Members:
Past members: Mr. Heart (Lavel)
Years active: 2002 - 2005 and 2018 - present
Labels: Psychopathic Records
Soopa Villainz is an American hip hop supergroup based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 2002, the group consisted of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers Joseph Bruce (Mr. Diamond), Joseph Utsler (Mr. Club), Esham (Mr. Spade), and Lavel (Mr. Heart). The songs of Soopa Villainz center thematically on nefarious actions conducted by comic book supervillains. The group disbanded in 2005 after Esham and Lavel left the label. After ICP announced at it's 2016 GOTJ seminar that the group would be reuniting for 2017, the next day Esham announced that he wanted nothing to do with ICP or Psychopathic again. During ICP's performance on July 21, 2018 it was announced that the group had officially returned.
The group made their debut appearances in 2002 on Esham's Acid Rain and Insane Clown Posse's The Wraith: Shangri-La. Later that year, the group released the Halloween single "Silence of the Hams." In 2005, they released their debut album Furious. The album peaked at number 9 on the Billboard "Top Independent Albums" chart, number 42 on the "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" chart, and number 92 on the Billboard 200.
Following a disagreement with the label, Esham and Lavel left Psychopathic Records in October, effectively disbanding the Soopa Villainz.
During the ICP 2016 GOTJ on July 22, 2016 it was announced that at the GOTJ 2017 there may be a Soopa Villainz reunion. The next day on July 24, 2016 Esham announced via social media that he will not be performing at another GOTJ again, stating "I will not follow in someone else's shadow".
During Insane Clown Posse's 2018 GOTJ seminar, Violent J said that the 2019 GOTJ would be themed The Soopa Gathering in honor of it being the 20th Annual, but none caught on to what he ment. During ICP's Saturday night performance they brought out Esham for a song, and then revealed that indeed Soopa Villainz have reunited and will indeed release a new album and will be at the 2019 GOTJ.