Fans of Insane Clown Posse and the Detroit underground hip hop scene know Blaze Ya Dead Homie as a top artist on ICP’s Psychopathic Records roster and as a member of the supergroup Dark Lotus.

The official bio on him says he is the zombie of a 1990s gangsta rapper shot in a Halloween drive-by prank who has returned to Earth to spread the message of ICP’s Dark Carnival. He wears a giant clock around his neck as the only thing keeping him alive, adorned with bullet holes. But the reality is that he’s Chris Rouleau from Mount Clemens, Michigan, who hardcore Motor City rap fans know from groups 2 Krazie Devils and The Sleepwalkaz, and his work with Twiztid.

He also put in time as a roadie for ICP before getting signed to a solo deal with Psychopathic, which yielded his self-titled debut EP, now considered an underground classic. Colton Grundy: The Undying hit in 2004, and Clockwork Gray was issued in 2007, both of which were wholeheartedly embraced by the Juggalo contingent (i.e. – hardcore Insane Clown Posse fans).

Always a fan of the Detroit scene, Freestyle 101 made sure to book Blaze when he rolled through the west coast on tour. Armed with The R.O.C. by his side, Blaze spit a fish ‘n’ chips ‘n’ PSPs over a funky Messiaz beat. The duo also traded stories of their early days in the D, from rhyming in high school and at the Hip Hop Shop with Proof and Esham, to watching the Juggalo movement sweep the nation. They’ve seen it all…