A World Upside Down: The Mixtape

Their in-house mixtape man, DJ Clay has helmed plenty of compilations for the ICP-affiliated label Psychopathic, but A World Upside Down is a bit of a more high profile release than usual, simply because it doesn't fit into one of his mixtape series. Emphasizing this importance is the conceptual intro, where a ghoulish narrator lays out a world where everything you know is wrong. The world is now upside down, cats are sleeping with dogs, and Psychopathic's rebellious brand of rap-rock rules the radio, beginning with the Insane Clown Posse's catchy unreleased monster "Goblin." Surprise keeper has to be Anybody Killa's whiny, snide, and incredibly infectious kiss-off called "Let Me Be" ("Don't come around if you ain't family!") while the other highlights are the obvious Psychopathic dust-ups where the all-star juggaloos come out to play. Put ICP, Hopsin, and Tech N9ne together on a Joe Strange remix and the creeping "Skreeem!" is a great way to pre-game before the next Juggalos Gathering, then there's DJ Clay's own "Ceemix" of ICP's "When I'm Clowin'" which plops the gum-snapping rap-rock diva Kreayshawn on the cut for extra trashy flash. Clay's always an expert at keeping the excitement high on his mixtapes, and as with his previous releases, the draggy tempos and spooky talk are both kept to a minimum, making this fictitious radio playlist an easy entry point into the Psychopathic world. Oddly enough, he's a rapper too, but he sits this one out, letting his labelmates grab the mike while he tends to the mixing, remixing, and various hypeman business.