Customer Reviews

Hell's Pit - Version 1

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This'll probably be a long-*ss review, so if you don't like it, skip it.

The way I see it, there's three kinds of Juggalos:

1. Those who've been down since God knows when, but they fell in love with ICP's old beats...but they bailed when they heard something they didn't agree with (I.E. "Thy Unveiling").

2. Those who've been down forever and give ICP a chance with every new CD, whether they like it or not.

3. Those who fell in love with their new beats first.

I'm the third. I wasn't down until AFTER the release of Shangri-La, but the first one I got ahold of was Great Milenko, and I was hooked instantly. (I had a thing for clowns...sue me). Since then, I hunted up their new stuff first and fell in love with it. I loved their newer sound -- in fact, I like their newer sound better than their older stuff (though I'm iffy on "The Calm").

But, you know, in this world, you get sh*t for being a Juggalo, but isn't that what it's all about? So many people call ICP gimmicky or "talentless", but you cannot DENY the fact that they're succesfull. If it's not your taste, get out -- no one cares. We are who we are. There's two levels to their music and most people are turned off by the first horror-core, wicked, deep, heartless beats they hear. They NEVER listen to both sides.

Someone wrote a couple of reviews down that THIS is the reason that rap music is doing so horribly and why it's sunken to the levels it has. I blame two reasons for horrible rap music: Lack of perspective and mainstream crap. ICP breaks BOTH of those constraints. Turn on your radio and all you will hear when it comes to rap is partying, "freaken it", "gettin' down at the Holiday Inn" and POINTLESS rap that goes NO WHERE and discusses like THREE topics: Sex, drugs, and how f*ckin' RICH the rappers themselves are. Not ALL rap is like this, but most of it is now. I'm down with old school rap, though. That's when the topics were fresh.

I'll take wicked rap music about Hell, murdering, painted faces, and clown love over that crap any day.

So many people have bashed this album because it's doesn't sound a certain way or it doesn't have the wicked beats that maybe Riddlebox had, but this album does convey the message: it describes Hell and the acts that more than likely send you there.

They did their job -- they explored physical Hell and our own personal Hell's we create. I'm gonna do one of those song-by-song reviews like many others have done, but I won't ramble too much:

1. Intro -- This drew me in. This was wicked. I admit, I go to church, and to HEAR the preacher's words twisted around backwards and garbled (maybe to put across the point that no one listens anymore), and Hell's Bells ringing was wicked. The intro is...disturbing. 10/10

2. Walk into the Darkness -- The beat is great -- so very morbid. This exemplifies the sound of Hell to me. Kind of feels like your spiralling down, with the characters portrayed in the song. It tells the blunt facts of Hell, simple as that. This is basically where, you know, you toss away all preconceptions and restraints and simple...enter Hell. 10/10

3. Suicide Hotline -- Everyone else that was down with this song besides me. The beat was a switch from the previous two and I was like, eh. It grew on me and this track IS one of the best on here. I mean, the lyrics themselves provide a bit of insight into the mind of one who has given up. 8/10

4. C.P.K's -- Hah! The beat didn't annoy me, and I didn't think it was wrong at all. Was I offended? You bet, but like someone else said, it's justified with the acts of the hypocritical. There's actually a hidden message in here, and it's for the Priests to leave the kids alone. Simple as that. Works for me. 7/10

5. Truly Alone -- Love it. Felt this way before at times. So depressing. In Hell, you are alone. Sad facts of life sometimes. The third verse is great! Just finally snapping because you want to get out of this life of loneliness when tragically, all you're doing is slipping into the loneliness that's awaiting you next. 8/10

6. Every Day I Die -- I liked the beat, but the lyrics I think are too bland. Good guitar usage. Best rock you'll be getting in here. Hell is repitition and that's the message it conveys. 7/10

7. Night of the .44 -- I was anxious for this one, but it's TOO D*MN SHORT! Should've made it like 5:00 minutes like "Night of the Axe". These songs are like siblings for God's sake. Good song, though -- tragic ending (which keeps with the tone) 7/10

