Ringmaster (album)

Ringmaster is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse, and their second Joker Card in the first Deck of the Dark Carnival mythology. It was originally released on March 8, 1994, via Psychopathic Records and was reissued in 1998 through Island Records. Recording sessions took place at 313 Studio in Detroit. Production was handled by Mike E. Clark and ICP themselves. It features guest appearances from Capitol E and Jumpsteady. The album's lyrics describe the leader of the Carnival, who serves as one of the judges of one's soul in the afterlife, as being created from the listener's own evils. The album's instrumentals feature several samples from French psychedelic rock band Gong.

The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on June 7, 2004, for selling 500,000 units in the United States.

Its promotional single, "Chicken Huntin'" was remixed and featured on the duo's third studio album, Riddle Box, which was released the following year. Another remix of the song appeared on the soundtrack album to Reginald Hudlin's 1996 film The Great White Hype.

An accompanying "sideshow" EP The Terror Wheel was released on August 5, 1994. The EP contains six studio tracks. "The Dead Body Man" which was subsequently re-released in 1995 on Insane Clown Posse's third studio album Riddle Box, in a slightly higher key. "The Dead Body Man" received significant local radio play in Detroit following the release of The Terror Wheel. "The Smog" was also intended to be released on Riddle Box. The final track on the album contained a number you could call to find out the name of the next Joker's Card, Riddle Box.