The Tempest is the tenth studio album by American hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse. It was released on March 20, 2007, through Psychopathic Records. Recording sessions took place at The Lotus Pod, The Haunted Cabin Studios and The Fun House in Detroit. Production was entirely handled by Mike E. Clark, marking his return after he had a falling-out with the duo in 2000. However, he did not collaborate directly with ICP, and would not do so until their 2009 album Bang! Pow! Boom!
The album's concept compares a violent storm to a roller coaster; its lyrical themes vary from horrorcore-based character deconstructions and songs about the supernatural to humorous and lighter subject matter. Clark's production was praised by critics, and the album peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200. It is the group's 23rd overall release.
History
Mike E. Clark produced much of Insane Clown Posse discography, as well as working with other groups on Psychopathic Records, until having a falling-out with ICP in 2000, after completing ICP's album's Bizaar and Bizzar, and beginning production on the Dark Lotus debut album Tales from the Lotus Pod.
After becoming a full-time producer for Kid Rock, Clark contracted pneumonia, but ignored the illness, and began coughing severely as he awoke, leading to a three-month stay in Mount Clemens General Hospital, during which one of his lungs collapsed three times.
Music and lyrics
Unlike previous Insane Clown Posse albums, The Tempest is not connected to the Dark Carnival mythology, which formed the basis for ICP's "Joker's Cards" series, which began in 1992 with Carnival of Carnage and concluded with the albums The Wraith: Shangri-La and Hell's Pit; however, it references themes, concepts and songs from previous albums. Violent J describes the album's concept as relating to both a violent storm which turns into a tornado and pulls people into a hurricane as well as a roller coaster.
| rev2 = PopMatters
| rev2score = 6/10
| rev3 = RapReviews
| rev3score = 6/10
The album was released with a bonus poster. Reviews from AllMusic and PopMatters generally appraised Mike E. Clark's production as the album's most appealing element.
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