8. The Witch -- This is one of the few I have a problem with. The lyrics are too random. I mean, you catch the message, but it could've been written A LOT better. Plus, the chorus was good, but the "WAKE THE DEAD!" was ANNOYING and didn't fit ANYTHING the song stated, but I know it alluded to an old Esham song, so it's understandeable. 6/10

9. Bowling Balls -- I don't think this song really belongs on this CD. It would've worked better on an older Joker's Card. It just breaks the pacing of the CD, I think. I think it was an attempt to cash in on making a mini-movie and such. If they wanted to make it truly wicked, they would've done a mini-movie of "Truly Alone", "In My Room", or "Burning Up". Some of the more darkers songs would've really helped the overall reaction to this album. 4/10

10. 24 -- This one REALLY had to grow on you, but I think the big turn off is the beat. Probably the least favorite of mine. All they're doing is restating that ICP is wicked and they kill people (lyrically, of course) ::shrugs:: Sucky topic. 2/10

11. Burning Up -- I've had Christian influences all of my life, so you get a vague idea that Hell isn't a pretty place. If only EVERY song had been like "Burning Up". THIS SONG IS THE HIGHLITE OF THE ENTIRE CD. THIS is what the CD is about. It's about every biggot on earth getting their punishment in a dark and lonely place. This one doesn't hold back. J's rap is THE SH*T. Where does he take a breath? 10/10

12. Sedatives -- I'm not really feeling this song, either, but that's just my personal taste. The song idea itself is good -- the only thing that can control our subject is a sedative and that's the only place he finds happiness. 6/10

13. In My Room -- One of the best on this album. Very depressing, very dark. Listen to it. The third verse is by far VERY wicked. A tragedy at its best. 9/10

14. Basehead Attack -- Good story, good beat and everything, but it loses interest fast. Maybe with a different beat, it would be better. The idea is original, though. 6/10

15. Angels Falling -- This is one of the better tracks on the album. This one deals with heartbreak and a young death. J's frusteration towards (dare I say?) God and a higher power is evident as he tries every way he knows to shoot down his baby to have her back. Very morbid... 8/10

16. Manic Deppresive -- The lyrics aren't bad, but the beat is dull. 5/10

17. Real Underground Baby -- This song isn't necessary. Yeah, it was a good effort to put in all of the sound clips, but some of the pointless rhymes in here just left the experience in Hell to be...bland. The title says the whole thing: they're always gonna be underground, but this seems to be done at the last minute with very little effort. The beat is okay, but it`s a downer ending. 4/10

All in all, the CD itself is something different. Never heard a CD put together like this one, which makes it a gem in my collection. It could've been much more wicked in lyrical content and sound, but they pulled it off and gave us a decent vision of Hell, plus it's MUCH DIFFERENT (though morally "bad" different) than the crap they put on the radio. If you're looking for something to listen to when you need to blow of some steam or have a life comparison check, listen to this. Very little trash here. Two thumbs up.

One year ago today, I woke up totally excited. Why? Well Insane Clown Posse's The Wraith: Hell's Pit was released that day. The excitement I felt opening this cd hasn't been matched by much ( I had to work that day too, getting me even more anxious to hear it) I opened this album as if it had the secret to life in it. I put it on my stereo and geez, that day I just listened to it every track over and over, when the cd ended I just started it up again. I loved it. Darkest album from them since Ringmaster. The beat's were great (even though it did miss Mike E. Clark but he's back!) the lyrical work is all about hell, all the way's to get there and why you wanna avoid such a fate. When you think if icp you get a reaction of love or hate, never an "ah, they're ok" that is just how Insane Clown Posse is. The most loved and hated band in the world. Also, they're the biggest and best example of a scrub and an underdog coming out on top. Proving all the naysayers wrong. Staying true to a story that took almost 13 whole years to tell. Name one other band that did that? You can't. The connection between Insane clown posse their fans is incredible and also connection's between fans & fans. You meet another Juggalo and you act as you two have known each other for years. People who don't get it, will make fun of you. For no good reason. Not the point though, Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope have made something huge. Their own label, with great artist's on them. This cd also tells of thing's that were never told. Thing's such as "The Witch" which was originially spoken by Violent J on the first joker's card Carnival of Carnage. Night of the 44 seems to be a sequal to Night of the Axe (NOTE: night of the 44 was also mentioned on Carnival of Carnage) it was said "24" was a sequal to "12" from the Riddle Box as well.



