Editing Psychopathic Records (section)

=== Establishment (1991–1994) ===

Following the release of their 1991 [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[Bass-Ment Cuts]]'', Detroit hip hop trio [[Insane Clown Posse|Inner City Posse]], consisting of [[Violent J]], [[Shaggy 2 Dope]], and John Kickjazz (John Utsler), hired local record store owner Alex Abbiss as its manager. Taking the advice of Violent J's brother, [[Robert Bruce (rapper)|Jumpsteady]], the group and Abbiss agreed to create their own label. After debating between the names Mad Paperboy Records and Psychopathic Records, they decided on Psychopathic and the label soon started operating out of Abbiss's mother's basement. A drawing Joseph Utsler scribbled on a napkin, now known as the Hatchet Man, became the company's logo.<ref name="BehindthePaint139">{{cite book |last1 = Bruce |first1 = Joseph |author-link = Violent J |first2 = Hobey |last2 = Echlin |editor-first = Nathan |editor-last = Fostey |title = ICP: Behind the Paint |url = https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol |url-access = registration |year = 2003 |edition = 2nd |publisher = Psychopathic Records |location = Royal Oak, Michigan |isbn = 0-9741846-0-8 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol/page/139 139]–144 |chapter = Intelligence and Violence }}</ref>

Inner City Posse released their first professionally recorded album, ''[[Dog Beats]]'', on the label later that year. Shortly after, the group underwent a change in style, look, and name to become [[Insane Clown Posse]], and created the [[Dark Carnival (Insane Clown Posse)|Dark Carnival]] concept that would be continued by much of the label's other artists for years to come.<ref name="BehindthePaint179">{{cite book |last1 = Bruce |first1 = Joseph |author-link = Violent J |first2 = Hobey |last2 = Echlin |editor-first = Nathan |editor-last = Fostey |title = ICP: Behind the Paint |url = https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol |url-access = registration |year = 2003 |edition = 2nd |publisher = Psychopathic Records |location = Royal Oak, Michigan |isbn = 0-9741846-0-8 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol/page/179 179]–185 |chapter = The Dark Carnival }}</ref> [[Esham]] and [[Kid Rock]] were paid to appear on the debut "Insane Clown Posse" album to increase the album's marketability.<ref name="BehindthePaint191">{{cite book |last1 = Bruce |first1 = Joseph |author-link = Violent J |first2 = Hobey |last2 = Echlin |editor-first = Nathan |editor-last = Fostey |title = ICP: Behind the Paint |url = https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol |url-access = registration |year = 2003 |edition = 2nd |publisher = Psychopathic Records |location = Royal Oak, Michigan |isbn = 0-9741846-0-8 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol/page/191 191]–195 |chapter = The Broken Path of a Dream }}</ref> The group and their label began to gain moderate popularity in the [[Music of Detroit|Detroit area]] following the releases of ''[[Carnival of Carnage]]'' and ''[[Beverly Kills 50187]]'', as well as through their extensive amount of independent promoting. Months before the release of ''Carnival of Carnage'' John Kickjazz left the group. Not wanting to show weakness early in the game, they replaced him with friend and fan Greez-e (Erik Olson). Greez-e's membership was short-lived, however, and after appearing on ''Beverly Kills 50187'' he left the group. ICP has remained a duo ever since.<ref name="BehindthePaint231">{{cite book |last1 = Bruce |first1 = Joseph |author-link = Violent J |first2 = Hobey |last2 = Echlin |editor-first = Nathan |editor-last = Fostey |title = ICP: Behind the Paint |url = https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol |url-access = registration |year = 2003 |edition = 2nd |publisher = Psychopathic Records |location = Royal Oak, Michigan |isbn = 0-9741846-0-8 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol/page/231 231]–253 |chapter = Ringmaster's Word }}</ref>