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Observing the Juggalo community as an outsider was an interesting look into a tight knit group of friends and strangers alike. The shared love for musicians attached to the record labels, Psychopathic Records or Majik Ninja Entertainment, has brought outcasts together into their own “family” where all are welcome. The symbols they use, like the “Hatchet Man”, which is a symbol representing the Juggalos as a whole, and specific band symbols like the clown head and jack in the box, called the “Riddlebox”, which is from the album artwork for the Insane Clown Posse, are identifying characteristics they use to recognize each other. These recognizable symbols are tattooed on people as well as worn on clothes and other accessories. All of the people I photographed were friends but with the Juggalo community if you show the symbols you are acknowledged with a friendly “Whoop, Whoop” and are welcomed as part of the family. Here in the Detroit area and the area surrounding it is heavily populated by Juggalos as the original musicians are from this same area.

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Eric, a 27-year-old from the metro-Detroit area, agreed to let me photograph him and his tattoos. The one on his leg, a symbol of the Detroit area as well as the “Hatchet Man” which is a symbol representing the Juggalo, was his first tattoo. The quality is lacking but he refuses to get it touched up as it holds a sentimental value that is worth more than the outward appearance. This is a common sentiment that I found is shared with others in the Juggalo community. The tattoo of a cross on his back is a symbol for the band Dark Lotus which is one of the Juggalo musicians and the Riddlebox is one of the Insane Clown Posse’s album artworks.

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Tommy, a 22-year-old who is another metro-Detroiter, showed me his one tattoo which was done when he was only 15. His hatchet man image is faded and looks like what it is: a tattoo done in someone’s basement by a non-professional artist. Even though the image doesn’t look its best he still holds it close to his heart as a sentimental memory of his joining into the family.

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Dan and Daryl are twin brothers who are both Juggalos. Daryl has been working on his sleeve for a while but has left his first tattoo, which he got when he was 15, in its original state. The tattoo on his chest says “Fresh” which stands for “family remains eternal stop hating” and refers to the Juggalo family. The rest of his tattoos are from the artwork on the Insane Clown Posse albums: Carnival of Carnage, The Ringmaster, The Riddlebox, The Great Milenko, The Amazing Jeckel Brothers, and The Wraith. His brother Dan is recovering from brain surgery so was not able to come out to get photographed but was gracious enough to take a picture of his hand for me. If you’re curious about how he looks just remember they’re twins.

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As well as the tattoos, Juggalos wear a lot of representative merchandise including clothes, hats and jewelry. The jerseys are a concert staple and they make new ones for certain events and album releases. The jersey on the left was an Insane Clown Posse jersey with the classic hatchet man on the arm. The other jersey is from a Juggalo band called Twiztid who are the prodigies of the Insane Clown Posse. They created the Majik Ninja Entertainment record label.

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The necklaces can be handed out at big events like the Gathering of the Juggalos, which is a 4-day music festival that is held annually. Juggalos from across the country come out to spend the weekend in tents and campers where eccentric celebrity guests make appearances like adult film star Ron Jeremy and reality TV star Tila Tequila. Musicians from both record labels will perform as well as some non-Juggalo musicians and bands.

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The hat pin is also a highly desired Juggalo identifier with certain pins, like this Faygo themed one, going for around $100. They sell them at their events so only those who went could buy them first hand.

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Just like many other groups and bands the Juggalos have t-shirts featuring the musicians or their symbols. The shirt worn on the left is a hatchet man that features puzzle pieces to promote awareness for autism. The shirt on the right is of Blaze, an artist that was on both the Majik Ninja Entertainment and the Psychopathic Records label. On the shirt you can see the artist is also wearing the hatchet man symbol on his jersey.