Intro - 4/5 One thing you always get with icp is a great intro.


Walk into the Darkness - 5/5 THe Wraith: Shangri-La had " Walk into the Light" so it was inevitable that "Walk into the Darkness" would be on here. One of the darkest tracks.

Suicide Hotline - 10/5 Not only the best song on here but one of their best ever. J play's the part of a man who can't take much more of the poor world we live in.

C.P.K.'s - 3.5/5 A love it or hate it song, definetly good. Truth hurt's and preacher's do abuse their power for sin and negativity. Icp get's the final laugh though.

Truly Alone - 5/5 Like Suicide Hotline but J take's his depression and sadness out on other's this time.

Everyday I Die - 5/5 One of the only song's with guitar here, great track. J and Shaggy die and meet their fate in hell.

The Night of the 44 - 5/5 Only problem here is it is too short. Great track with some awesome rapping and chorus.

The Witch - 5/5 Has one of the best chorus' on the cd. Finally the long awaited story of the witch is revealed....

Bowling Balls - 4.5/5 CLASSIC horrorcore rap by the Insane Clown Posse, they haven't lost a step.

24 - 4/5 Doesn't seem like a 12 sequal at first, you'd have to ask j or shaggy about that one. Great rapping.

Burning up - 9/5 Second best track here, Violent J rap's his ass off here. Meaningful.

Sedatives - 3.5/5 Sick/scary beat. Pretty funny/ sadistic track.


In my Room - 6/5 another great chorus. Reminds me of Cemetary Girl (found on the Riddle Box)

Basehead Attack - 4/5 Shaggy 2 Dope really shines on this one. Great old school beat.

Angel's Falling - 3.5/5 J's girlfriend dies here but he really isn't having it.

Manic Depressive - 4/5 Really good slow type rapping here.

Real Underground Baby - 5/5 What a way to close it, has clips from every Joker's Card. Almost cried when I first heard this because at this point it really hit me that all the Card's had arrived.

From the first second of the intro on The Carnival of Carnage to the final second of Real Underground Baby and everything inbetween the tale of the Joker's Card's has been an incredible one. Thank you for the memories.MMFCL. Enjoy.

My son, Christopher Colt Kelley, was murdered on December 21, 2001. He was 15 years old and he was a real Juggalo. He used to try and get me to play ICP cd's all the time whenever we were riding in the car together and I wouldn't listen to them. When he was murdered I took the time to sit and listen to what he was in to. I haven't stopped listening to ICP yet. I met Violent J once before Shangri-La came out and I told him all about my son. He held my hand and told me in these words that I will never forget, "You should not be sad that he is gone, you should always look at it like this, whenever it rains, that's him Raining Diamonds down on you." Then Shangri-La dropped and I heard It Rains Diamonds...and I could not stop crying. Now I am a 37 year old Juggalette and I'll be that way 'til I'm dead in the ground. My son was buried with an ICP shirt on and a Hatchetman round his neck. And I plan on going the same way. Everyone has their own thoughts about ICP and the Dark Carnival...but if you're not a true Juggalo....you'll never get it. MCL and R.I.P. Colt....we miss you.

As i said in my Ringmaster review, this is not ICP's darkest album, both Ringmaster and Terror Wheel are darker. My 1st review was Hells Pit v2, but i didn't really review the album, i was destroying an Feminem fan who was taking the p*ss.

