Inner City Posse

Inner City Posse (1984-1991) was a rap group from Detroit. Violent J, 2 Dope, and John Kickjazz aka Greezy E, Shaggys Brother, were the members of Inner City Posse. It released albums such as Dog Beats, Intelligence and Violence, Gangsta C

Inner City Posse (1984-1991) was a rap group from Detroit. Violent J, 2 Dope, and John Kickjazz aka Greezy E, Shaggys Brother, were the members of Inner City Posse. It released albums such as Dog Beats, Intelligence and Violence, Gangsta Codes, and Bass-ment Cuts.

It all began in the early 90's in Southwest Detroit. Joseph Bruce (Violent J) and Joseph Utsler (Shaggy 2 Dope), along with a crew of neighborhood homies started an ill-fated street gang called ICP "Inner City Posse". They also began to rap, with a mildly successful independent release, Dog Beats. Having just moved to the inner city from the suburbs, the young J and Shaggy had little knowledge of any real gang life, but attempted to throw ICP's name right into the dangerous mix of Southwest Detroit's street gangs anyway. The little notoriety ICP received from their music also proved to be an almost fatal setback. Southwest Detroit's established gangs, some of which had been around for generations, began to harbor serious resentment towards ICP. The entire Inner City Posse became the target of much gang related violence, and after 2 years of battery most members bailed out... some barely escaping town with their lives. J and Shaggy were among the last few that remained true to their weakened ICP clique. They remained in Southwest Detroit, still trying to uphold their name, while basically trapped, alone, and fearing for their lives. It finally looked as if ICP's road had reached a dead end when Violent J took his 4th trip to the county jail and was put away for the entire winter of 1990. In 1991 he was released. They eventually formed into the Insane Clown Posse, without former member John.