Shaggy 2 Dope

Musical career

Early career (1989–1991) In 1989, Joseph Utsler, as Kangol Joe, Joseph Bruce, as Jagged Joe, and John Utsler, as Master J, formed the group JJ Boys and released the single titled "Party at the Top of the Hill" under the name of JJ Boys, but the group did not pursue a serious career in music. The following year, the trio reemerged as Inner City Posse, using the stage names Violent J, 2 Dope, and John Kickjazz, and began performing at local night clubs.

Insane Clown Posse (1991–present)

In late 1991, Inner City Posse changed their style, look, and name. Joseph Bruce recalled a dream of a clown running around in Delray, which became the inspiration for the group's new name: Insane Clown Posse. Upon returning home that night, Bruce had a dream in which spirits in a traveling carnival appeared to him—an image that would become the basis for the Dark Carnival mythology detailed in the group's Joker's Cards series.

Solo career (1994–present) In 1994, Utsler released his first solo album, Fuck Off!, containing only four tracks. His second planned solo album Shaggs The Clown, was never released due to sampling issues. After almost 12 years of promotion, Utsler released his second solo album, F.T.F.O. (Fuck The Fuck Off!), in 2006. During ICP's 2013 GOTJ seminar Shaggy and J stated that they were wanting to do more solo albums. Shaggy said he was wanting to do another couple albums, like Fuck Off! EP and F.T.F.O. On July 24, 2015, during ICP's GOTJ seminar Shaggy said that he has been wanting to do another album, and plans on doing it, and will go on tour to support and promote the album shortly after it is released. In a flyer released in early/mid December 2015 it was announced that his upcoming album is titled F.T.F.O.M.F. (Fuck The Fuck Off Mother Fucker), set for a 2016 release date. In an early April 2016 Faygoluvers interview with Violent J, J stated that Shaggy has been writing and recording his upcoming solo album with Otis/Young Wicked producing, and hasn't asked J for help. During ICP's 2016 GOTJ seminar it was announced that Shaggy 2 Dope's upcoming album F.T.F.O.M.F. will now be released in 2017. Announced on October 4, 2016, Shaggy will be doing a solo set on Day 1 of the 2017 Juggalo Day Show. After the falling out with Young Wicked, DJ Clay produced the album from scratch and the album was released on May 26, 2017, and reached No. 72 on the Billboard 200, #1 on the Independent chart, and #36 on the Top Album Sales. In early December 2018 it was announced that Violent J and Shaggy were going to headline their own winter tours and would wind up together in New Orleans for Juggalo Day 2019. The flyer for Shaggy 2 Dope's tour said that a new solo EP would be available to VIP's. A couple of weeks later it was announced the name of the album is Gloomy Sunday EP.

Golden Goldies (1995) Golden Goldies was a comical group whose lyrics focused solely on gold. Each member was said to "act as a 'petal' of the lotus," The group's current lineup consists of Bruce (Bullet), and David Hutto (Yung Dirt).

Psychopathic Rydas reuses the beats of popular rappers within the genre without paying to license the original songs or requesting permission from copyright owners to use the music, effectively making their albums bootlegs and resulting in the releases becoming difficult to find in some markets. and Esham's Acid Rain and Repentance before releasing their debut album, Furious, in 2005. Following Esham and Lavel's departure from Psychopathic Records in October 2005, the group disbanded.

Style and influences Utsler's music is influenced by old school hip hop, new school hip hop, and gangsta rap, including the artists Run–D.M.C., Ice-T, Rodney O & Joe Cooley, Afrika Bambaataa, Esham, N.W.A, Ice Cube, Awesome Dre, and Geto Boys. Allmusic reviewer David Jeffries has praised Utsler, writing that "Shaggy 2 Dope has always seemed to be 75 percent of [Insane Clown Posse]'s talent".

Wrestling career Juggalo Championship Wrestling (1999–2006) On December 19, 1999, Bruce and Utsler created their own wrestling promotion, Juggalo Championshit Wrestling (now known as Juggalo Championship Wrestling). That night, the duo defeated the team of two Doink the Clowns to become the first ever JCW Tag Team Champions. The event was taped and released as JCW, Volume 1. Commentary was provided by Bruce and Utsler under their "3D" and "Gweedo" announcing personas.

Later that April, Utsler fell off the top of a Steel Cage and broke his nose and cheekbone, as well as injuring his neck. As a result, his wrestling appearances were limited, and he received neck surgery four years later. In 2003, Insane Clown Posse defended, and retained, their JCW Tag Team Championships against Kid Cock (a parody of Kid Rock) and Feminem (a parody of Eminem). The match was featured on JCW, Volume 3. Utsler continued to wrestle for JCW, which could only be seen at live events until the 2007 start of JCW SlamTV!.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004, 2006) On January 21, 2004, Utsler appeared alongside Bruce on an episode of the weekly NWA Total Nonstop Action PPV. The duo were shown partying in the crowd alongside the Juggalos in attendance. In the main event of the night, which featured Jeff Jarrett going against El Leon, Jarrett and El Leon were fighting in the crowd when Insane Clown Posse sprayed Faygo in Jarrett's eyes.

