Horrorcore

Horrorcore is a subgenre of hip-hop music that contains lyrics about murder, rape, gore, or torture. Horrorcore is the music that the juggalo subculture is revolved around.

Origins and First Examples
The first example of horror themed lyrics in rap music was the 1980 track "Adventures of Super Rhyme" by Jimmy Spicer. The track contained a story of the artist meeting Dracula. Groups such as Dr.Jeckyll and Mr.Hyde made tracks with horror themed lyrics as well. DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince released "A nightmare on My street" in 1988, a song about horror movie icon Freddy Krueger. The Fat Boys also made a song about Freddy, "Are you ready for Freddy?" for the fourth film in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.

History
The Geto Boys song "Assassins" is credited as the first true horrorcore song by ICP member Violent J. Further Geto Boys songs "Mind of a Lunatic" and "Trigga-Happy Nigga" continued to form the genre. Horrorcore became a underground genre in the early 90s with artists such as the Insane Clown Posse. The genre picked up 'mainstream' attention with artists such as Gravediggaz. The genre is not super successful, though ICP and Twiztid have gotten pretty popular. Tyler, The Creator can be called the most mainstream horrorcore rapper, making songs with artists such as Lil Wayne.

Characteristics
Lyrics in horrorcore often discus murder, rape, gore, self harm, depression, Satanism, horror movies, torture, and monsters. Music wise, hardcore hip-hop beats, as well as occasional heavy metal riffs are brought into the genre. Vocals are normally just rapped, though yelling (as heard in Twiztids "Hell on Earth") is common, and a few very underground artists use goregrind vocals.

Notable Artists
Insane Clown Posse

Three 6 Mafia

Twiztid

Anybody Killa

Blaze ya dead homie

Boondox

Tyler, The Creator

Esham

Hopsin

King Gordy

Lo Key

Artists who use elements of Horrorcore
Eminem

Vince Staples

Slipknot

K.Flay

Attila

Massacre on da Sesame Street