My son, Christopher Colt Kelley, was murdered on December 21, 2001. He was 15 years old and he was a real Juggalo. He used to try and get me to play ICP cd's all the time whenever we were riding in the car together and I wouldn't listen to them. When he was murdered I took the time to sit and listen to what he was in to. I haven't stopped listening to ICP yet. I met Violent J once before Shangri-La came out and I told him all about my son. He held my hand and told me in these words that I will never forget, "You should not be sad that he is gone, you should always look at it like this, whenever it rains, that's him Raining Diamonds down on you." Then Shangri-La dropped and I heard It Rains Diamonds...and I could not stop crying. Now I am a 37 year old Juggalette and I'll be that way 'til I'm dead in the ground. My son was buried with an ICP shirt on and a Hatchetman round his neck. And I plan on going the same way. Everyone has their own thoughts about ICP and the Dark Carnival...but if you're not a true Juggalo....you'll never get it. MCL and R.I.P. Colt....we miss you.

A carnival of the dead, fresh with sin, bringing God to your very own doorstep...WITHOUT selling out! Think it can't be done? Well, "The Wraith: Shangri-La" will change your mind in a BIG way.

The point to this album is sin and how we choose to live our lives, as is the point to the whole Dark Carnival story. Why do you think Jesus, the Holy Son, died on the cross? He died so, through him, our sins can be forgiven. My sins...your sins...he died so we may find the light...God...and ICP makes this point very clear.

I've read some reviews of people saying that ICP sold out with this album and "how can they sing about killing and rape, and have the 6th Joker's Card be about God"?

Again, that's the whole point; The Dark Carnival is a fantasy, a cast of crazy characters who bring murder and rape right to your front door so you can see it in full view, the very things that happen around us each and every day, the very things which we turn a blind eye to and look away from, making believe that they never really happen at all. Sex, murder, love of money, not caring about others and only caring about ourselfs...THIS is the point to the Dark Carnival, and "Shangri-La" makes it clear that you have a choice;

Walk into the light or wait for your number to be called upon for your room in "Hell's Pit"...the message SHOULD be very clear.

As for the songs on this album, most are heavy and will rock your world. I listened to this album for the first time with my jaw in my lap because of all the "rap" stuff I heard about ICP before I got into them. There's very little rap on this album, which is fine with me because I'm a heavy metal/rock fan anyway. Oh, there's a little rap, which I have nothing against, it's just not my thing. There's even a little jazz and hip-hop here, and a little blues too. In other words, this album has it ALL and, combined with "Hell's Pit," The Wraith saga is the best story about Heaven & hell I've ever heard put to music, period.

"Walk Into the Light"..."Welcome to the Show"..."Get Ya Wicked On"..."Murder Rap"..."Blaaam!!!"...all great songs. "It Rains Diamonds" is heavy and one of my favorites. "The Staleness" sets up a song called "Hell's Forcast" which is a link to "Hell's Pit." "Welcome to the Show" also has a link to "Hell's Pit" which, by all rights, is the mark of master story tellers, no question.

"The Wraith" has the best line of the whole album;

"Nine times out of ten I wish he'd take me

instead of some of these poor childern we see."

Man, that song is one of the best on the album. And don't forget "Juggalo Homies" because if this song doesn't make you feel good, nothing else will. Friends should be family anyway, so be good to them..."hangin' till we old and gray." Man, I really love this song. :)

And "The Unveiling"...the song that says it all;

"The Carnival is God and may all Juggalos find Him!"

How can anyone have a problem with that? Man, if this album doesn't put a smile on your face and maybe, just maybe, a little tear of hope in your eye, then you may want to check your pulse because you may not be human after all.

All in all, song for song, "Shangri-La" is perfect and may very well end up being one of my favorite albums of all time. Man o man, I'm so very glad I desided to check out ICP because music this good is VERY hard to find, indeed.

Walk into the light, my firends, and may God bless you all.

Released in 2002, this album is the Insane Clown Posse's 8th studio LP, and it's a really good album. I'm in the majority of those who were disappointed after the first time around, but after a few spins it increased in its quality more and more.