On February 4, Insane Clown Posse defeated Glen Gilbertti and David Young. Later that night, Scott Hudson interviewed Insane Clown Posse, and the duo announced that they would face whoever Jeff Jarrett threw at them next in a "Juggalo Street Fight". Insane Clown Posse won against the team of Glen Gilbertti and Kid Kash on February 18. Two weeks later, Insane Clown Posse announced that they would take part in a "Dark Carnival Match" the next week against Glen Gilbertti and any partner he chooses. The following week, Insane Clown Posse and 2 Tuff Tony took on Glen Gilbertti, Kid Kash, and David Young. "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown made his TNA return, and cost Insane Clown Posse and 2 Tuff Tony the match. During their stint in TNA, Insane Clown Posse brought the company its largest paying crowds in history. After the duo left, they remained close with the company.

On March 17, 2006, Insane Clown Posse hosted and booked TNA's first ever house show, which took place in Detroit, Michigan.

Return to the independent circuit (2004–2007) On December 12, 2004, Utsler and Bruce competed in the event A Night of Appreciation for Sabu, teaming with the Rude Boy to defeat the team of Corporal Robinson, Zach Gowen, and Breyer Wellington. Utsler received surgery on his neck the following year, leaving him unable to wrestle for two years. At Pro Wrestling Unplugged's 2006 event "Cuffed & Caged: Last Man Standing," Utsler managed Team JCW (Nosawa, 2 Tuff Tony, Violent J, Mad Man Pondo, and Raven) in a War Games match against Team PWU (Trent Acid, Corporal Robinson, Johnny Kashmere, Pete Hunter, and Gary Wolfe) with manager Tod Gordon.

Since fully recovering from his neck surgery in 2007, Utsler has continued to appear as Shaggy 2 Dope at various promotions in the independent circuit.

Return to JCW (2007–2010) In 2007, JCW launched SlamTV!. With it came the first broadcast of JCW since the three initial DVDs. Utsler returned as "Handsome" Harley Guestella, and Bruce returned to commentary as Diamond Donovan Douglas. 3D and Gweedo announced in an episode of SlamTV! that Insane Clown Posse had been stripped of the JCW Tag Team Championships because they had not defended the title due to 2 Dope's injuries. Utsler made his in-ring return at the first annual Bloodymania, JCW's premier wrestling event, where Insane Clown Posse teamed with Sabu to defeat Trent Acid and The Young Alter Boys w/ Annie Social the Nun. On November 9, the Juggalo World Order (Scott Hall, Shaggy 2 Dope, Violent J, 2 Tuff Tony, and Corporal Robinson) "invaded" Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Turning Point PPV by purchasing front row tickets to the event. They proceeded to promote their faction by flashing their JWO jerseys, which each member had on, before being removed from the building.

At Bloodymania III, Juggalo World Order (Corporal Robinson, Scott Hall, Shaggy 2 Dope, Violent J, and Sid Vicious) defeated Trent Acid and the Alter Boys (Tim, Tom, Terry, and Todd). In 2010, Utsler (as Shaggy 2 Dope) became the full-time color commentator of Juggalo Championship Wrestling with his broadcast partner Kevin Gill.

Championships and accomplishments Juggalo Championship Wrestling JCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) JCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Violent J

Personal life Utsler was born in Wayne, Michigan. He is the middle sibling of three brothers, John and Mike. His older brother, John Utsler, formerly known as John Kickjazz, was a part of Inner City Posse and was also briefly a member of Insane Clown Posse. Younger brother Mike performs as Tre LB, formerly in the hip hop group Chop Shop. He has suffered from depression and anxiety throughout his career. Utsler has been admitted to multiple drug rehabilitation centers due to alcoholism and pill addiction. On the September 1, 2009 edition of The Howard Stern Show, he stated that he had recently quit using pills and drinking because he was close to getting cirrhosis of the liver.

Joey Utsler has five children. He has twin boys, Cyrus and Isaac, born July 24, 1996, from a previous relationship with his girlfriend, Jamesa. He has a daughter, Mahala, born in 2002. He married his girlfriend, Renee, in 2013, and together they had two children: a son, Ronan, born in 2015, and a daughter, Leona, born in 2016. Cyrus and Isaac Utsler joined the Army after graduating from high school in 2014.

Utsler designed the Psychopathic Records logo, called the Hatchetman, and has drawn numerous Insane Clown Posse album covers.

Discography

Fuck Off! EP (November 22, 1994) F.T.F.O. (February 21, 2006) F.T.F.O.M.F. (May 26, 2017) Gloomy Sunday EP (January 10, 2019) Shaggy 2 Dope Presents Professor Shaggs And The Quest For The Ultimate Grove (May 26, 2023)

Group membership JJ Boyz (1989) Inner City Posse (1989–1991) Insane Clown Posse (1991–present) Golden Goldies (1995) Dark Lotus (1998–2017) Psychopathic Rydas (1999–2017) Soopa Villainz (2002–2005; 2018–present) The Bloody Brothers (2005; 2018–present) The Killjoy Club (2013–2016; 2018) The Loony Goons (2017–present)

Filmography Backstage Sluts (1998), as Shaggy 2 Dope Backstage Pass (1999), as Shaggy 2 Dope Big Money Hu$tla$ (2000), as Sugar Bear Bowling Balls (2004), as Shaggy Death Racers (2008), as Shaggy 2 Dope Big Money Ru$tla$ (2010), as Sugar Wolf Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2010), as Shaggy 2 Dope 1,000 Ways to Die Episode 56 (2011), as Parodied Version of Himself.