner, Frazier Tharpe, Damien Scott, Brendan Klinkenberg, Ross Scarano, Eric Skelton, Angel Diaz, Jordan |title=The Best Rapper Alive, Every Year Since 1979 |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/complexstaff3/the-best-rapper-alive-every-year-since-1979 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Complex |language=en-us |archive-date=April 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410033809/https://www.complex.com/music/a/complexstaff3/the-best-rapper-alive-every-year-since-1979 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Rise in the hip hop genre===
The [[Geto Boys]]' debut album, ''[[Making Trouble]]'', contained the dark and violent horror-influenced track "Assassins", which was cited by [[Violent J]] of the horrorcore group [[Insane Clown Posse]] in his book ''[[Behind the Paint]]'' as the first recorded horrorcore song. He writes that the Geto Boys continued to pioneer the style with their second release, ''[[Grip It! On That Other Level]]'', with songs such as "Mind of a Lunatic" and "Trigga-Happy Nigga".<ref name="BehindthePaint174">{{cite book |last=Bruce |first=Joseph |author-link=Violent J |author2=Hobey Echlin |editor=Nathan Fostey |title=ICP: Behind the Paint |url=https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol |url-access=registration |date=August 2003 |edition=second |publisher=Psychopathic Records |location=Royal Oak, Michigan |isbn=0-9741846-0-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol/page/174 174–185] |chapter=The Dark Carnival  }}</ref> The Geto Boys' 1991 album, ''[[We Can't Be Stopped]]'', was also influential on the horrorcore genre and contained themes of [[paranoia]], [[Depression (mood)|depression]], and [[psychological horror]], especially in the track "[[Chuckie (song)|Chuckie]]", and "[[Mind Playing Tricks on Me]]".<ref name=popmatters>{{cite web|last1=Sciaccotta|first1=J. C.|title=Geto Boys - 'Mind Playing Tricks on Me'|url=https://www.popmatters.com/post/132831-geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me-video/|website=Popmatters.com|date=October 29, 2010|publisher=PopMatters|access-date=December 11, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222104829/http://www.popmatters.com/post/132831-geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me-video/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=complex>{{cite web|title=#1: Geto Boys 'Mind Playing Tricks On Me'|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2010/05/the-25-greatest-rap-a-lot-songs-of-all-time/geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me|website=Complex.com|publisher=Complex Magazine|access-date=December 11, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222152938/http://www.complex.com/music/2010/05/the-25-greatest-rap-a-lot-songs-of-all-time/geto-boys-mind-playing-tricks-on-me|url-status=live}}</ref>

While rappers in the [[underground hip hop|underground]] scene continued to release horrorcore music, including [[Big L]],<ref name="FrightNight2004">{{cite magazine |title=Fright Night |magazine=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]] |date=November 2004 |page=74 }}</ref> [[Insane Poetry]],<ref name="Cordor">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p22385 |title=Biography of Insane Poetry |access-date=November 12, 2008 |last=Cordor |first=Cyril |website=[[AllMusic]] |archive-date=June 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110620205459/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p22385 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Insane Clown Posse]],<ref name=Kangas/> the mid-1990s brought an attempted mainstream crossover of the genre.<ref name=Kangas/>

According to the book ''Icons of Hip Hop'', horrorcore gained mainstream prominence in 1994 with the release of [[Flatlinerz]]' ''[[U.S.A. (Flatlinerz album)|U.S.A. (Under Satan's Authority)]]'' and [[Gravediggaz]]' ''[[6 Feet Deep]]'' (released overseas as ''Niggamortis'').<ref name="Hess-1">{{cite book |last1=Hess |first1=Danielle |editor=Hess, Mickey |title=Icons of Hip Hop |year=2007 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-33903-5 |page=369 |chapter=Hip Hop and Horror |url=https://archive.org/details/iconsofhiphopenc0000unse |url-access=registration }}</ref><ref name="stylus">Passantino, Dom (Jan 7, 2005) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/staff_top_10/top-ten-hip-hop-gimmicks-of-all-time.htm "Top ten Hip-Hop gimmicks of all time"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510040652/http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/staff_top_10/top-ten-hip-hop-gimmicks-of-all-time.htm |date=May 10, 2012 }}. ''[[Stylus Magazine]]''. Accessed November 4, 2007.</ref><ref name="Fernando">Fernando Jr., S. H. (September 18, 2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20070626130308/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/gravediggaz/albums/album/116200/review/6209945/the_pick_the_sickle__the_shovel "The Pick, The Sickle & The Shovel"]. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. Accessed November 4, 2007.</ref><ref>[https://www.nme.com/news/gravediggaz/8569 "Gravediggaz star loses cancer battle"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308225007/http://www.nme.com/news/gravediggaz/8569 |date=March 8, 2016 }}. ''[[NME]]'' (July 16, 2001). Accessed November 4, 2007.</ref> The Flatlinerz and Gravediggaz, along with the Geto Boys, Insane Clown Posse and Kool Keith, remain the most important artists in the development of horrorcore as a specific genre.

