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Insane Poetry
Biography
Insane Poetry was one of the first horrorcore rap groups to emerge in hip-hop when they debuted with the underground single "Twelve Strokes Till Midnight" (1988) and offered their critically praised full-length debut, Grim Reality (1992). Blending horror flick-influenced surrealism with graphic, California-styled gangsta raps, the Los Angeles outfit had developed its own cult following before acts like Esham and Gravediggaz had got underway. Members of Insane Poetry came and went, but lead MC/producer Cyco (born Andrew Holiman) remained as the constant, creative drive maintaining the group's presence as horrorcore hip-hop became a mostly underground phenomenon in the new millennium.

Cyco founded Insane Poetry in the late '80s with DJ Streek and Shakespear the One-Man Riot after he obtained a DJ residency at L.A. hip-hop radio station KDAY. The threesome's 1988 single "Twelve Strokes Till Midnight" placed Cyco in the right industry circles as he befriended Rodney O, known as part of old-school L.A. rap duo Rodney O & Joe Cooley. Rodney O helped bring IP (with new member Em-Dee in place of Shakespear) over to Sir Mix-a-Lot's Nastymix Records, who released their Grim Reality debut.
Selected Discography
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