Wiki
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Release Date
2 November 2002
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Length
17 tracks
The Wraith: Shangri-La is the eighth studio album by Insane Clown Posse. Released on November 5, 2002, it is the first of two albums representing the sixth and final 'Joker's Card'.
The Wraith, which represents the sixth Joker's Card, is in essence the grim reaper, or death. According to the group's mythology, upon your death, the Wraith takes you to either Shangri-La (heaven) or to Hell's Pit (hell). In The Wraith: Shangri-La, the ICP guides the listener as The Dark Wraith takes the listener upon an exhibition of heaven (while he may change his mind and try to pull you out of heaven), whereas in the group's ninth studio album, The Wraith: Hell's Pit, The Pure Wraith takes the listener on a voyage through hell (as if to warn you not to end up in hell).
The album features the band's mainstream hit "Juggalo Homies" (also known simply as "Homies"). The single received moderate radio and MTV2 airplay in the summer of 2003.
On the 17th Track, "Thy Unveiling", Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope professed that, "…the Carnival is God, and may the Juggalos find Him!", a concept alluded to throughout the entire Joker's Card series of albums. One of the most notable tracks highlighting this punishment of evil is on the The Great Milenko album, the song "Halls of Illusions".
Difference in artwork between Shangri-La and Hell's Pit as detailed by Violent J. Scroll down to March 9, 2005. The excerpt is taken from ICP's own "Axe the Question". The Dark Wraith of the Shangri-La album is offering you his hand, as if to guide you to Shangri-La, but in truth is trying to pull you away from Shangri-La; while the Pure Wraith from the Hell's Pit album is reaching down to take your hand and take you away from Hell's Pit. As it is said, "one of the Wraiths will appear to guide you to that final destination, but he's actually got a goal of his own!"
Two of the tracks, specifically "Blaaam!!!" and "Juggalo Homies" were used extensively in the video game Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home.
The song "The Staleness" contains dialog from Killer Klowns From Outer Space.
The song "Murder Rap" is a cover of the song by Above The Law, from the album Livin' Like Hustlers.
The album's tour poster (Diamond Rain Tour) can be seen in the film Be Cool hanging in the background of the CEO's office at "Cari-Soul Records". You can also see Insane Clown Posse's full size stand ups from the Shangri-La era.
The Wraith: Shangri-La was released in two compact disc editions, one with a bonus DVD featuring a seminar from the 2002 Gathering of the Juggalos, and the other featuring a live concert performance. The album was also issued in a DVD-Audio edition featuring a surround sound mix by Nathaniel Kunkel and Mike Puwal. In 2003, the mix was named "Most Adventurous Mix" at the second annual Surround Music Awards.
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