In 1995, an independent horror film called ''[[The Fear (1995 film)|The Fear]]'' was released with a soundtrack consisting entirely of horrorcore songs, including Insane Clown Posse's biggest radio hit, "Dead Body Man" and a title track ("''The Fear (Morty's Theme)''") by Esham.<ref name=Kangas/> 1995 also saw the release of [[Three 6 Mafia]]'s debut album ''[[Mystic Stylez]]'', which touched on heavy drug use, [[ritualistic sex]], [[mass murder]], [[torture]], and [[Luciferianism]]. [[Bone Thugs-N-Harmony]]'s ''[[E. 1999 Eternal]]'', released in the same year, contains tales of the occult throughout, specifically on songs such as "Mr. Ouija 2", "Mo' Murda", "[[East 1999]]", and "Da Introduction". Tension would soon rise between Bone Thugs and Three 6 over their presumed similarities in style and use of dark imagery.

In 2009, dark music-themed website [[Fangoria]] named [[Tech N9ne]]'s 2001 album ''[[Anghellic]]'' as an iconic and influential album to the genre, the artist, and hip-hop as a whole.

Horrorcore is generally not popular with mainstream audiences, though in some cities, like [[Detroit Hip Hop|Detroit]], it is the dominant style of hip-hop, with Detroit-based performers such as [[Insane Clown Posse]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Graham|first=Adam|date=February 12, 2019|title=30 years later, Insane Clown Posse finds respect|url=https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/2019/02/12/30-years-later-insane-clown-posse-finds-respect/2845855002|work=[[The Detroit News]]|access-date=February 23, 2021|archive-date=June 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605050626/https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/2019/02/12/30-years-later-insane-clown-posse-finds-respect/2845855002/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Eminem]],<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Ketchum III|first=William|date=October 31, 2016|title=In Defense Of Eminem's Horrorcore Masterpiece: "Relapse"|url=https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.3516/title.in-defense-of-eminems-horrorcore-masterpiece-relapse|magazine=[[HipHopDX]]|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=July 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705095351/http://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.3516/title.in-defense-of-eminems-horrorcore-masterpiece-relapse|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as [[Twiztid]], having been commercially successful throughout the US.<ref name="Hess-1"/> Horrorcore has thrived in [[Internet culture]]. Every Halloween since 2003, horrorcore artists worldwide have gotten together online and release a free compilation titled ''Devilz Nite''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ww5.kikaxemusic.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713150616/http://kikaxemusic.com/reviews/album-reviews/item/193-examining-the-annual-devilz-nite|url-status=dead|title=kikaxemusic.com|archive-date=July 13, 2011|website=ww5.kikaxemusic.com|access-date=October 14, 2019}}</ref> According to the January 2004 [[BBC]] documentary ''Underground USA'', the subgenre "has a massive following across the US" and "is spreading to Europe".<ref name="bbc">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/tx/documentaries/underground_usa.shtml "Underground USA"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025201229/http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/tx/documentaries/underground_usa.shtml |date=October 25, 2010 }} [[BBC]]. Accessed November 4, 2007</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' in 2007 referred to it as a short-lived trend that generated "more shlock than shock".<ref name="Fernando"/>

=== Present-day horrorcore ===
{{more citations needed section|date=August 2021}}
In 2019, [[Experimental hip hop|experimental]] trio [[Clipping (band)|clipping.]] released ''[[There Existed an Addiction to Blood]]'', described as a "transmutation of horrorcore".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/08/clipping-there-existed-an-addiction-to-blood-nothing-is-safe-stream/|title=clipping. announce new album There Existed an Addiction to Blood, share 'Nothing Is Safe': Stream|work=[[Consequence of Sound]]|last=Corcoran|first=Nina|date=August 14, 2019|access-date=October 19, 2019|archive-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018080007/https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/08/clipping-there-existed-an-addiction-to-blood-nothing-is-safe-stream/|url-status=live}}</ref>  GORE STREET (AKA: BODIES ON GORE STREET) is a more recent horrorcore collective, being formed in 2023, that mixes scream rap with violent imagery and horrorcore.  With notable members Craig Scissorhands, rejectedreyna, and YAUX.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GORE STREET |url=https://genius.com/artists/Gore-street |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Genius |language=en}}</ref>