Bowling Balls
Encyclopedia
"Bowling Balls" is a song written by Esham
and Joseph Bruce
for Insane Clown Posse
's 2004 album Hell's Pit, and the fourth single released by the group that was not produced by Mike E. Clark
. The song's lyrics describe decapitation and murder. A short film of the same name was produced in association with the film and album, appearing on a special edition. Bowling Balls was the first 3-D film
shot in high-definition video
.
oriented sound and features none of the rock
influence of The Wraith: Shangri-La
. As opposed to The Wraith: Shangri-La, which focused on the positive aspects of life and death, Hell's Pit focuses on darker subject matter such as hell
, murder
and psychosis. As produced by Esham
, "Bowling Balls" was intended as a throwback to the latter half of Carnival of Carnage
, which featured a dark, modest sound. "Bowling Balls" samples the drum beat of Madonna
's "Justify My Love
," which was based upon Public Enemy's instrumental "Security of the First World." A remix
of the song was produced by Monoxide of Twiztid
; it appeared on the remix album
The Wraith: Remix Albums
.
produced a short film of the same name based around the song, directed by Paul Andresen. A long form music video
and comedy horror
film
, Bowling Balls was the first 3-D film
to be shot in high-definition video
. The film's cast includes Mark Jury, who later appeared prominently in the Psychopathic film Big Money Rustlas
.
The film was released as part of an alternate special edition of Hell's Pit, packaged with a pair of 3-D glasses. 3-D and standard versions of the film were featured on the DVD. The standard version of the film was reissued as part of the compilation Psychopathic: The Videos
.
), a clown who invites them to his bed and breakfast
. However, J's ulterior motives are revealed when his retarded hunchback brother, Shaggy (Shaggy 2 Dope
), decapitates one of the girls. The girl's friends head to pick them up, and are each murdered by the clowns at the bed and breakfast.
Esham
Rashaam Attica Smith, better known by his stage name Esham , is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan known for his hallucinogenic style of hip hop which he refers to as "acid rap", which fuses rock-based beats and lyrics involving subjects such as death, drug use, evil, paranoia and...
and Joseph Bruce
Joseph Bruce
Joseph Frank "Joe" Bruce is an American rapper, record producer, professional wrestler and actor. Bruce is most commonly known as Violent J of the Insane Clown Posse . He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow ICP rapper Joseph Utsler and their former manager,...
for Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
's 2004 album Hell's Pit, and the fourth single released by the group that was not produced by Mike E. Clark
Mike E. Clark
Mike Earl Clark is an American record producer and DJ from Detroit, Michigan currently signed to Hatchet House.Clark is best known for his work with Insane Clown Posse, for which he has produced nine studio albums...
. The song's lyrics describe decapitation and murder. A short film of the same name was produced in association with the film and album, appearing on a special edition. Bowling Balls was the first 3-D film
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
shot in high-definition video
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
.
Music and lyricism
As with the rest of the album, "Bowling Balls" features a hip hopHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
oriented sound and features none of the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
influence of The Wraith: Shangri-La
The Wraith: Shangri-La
The Wraith: Shangri-La is the eighth studio album by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse, released on November 5, 2002, by Psychopathic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in 2002 at multiple recording studios throughout the United States. The album is the first of two...
. As opposed to The Wraith: Shangri-La, which focused on the positive aspects of life and death, Hell's Pit focuses on darker subject matter such as hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
and psychosis. As produced by Esham
Esham
Rashaam Attica Smith, better known by his stage name Esham , is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan known for his hallucinogenic style of hip hop which he refers to as "acid rap", which fuses rock-based beats and lyrics involving subjects such as death, drug use, evil, paranoia and...
, "Bowling Balls" was intended as a throwback to the latter half of Carnival of Carnage
Carnival of Carnage
Carnival of Carnage is the debut album by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse, released on October 18, 1992, by Psychopathic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place from 1991 to 1992 at Miller Midi Productions and The Tempermill Studio. The album is the first Joker's Card in the...
, which featured a dark, modest sound. "Bowling Balls" samples the drum beat of Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's "Justify My Love
Justify My Love
"Justify My Love" is the first single by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her 1990 greatest hits compilation The Immaculate Collection and was released on November 6, 1990, by Sire Records. It caused international controversy due to the accompanying music video which was sexually explicit...