Intro: This song contains reversed messages and many other different sounds, but is still a good opener. 4/5

Walk Into The Darkness: Completely different from Walk Into The Light from the Wraith album, nasty evil lyrics, beat is ok, but the chorus is great. 5/5

Suicide Hotline: Great Song with J being great as usual telling all his depressing problems to the much nicer Shaggy over the phone, lyrics and beat are both good, and the skit at the end is funny. 5/5

CPK'S: That is short for Crooked Preacher Killers, the lyrics are good and controversal, short track, could have been wicked if it wasnt for the annoying kid like chorus. 3/5

Truly Alone: Great track with J singing, and he sounds great, its about what can happen to a person when they have been alone for to long. 5/5

Everyday I Die: Shaggy and J both get killed by something when they try to meet each other. 2/5

The Night Of The 44: Awesome beat by Esham here, lyrics are good. 5/5

The Witch: The Witch is a word used on the album to hide using the word devil, but i dont like the song. 2/5

Bowling Balls: Beat is from the Madonna song 'Justify My Love' and the lyrics are funny, its about a guy who likes to keep human heads. Not to be taken seriously. 5/5

24: Song is alright, funny in places, but is not a sequel to the song 12 on the Riddlebox album as some people thought. 3/5

Burning Up: Best track on album for me, J goes crazy here rapping, evil lyrics and the beat is nothing like ICP have done. 5/5

Sedatives: Dark track with J and Shaggy in a psycho ward, good track. 4/5

In My Room: Storytime, J has a girlfriend which is a ghost, but the ghost is seen by the next door neighbour, so J has to kill them. May sound stupid, but the song is great. 5/5

Basehead Attack: The only track on the album Shaggy has more lines than J, the song is good with Shaggy being on form. 4/5

Angels's Falling: Good track here about J shooting anything he can into the air to bring his wife who died and now is an angel. 5/5

Manic Depressive: Boring track, nothing too great. 2/5

Real Underground Baby: A song that lasts over 10 mins, the beat cheesy and repetitive, but the lyrics and tunes from the past make it up. 4/5

Overall: ICP could have done better, but i cant complain, it does some have some great songs and Burning Up is one of my favourite songs by ICP eva, get it now.

There is no doubt that this was the best horror rap album I've ever heard. Before I heard J and Shaggy I always heard Eminem fans say that ICP was gay and all this other junk. Yes I used to listen to Eminem but what I realized was that Eminem would talk like he's all big and bad and the next he's crying over his ex wife that left him years and years ago. When this album came out one of my friends let me listen to it and boy does it kick a**. I always wanted to hear what these guys were like and I gotta tell ya I liked the results. I liked it so much that now all I listen to is the underground stuff (Psychopathic Records). I hate the fact these guys don't get much radio play because of whiny little Bit**** like Eminem. "OOHH Kim I hate you, Oh wait no I don't I love you!" Man shut the F*** up! It's over! move on ya fruitcake. Why don't you get back on the streets and learn a little something called talent. I could simply write five pages worth of poetry about a girl that don't want me. Its getting old my man. Anyway these guys never get old. This is what the world needs to listen to. These guys Explain why you don't want to go to hell. If you pay close attention to these lyrics, they are telling you the things that you could do that could have you end up in hell. The thing is J and Shaggy don't want you to do that. Well hear are the ratings for their songs (1 to 5)

Intro 5/5- WICKED, that's all I can say about this Turn off your lights and listen to this it'll creep the sh** out of ya.

Walk into the Darkness 5/5- Sick beat. J and Shag both do a great job lyrically. The chorus is pretty catchy.

Suicide Hotline 5/5- This was just plain out crazy. J shined big time in this one. Shaggy I believed was the dude on the phone trying to calm him down and prevent him from doing it. The end of this song wa kinda funny.

C.P.K 2/5- I wasn't down with this one. Really annoying beat. Lyrics were okay but nothing outstanding.

Truly Alone 5/5- I wasn't sure at first if these guys could sing a slow song but man they proved me they could do that. J again tears up the track with some really good rapping.

Everyday I Die 3/5- Ok track but I personally don't listen to it too often. Where J says "I've got too much time on my hands" that was pretty catchy too.

