Dark Lotus was an American hip hop group based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1998, the group consists of Insane Clown Posse (Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J), Blaze Ya Dead Homie, and Twiztid (Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child). In an interview on January 19, 2017, the Insane Clown Posse announced that Dark Lotus had disbanded.

History

Dark Lotus made its debut with the single "Echoside," which was originally intended for the group's debut, but released on Insane Clown Posse's 1999 album The Amazing Jeckel Brothers instead, because the Dark Lotus album's production took longer than expected. It was later announced that each member "would act as a 'petal' of the lotus," and that there would be six members. After speculation as to who the sixth member would be, including rumors that either Esham or Vampiro would join the group, it was announced that Marz would be a member.

Dark Lotus released their first album, Tales from the Lotus Pod, in 2001. Mike E. Clark was brought in to produce the album, but left the project after producing four songs, and Fritz the Cat produced the rest of the album. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, #6 on the Top Independent Albums chart, and #158 on the Billboard 200. Marz left the group, and was replaced by Anybody Killa. In 2002, Tales from the Lotus Pod was reissued in a new version removing Marz's vocals. On April 6, 2004, Dark Lotus released their second studio album, Black Rain. It peaked at #3 on the Top Independent Albums chart, and at #71 on the Billboard 200.

Lowery left the group, and a third album, The Opaque Brotherhood, on April 15, 2008 was released without him. It peaked at #4 on the Top Independent Albums chart, #23 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, #45 on the Top Internet Albums chart, and #45 on the Billboard 200. Allrovi reviewer Stewart Mason praised the album, writing "Nothing on The Opaque Brotherhood will convince anyone who isn't already a fan, but the tormented lyrics and matter-of-fact delivery remove a layer or two of distance and artifice from the band's familiar themes, and make them that much more disturbing as a result." Twiztid left Psychopathic Records on December 13, 2012, but according to Violent J, Dark Lotus have not broken up and will continue to release music on Psychopathic Records as time permits.

It was announced on February 18, 2014 that all 5 members of Dark Lotus were in the studio together recording a new album. This will be the group's first album since 2008's The Opaque Brotherhood. It will be released at the 15th annual Gathering of the Juggalos. In March 2014 Faygoluvers posted a picture with the DL sign, with Roman numerals underneath, in numbers they read "7-29-2014" possibly meaning that the new Dark Lotus album could be in stores on that date. It was later confirmed by Psychopathic Records, that the upcoming album will be available in stores on July 29.

In the June 6 edition of the Hatchet Herald the album title for the new Dark Lotus album was revealed. The album is entitled, The Mud, Water, Air & Blood. The album will feature 16 tracks, and will have its first ever guest feature, from former member Anybody Killa.

At the 2016 GOTJ during Insane Clown Posse's seminar, it was announced that at the 2017 Juggalo Day Show Dark Lotus would perform Tales From The Lotus Pod in its entirety. On January 19, 2017 via an interview with faygoluvers.net, Insane Clown Posse announced that it is cutting ties with Twiztid and Majik Ninja Entertainment, and that all artists from Majik Ninja Entertainment were removed from the 2017 Juggalo Day Show and that a new lineup will be announced soon. In a September 2017 Replicon Radio interview with Anybody Killa, ABK stated that he "is cool with people on Psychopathic Records and Majik Ninja Entertainment" and he "wants to see everybody come back and do a Dark Lotus and Psychopathic Rydas album, and anything else they could think of and no problems come out of it, but only time would tell".

In a February 2018 Brunch N Bake with Monoxide Child said that "he, Jamie Madrox and Blaze Ya Dead Homie want to do another Dark Lotus and Psychopathic Rydas album, and it hurts them that the other part doesn't want to do it, but maybe time would tell".

On July 21, 2018 at the 2018 GOTJ, Violent J announced at the ICP seminar that "We will never reunite with Twiztid. Ever". They also said Dark Lotus is not gonna happen again and that there won't be any disses towards them.

Music and lyrics

Kimberly Chun of the San Francisco Chronicle described Dark Lotus' musical style as a mixture of "dub, goth, metal, shock rock and hip-hop, with a WWF announcer's delivery and shuffling stoner beats thrown in for good measure." Much of Dark Lotus' lyrics revolve around the occult.

Discography