," which was based upon Public Enemy's instrumental "Security of the First World." A remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of the song was produced by Monoxide of Twiztid
Twiztid
Twiztid is an American hip hop duo from Warren, Michigan. The group is composed of Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric, who perform under the respective personas of Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child...
; it appeared on the remix album
Remix album
A remix album is an album consisting mostly of remixes or re-recorded versions of a music artists' earlier released material.One of the earliest remix albums was 1971's Aerial Pandemonium Ballet by Harry Nilsson, which was released by Nilsson after the successes of Everybody's Talkin and The Point!...
The Wraith: Remix Albums
The Wraith: Remix Albums
The Wraith: Remix Albums is a remix album by American hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse. Released in 2006, the album contains remixes of tracks from the group's albums The Wraith: Shangri-La and Hell's Pit...
.
Film
In promotion of the song and album, Psychopathic VideoPsychopathic Records
Psychopathic Records, also known as "The Hatchet", is an American independent record label based in Farmington Hills, Michigan that specializes in hip hop music. The label was founded in 1991 by Alex Abbiss and hip hop group Insane Clown Posse....
produced a short film of the same name based around the song, directed by Paul Andresen. A long form music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
and comedy horror
Comedy horror
Comedy horror, also known as horror comedy, is a literary and film genre, combining elements of comedy and horror fiction. The comedy horror genre almost always inevitably crosses over with the black comedy genre; and in some respects could be considered a subset of it.The short story "The Legend...
film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
, Bowling Balls was the first 3-D film
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
to be shot in high-definition video
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
. The film's cast includes Mark Jury, who later appeared prominently in the Psychopathic film Big Money Rustlas
Big Money Rustlas
Big Money Rustlas is an American Western comedy film directed by Paul Andresen. The film is the prequel to the 2000 film Big Money Hustlas. Joseph Bruce wrote the story, and he, Andresen, and Studebaker Duchamp adapted the story into a screenplay. Their writing was influenced by classic Western...
.
The film was released as part of an alternate special edition of Hell's Pit, packaged with a pair of 3-D glasses. 3-D and standard versions of the film were featured on the DVD. The standard version of the film was reissued as part of the compilation Psychopathic: The Videos
Psychopathic: The Videos
Psychopathic: The Videos is a DVD collection of remastered music videos released by Psychopathic Video. The film features videos by the artists Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, Boondox, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Esham, Axe Murder Boyz, Anybody Killa, and Psychopathic Rydas.- Content :The collection contains...
.
Plot
Two girls are driving to Daytona when their car breaks down. Rather than sit in an old broken down truck in the middle of nowhere while they wait for their friends to come pick them up, they decide to go with J (Joseph BruceJoseph Bruce
Joseph Frank "Joe" Bruce is an American rapper, record producer, professional wrestler and actor. Bruce is most commonly known as Violent J of the Insane Clown Posse . He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow ICP rapper Joseph Utsler and their former manager,...
), a clown who invites them to his bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
. However, J's ulterior motives are revealed when his retarded hunchback brother, Shaggy (Shaggy 2 Dope
Joseph Utsler
Joseph William "Joey" Utsler is an American rapper, record producer, DJ, professional wrestler and actor. Utsler is known as Shaggy 2 Dope of the hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow Insane Clown Posse rapper Joseph Bruce and...
), decapitates one of the girls. The girl's friends head to pick them up, and are each murdered by the clowns at the bed and breakfast.
Cast
- Violent JJoseph BruceJoseph Frank "Joe" Bruce is an American rapper, record producer, professional wrestler and actor. Bruce is most commonly known as Violent J of the Insane Clown Posse . He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow ICP rapper Joseph Utsler and their former manager,...
- J - Shaggy 2 DopeJoseph UtslerJoseph William "Joey" Utsler is an American rapper, record producer, DJ, professional wrestler and actor. Utsler is known as Shaggy 2 Dope of the hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow Insane Clown Posse rapper Joseph Bruce and...
- Shaggy - Krista Kalmus - Amy
- Lindsay Ballew - Stacy
- Kathlyne Pham - Tiffany
- Damian Lea - Brad
- Sabin Rich - Carl
- Mark Jury - Guy In Car
- Roxxi Dolt - Girl In Car