The music world collectively scratched its head in bewilderment yesterday (August 31) when Third Man Records announced a collaboration between its head honcho Jack White and the beloved-by-some, punch-line-to-most rap duo Insane Clown Posse. While the news of their Mozart-inspired "Leck Mich Im Arsch" single is certainly surprising, ICP member Violent J was just as shocked when White approached him to record it.
"The most respected musician in the world and one of the most hated musicians in the world. We didn't expect that call, brother," J told Billboard.
The goofball rhymer went on to explain that the two had met in an airport once, but the meeting wasn't exactly the most memorable. "I felt a little stupid talking to him because he was in a hurry," J remembered, "but I told him who I was and he stopped and gave me a warm acknowledgement, and we kind of chatted and then went our ways and that was it."
Apparently, the greasepaint-sporting spitter left quite an impression, because White soon gave him a call to set up the collaboration. Contemplating White's near-immaculate back catalogue, the call left J wondering why he'd want to work with one of the most derided rap groups of all time.
"He said, 'I find myself going to your website and looking at it. Some stuff I think is genius, some stuff I don't understand at all, but I always find myself going back there and seeing what you're up to.'" J explained. "And he told us that nobody got the kind of reaction he got from his friends in the industry when he told them he was going to do a song with us. He said people were like, 'What? You're kidding me.' That's what got him excited. His exact quote was, 'We could've done a song with Megadeth and it wouldn't be as talked-about as us working with you guys.' That's crazy awesome."
No doubt, people have already been questioning the motives behind the team-up, which doesn't actually feature White beyond a producer role. J explained that some people are angry that the song even exists, while adding that some juggalos are confused over whether or not this will be a full-time thing. The rapper wanted to point out that this was all done in good fun, so chill out, everybody.
"People seem to be up in arms," he said. "Some people are straight-up mad about it -- mad at him, mad at us. It's not like it's on his new album or we're forming a new supergroup; this is a rare 45, a collectible, something different. You have to seek it out to find it. I don't know why people would be upset at us or at him. It's just a really cool collaboration."
As previously reported, the "Leck Mich Im Arsch"/"Mountain Girl" single comes out September 13 via Third Man.
"The most respected musician in the world and one of the most hated musicians in the world. We didn't expect that call, brother," J told Billboard.
The goofball rhymer went on to explain that the two had met in an airport once, but the meeting wasn't exactly the most memorable. "I felt a little stupid talking to him because he was in a hurry," J remembered, "but I told him who I was and he stopped and gave me a warm acknowledgement, and we kind of chatted and then went our ways and that was it."
Apparently, the greasepaint-sporting spitter left quite an impression, because White soon gave him a call to set up the collaboration. Contemplating White's near-immaculate back catalogue, the call left J wondering why he'd want to work with one of the most derided rap groups of all time.
"He said, 'I find myself going to your website and looking at it. Some stuff I think is genius, some stuff I don't understand at all, but I always find myself going back there and seeing what you're up to.'" J explained. "And he told us that nobody got the kind of reaction he got from his friends in the industry when he told them he was going to do a song with us. He said people were like, 'What? You're kidding me.' That's what got him excited. His exact quote was, 'We could've done a song with Megadeth and it wouldn't be as talked-about as us working with you guys.' That's crazy awesome."
No doubt, people have already been questioning the motives behind the team-up, which doesn't actually feature White beyond a producer role. J explained that some people are angry that the song even exists, while adding that some juggalos are confused over whether or not this will be a full-time thing. The rapper wanted to point out that this was all done in good fun, so chill out, everybody.
"People seem to be up in arms," he said. "Some people are straight-up mad about it -- mad at him, mad at us. It's not like it's on his new album or we're forming a new supergroup; this is a rare 45, a collectible, something different. You have to seek it out to find it. I don't know why people would be upset at us or at him. It's just a really cool collaboration."
As previously reported, the "Leck Mich Im Arsch"/"Mountain Girl" single comes out September 13 via Third Man.
