Police Raise Concerns About Rap Group's Fans

Police Raise Concerns About Rap Group's Fans


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

John Hollenhorst Reporting There's a growing concern among law enforcers over a group called Insane Clown Posse.

It's a rap group with a large fan base of young people who say they're just into the music. But police are putting schools on warning, saying there's a growing link to acts of violence and gang activity.

Curt Hansen/Granite School District: "We've had five incidents where persons involved have declared themselves to be Juggalos."

Juggalos or Juggalettes, as they refer to themselves, are raising concerns. They say the concerns are out of proportion. But a gang expert says schools and parents should be on guard.

Police Raise Concerns About Rap Group's Fans

The name for the band itself may seem pretty strange to some people. They're called Insane Clown Posse. Their fans are said to be among the most devoted on the music scene.

Many of their songs aren't likely to be played on TV.

Det. John Lefavor/ West Valley City Police Dept./Gang Specialist: "Their lyrics are very violent, very vulgar."

Police Raise Concerns About Rap Group's Fans

Gang detective John Lefavor says fans of Insane Clown Posse proclaim themselves as outcasts. The so-called Juggalos and Jugalettes revolve around the band's logo. The hatchet-man emblem can be bought on clothing to outfit a fan from head to toe.

Lefavor says some are now forming gangs.

Det. John Lefavor: "Typical crimes we see Juggalos are involved with are assault, drug use, sometimes aggravated assault."

At Granite School District, officials asked for a police forum on Juggalos. They've had five fighting incidents since last spring involving self-proclaimed Juggalos.

Curt Hansen/ Granite School District: "So we do want to know more about that and what that means, and see if it does mean there's some kind of violent aspect to it that we need to be aware of."

John Hollenhorst/Eyewitness News: "Have you ever heard of Juggalos?"

Tony Barbano/ Resident of Salt Lake City: "Never heard of Juggalos. I've heard of gigolos, though."

Some kids seem unaware of the name.

Unidentified skateboarder: "Juggalos? Never heard of the place. Don't know what it is."

Others think cops are giving a bad rap to rap fans. Mycah Binder says she's a former Juggalette.

Mycah Binder
Mycah Binder

Mycah Binder/ Former Juggalette: "Just hang out. It's like a big family. You go to gatherings and concerts and just kick it with your friends."

John Hollenhorst/Eyewitness News: "Is it a gang?"

Mycah Binder: "It's a family! It's not no gang!"

Insane Clown Posse is one of the best-selling rap groups at one store. Clerks suggest the suspicions result partly from the old generation gap.

Graywhale CD Exchange: "That happened when I was younger. Certain rap groups. And it's terrifying for adults that these kids are into so much. But there's always bad apples with every group."

It does seem to be a small minority of Juggalos that have raised concerns.

The Metro Gang Unit says there are about 30 documented members of Juggalo gangs. But they are beginning to have conflicts with other gangs, which suggests their identity as a gang is getting more defined.

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

Utah
KSL.com Beyond Series

KSL Weather Forecast

KSL Weather Forecast
Play button