"Outside of being a clown, I'm very low-key."

November 8, 2007 9:22 AM

Though there are many who bemoan the current state of Detroit, one man is trying to make a difference- Smiley, the Hip Hop Clown. Artist DeMarcus Hughes assumes the persona of Smiley, producing his own brand of hip-hop and taking his message whereever it can help. Want to see him in action? Here's Smiley's MySpace page, with videos and music.
posted by ice_cream_motor (11 comments total)

A difference for the worse, I assume.
posted by DU at 9:29 AM on November 8, 2007

If you're like me, you're repressing some kind of snarky joke about John Wayne Gacy so hard right now.

Be strong, little camper. Be strong.

Sounds like a nice guy, but I'm still way too much of a wuss to spend any time in Detroit, despite living very close to it. My loss.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 9:36 AM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

Homie don't play dat.
posted by jonmc at 9:39 AM on November 8, 2007

See also, G-Hog, the rapping Groundhog.
posted by The Straightener at 9:45 AM on November 8, 2007

From the article: He's not the only wholesome hip-hop clown in town, though. There's also Kuddles the Hip Hop Clown (36-year-old Dawn Wilson) who bills herself as the Cutest Clown in Motown.

"I'm on a mission to restore the innocence of hip hop," she says. "My songs promote peace, love and harmony." There's also Smiley's girlfriend Candid Bradley, 29, who goes by the name Hyphy the Clown

An overabundance of hip hop clown figures emerged to combat the extreme negativity black people were experiencing in the atmosphere. I could never quite figure out Flav's purpose in P.E., now I get it.

...Clowns are still creepy.
posted by cashman at 10:09 AM on November 8, 2007

Tommy the clown
and his posse.

Not the original, but the most well-known. Sadly, he doesn't rap.
posted by whahappen?! at 10:57 AM on November 8, 2007

This isn't some Juggalo thing is it?
posted by basicchannel at 10:59 AM on November 8, 2007

When the Apocalypse comes, that clown's station wagon is going to be the first thing to go.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:14 AM on November 8, 2007

Also on Detroit Blog.

I don't know what it is about Detroit, but it really makes me think we might avoid the apocalypse or, failing that, that the apocalypse might not be so bad.
posted by stet at 11:39 AM on November 8, 2007

But isn't a rapping clown with a station wagon part of the Apocalypse?
posted by cashman at 11:43 AM on November 8, 2007 [2 favorites]

G-Hog : "I may eat trash on highways and practice hibernation. Think you should give health careers some real consideration."

please don't link the UTube vid or it will encourage this kind of thing
posted by swell at 6:32 PM on November 8, 2007