The Night of the 44 4/5- Pretty good track with J describing how he shot someone and continued shooting other people until finally someone knocked his head off. I really liked one part where J put in "I said I'm coming out and they said don't bother and started shooting The corpse im holdin up ain't got no head and they ain't stupid." Also the chorus was good.

The Witch 4/5- This was good too but again the chorus was really catchy "Something is standing in between me and my sanity, they say my witch is just a dream morbid fantasy."

Bowling Balls 5/5- Sick beat. Great lyrics. Again chorus great. Love this song and I never get tired of hearing it.

24 2/5- decent but never really catch my attention. They didn't have a chorus to this one and that is what ICP seems to master really good.

Burning Up 15/5- Greatness! J just goes crazy man I mean it!! This is probably the best I've ever heard someone just rap like that and make so much sense. If you notice other rappers try to keep there's understandable but then they slip up somewhere and rap about something completely different but J keeps with it and by god does he do a great job.

Sedatives 4/5- Good rapping by both J and Shaggy about being on sedatives and how it keeps them from hurting people. There was no chorus to this one either although it is kinda short.

In my room 10/5- Again J does a tremendous job rapping but this time it's about a ghost he's in love with and she always comes to his room at night. One verse I thought was kinda creepy was that he "talked with no one and I walk alone and I avoid sunlight with a chalky tone." Sounds kinda gothic but still good job throughout the song.

Basehead Attack 4.5/5- I gotta give mad props to Shaggy doing a better job than J in this one. J is a hard one to beat but Shaggy did shine in this one. Good Job Shaggy. Chorus decent but Shaggy's rap was outstanding in this one.

Angels Falling 3/5- J talks about the love of his life dying and he was mad that she died so he woud throw all sorts of things at the sky. It was an ok song but I don't listen to it very often.

Manic Depressice 1/5- Worst song on the cd. Too slow of a beat for them to try to fit in such huge lines.

Real Underground Baby 3/5- Alright. All it is really is their past songs rolled into one track. Kind of like remixes if you will.

There you have it guys. All in all this album is perfect except for a song or two but what album doesn't have a bad song on it? I apologize for writing so much of the criticism about Eminem. It's just I hate to see two guys that are in my opinion just as good (or better than) him. Whether it's rapping or singing certain songs, these guys can do it. I just hope ICP will keep making new albums.

Insane Clown Posse. Everyone thinks they are a goofy novelty group. I don't consider myself a hardcore juggalo, but I respect (and even love) music released under Psychopathic Records. While ICP is my least favorite group under the label, I've listened to all 6 joker cards, and enjoy/respect the way they kick it.

Hell's Pit was labeled as their most wicked album ever released. I expected verses and statements that would cause the bile to rise up in my throat. Only a few songs deliver new horrorcore ideas, as many of their concepts have already been heard on Dark Lotus albums. The album kicks off wicked with "Walking Into the Darkness." This song truly places you in the fiery underworld in which ICP journeys through. "Suicide Hotline" is painfully unoriginal, but is more than tolerable. "C.P.K's" is the instills the most "Did they just say that???" in listeners, but the silly beat, and annoying hook take away from the listening experience.

The next stand-out track on the album is "The Night of the 44," where Violent J tells an entertaining story of his serial killin' ways. "The Witch" is bad, and "Bowling Balls" gets old quick. "24" has a funny axe murdering intro, and although the beat is ridiculous, it is cool to listen to. Especially since Violent J edits his curse words himself. The best song "Burning Up," has an awesome beat, deep lyrics, and Violent J totally owns it. "Sedatives" and "In My Room" are another two of my favorites. Although we've heard Psychopathic talk about their dead lovers before, (i.e Doornail Dorothy, Cemetary Girl) "In My Room" is much darker. This song had a line that really does make the vomit rise in your esophagus - "Sometimes I kiss her, I start shakin', she slips my the tongue and it tastes like bacon." "Angels" Falling" is another sad, but excellent the track.