The main issue of why I didn't like it at first was because it had fartoo many rock songs for my liking. As I am pretty much pro hip-hop, I expected more wicked raps in here. But then I realized, this is the 6th Joker's Card, so it had to be as spiritual as could be. It's the end of an era.

As for the lyrics themselves, Violent J didn't tell many stories here aside from a couple, he spent most of his mic time answering long awaited questions that many Juggalos wanted answers on. He also spits some good wicked raps on the first half of the album, but as the album passes track 10, he tones it down a bit. As for Shaggy 2 Dope, he was pretty impressive here as well, he didn't rap too much about his nuts here. He reached deep down and laid down some good thought-out raps, and they flowed very well. So altogether, the lyrics, whether it be sung or rapped, were great.

The production wasn't bad, but definitely not their best. A true let down was that their decade long producer Mike E. Clark had nothing to do with any beats. Instead newcomer Mike P. and ICP made the beats. Which is another theory of why there's so many rock songs, Mike P being the guitarist for the rock band Zug Izland. But despite that, he didn't too bad with the rap beats. The only complaint besides the guitars are some of his drum kicks sound a little off beat at times, but ICP overflow that so it's hardly noticeable.

Also, this album comes with a DVD which has great concert footage from the Gathering Of The Juggalos 2002. It was a great 30 minutes. I've never seen the Insane Clown Posse live, but this is persuading me. Another version of this album has a DVD which features an ICP seminar. I have yet to see that one.

Here's my individual track ratings.

DISC 1

01. "Thy Intro/Walk Into Thy Light (ft. Jumpsteady)" (A+)

02. "Welcome To Thy Show" (A+)

03. "Get Ya Wicked On" (A+)

04. "Murder Rap" (A+)

05. "Birthday B*t*hes" (B-)

06. "Blaaam!!!" (A)

07. "It Rains Diamonds/B*t*h Slappaz (ft. Blaze Ya Dead Homie)" (A)

08. "Thy Staleness" (A+)

09. "Hell's Forecast" (B+)

10. "Juggalo Homies (ft. Twiztid & Anybody Killa)" (A+)

11. "Ain't Yo Bidness/Soopa Villians (ft. Esham)" (A+)

12. "We Belong" (A+)

13. "Cotton Candy & Popsicles (ft. Zug Izland)" (B)

14. "Crossing Thy Bridge" (D-) (least favorite)

15. "Thy Raven's Mirror" (A-)

16. "Thy Wraith" (D+)

17. "Thy Unveiling" (A+)

DISC 2

DVD (A+)

There it is. I recommend this to all Juggalos, and fans of rock and rap. I wouldn't recommend this to horrorcore rap fans, for there's only about 2 real tracks here I would consider horrorcore. This is a great (and the most important) addition to the Psychopathic Records franchise. It would have gotten a higher rating from me if it were a little darker and had less guitar on it. But that's just me, you'll either love this or hate this album. Peace.

Jumpsteady appears courtesy of Psychopathic Records.

Blaze Ya Dead Homie appears courtesy of Psychopathic Records.

Twiztid appears courtesy of Psychopathic Records.

Anybody Killa appears courtesy of Psychopathic Records.

Esham appears courtesy of Psychopathic Records.

Zug Izland appears courtesy of Psychopathic Records.

~ Raw Hide

I own this cd and I must say it is probably one of their best if not their best, My guess the only reason ya'll dont like is is because you don't understand it. This CD has amazing lyrics and beats, each song on it has powerfull meanings one of the main ones being 'Crossing The Bridge' This is the 6th Jokers Card and they left the saga off great. The last track is a huge surprise beleave me if your a juggalo you'll be pretty much shocked. The 1 hour and 5 minuites of this CD will get you moving. Some people say that they diden't put heart into this cd? What the hell do you think this cd is? Their laying it all on the line explaining everything to you, I felt the most Clown love on this cd then any of their others. So all I have to say is if your a True Juggalo then you WILL buy this. If you have any questions IM me at Flashbang13 on aim.

.:KZ:.

The Item was shipped fast and just a good as described if not beter coulnd not be happier!!!!!

A== its this kinda of salemanship thats makes amazone so much better than ebay..prices too!