The album finishes with a couple of terrible songs. "Manic Depressive" is weak, but it doesn't get much worse than "Real Underground Baby." It is fifteen minutes of a beat and Violent J and Shaggy saying the same few lines over and over and over again. It was a truly disappointing ending compared to that of The Wraith: Shangri-La ("Thy Unveiling." Overall, it is obviously a must-have for all juggalos, but if you want a friend to start bumping psychopathic, don't give them this one.

In My Opinion, here is where it ranks with the other Joker's Cards:

1. The Great Milenko
2. The Ringmaster
3. The Wraith: Shangri-La
4. Carnival of Carnage (despite bad production)
5. Hell's Pit
6. The Riddle Box (most juggalos love it, but I just didn't feel it.)
7. The Amazing Jeckel Brothers

Don't get this for young kids, but older teens and young adults seem to think this stuff is good. What's the world coming to, anyway?

First off I'd like to expose the mainstream idiot. Hes not like us, and never will be. I guess the saying "swing our hatchets if we must" would fit nicely with his nugget. This CD wasnt made to be like the rest, listen to the music. Its like nothing they done before, its more rap than usual, i mean Violent J goes off on one track just goin insane. Ive been down for 9 years now, im 17, take it from me, if you like ICP as they use to be, you can still appriciate what they have done in the past. This is more out of my taste. But I still love it yanno...Just that feelin u get. I still get it, it never goes away. I bought this album and dont regret a thing about it. Cant wait for ICP to pass the axe to Twiztid and see what they can do. MCL Juggalos.

the only way I can describe this album is track by track,
Intro- a dark and strange track with a strange message. 8/10

Walk Into The Darkness- A track about literally going to hell and all the weird stuff that happens there. 9/10

Suicide Hotline- One of my personal favourites with ICP ringing a hotline and rapping down the phone to the hotline guy tellin them not to kill themselves and then gets put on hold. 10/10

C.P.K- an odd but funny tack if you like guys rappin about killin a preacher, reverend and a nun and then finally themselves. 7/10

Truly Alone- A slower and less murder filled track as ICP reflect on what's it's like to be alone for a long time and eventually going insane from being alone. 8/10

Everday I Die- A dark and gruesome track about Violent J and Shaggy going to visit each other but are both murdered by a giant behemoth. 7/10

Night Of The 44- a violent track about J going around killin people who annoy him after he thought the first kill was just a dream but realises it isn't and goes out to finish the whatt he started. 8/10

The Witch- a strange track about Shaggy told what to do by a witch who teaches him how to kill people.7/10

Bowling Balls- a funny and violent track with J and Shaggy rappin about keepin people's head's who they've killed and what they do with them, the title is also the same of the film on version 2. 9/10

24- a track about killin everyone from kids to prostitutes. 8/10

Burning Up- basically about the people spending an eternity in Hell's Pit from a Paedofile to a load of judges. 7/10

Sedatives- a track about J and Shaggy in a mental hospital and being given sedatives and killin' nurses. 7/10

In My Room- another of my personal favourites which basically a sick love song with J being with a ghost and then leaves because of the neighbours findin out so J goes to get revenge on the neighbours to hope his dead lover will come back. 10/10

Basehead Attack- a dark track about Shaggy workin the graveyard shift and being attacked by a load of zombies known as the baseheads. 8/10

Angel's Falling- an odd track about J shootin up at the sky trying to shoot down the Heavens because his girlfrined is up there as an angel and J's tryin to get her back. 7/10

Manic Depressive- a dark track about ICP not wanting to do anything but kill themselves and no one care about them anymore.
8/10

Real Underground Baby- a beats and samples mix song with a couple samples from every Jokers Card. 8/10

Overall an excellent album with a bonus disc featuring 2 versions of the mini-movie bowling balls (includes 3D glasses)

Hells pit is the final Jokers Card, It shows how messed up the world is and expressed by the veiw of the ICP. This Cd has some really good songs on it but i feel that J and 2 dope could have done better, as a hard core juggalo i still love this album and look forward to the Calm EP coming out soon. This Cd is a must have if you really down with the clowns and will complete all 7 cds in the six Joker Card serries.