The guys touring with Insane Clown Posse -- who were arrested last night for marijuana possession -- not only maintain they are innocent ... they claim they were set up!
As TMZ first reported, Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric (better known as the rap duo Twiztid) and Chris Rouleau (who raps under the name Blaze) were all busted for felony marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
Methric (above, middle) tells TMZ the group was "set up and snitched on by a guy with a vendetta against them." He says the group is "not guilty" and their "lawyer will be fighting this in court to the full extent."
As for who could have set them up ... Methric did not want to elaborate, for legal reasons.
Three rappers currently on tour with the Insane Clown Posse were arrested in Tampa, FL yesterday and each charged with felony possession of marijuana ... TMZ has learned.
From left to right ... Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric (better known as the rap duo Twiztid) and Chris Rouleau (who raps under the name Blaze) were also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
All three posed for mug shots ... sans their infamous make-up.
They were each released this morning on $2,500 bond.
The tour is scheduled to hit Richmond, VA on Monday and New York City on Tuesday.
According to the police report, officers busted the rappers aboard their tour bus after an officer smelled marijuana from the outside. During their search of the bus, cops found marijuana in a sandwich bag as well as loose marijuana "being prepared for 'rolling.'" Cops found 110.6 grams of marijuana in total.
After last year's attacks of Tila Tequila and Method Man, you'd think the Gathering of the Juggalos would INCREASE security. Not only would you be wrong, but they're doing the EXACT OPPOSITE.
Violent J from the Insane Clown Posse (the group behind the annual festival) tells TMZ ... ICP feels the TALENT was to blame for last year's violence ... because they incited the crowd while onstage.
Mr. J believes the performers lined up for the 2011 festival have "mad respect" for the juggalos ... and won't make the same mistake.
The Insane Clown Posse never thought they'd be able to get a star as big as Charlie Sheen to M.C. at their upcoming Gathering of the Juggalos festival ... until Sheen himself ASKED for the job.
ICP member Violent J tells TMZ ... the group received a call from Charlie's rep back in April ... telling them how Sheen was a HUGE fan of the Gathering and he would LOVE to work with the group.
Of course, ICP was STOKED -- but figured Sheen was WAYYYYY out of their price range. But, Violent J says Charlie was "so into the message of the festival" ... they were able to agree on a "reasonable amount."
The deal was finalized last week and Sheen will serve as an M.C. at the event in August.
Dude better be careful though ... TWO celebrity guests -- Tila Tequila and Method Man -- were bloodied up on stage at last year's Gathering ... when the fans pelted them with rocks and beer cans.
MC Hammer has a better chance of surviving the apocalypse than the Insane Clown Posse's annual Gathering of the Juggalos. So pay attention Hammer ... if you want to LIVE!
Check out TMZ on TV -- click here to see your local listings!
MC Hammer is risking serious bodily injury -- because the rapper has agreed to perform at the 2011 Gathering of the Juggalos ... just one year after TWO performers were brutally attacked by fans.
The Insane Clown Posse -- the group behind the GOJ -- just announced the return of the 4-day concert via YouTube ... with a line-up that includes MC Hammer, Psycho Jesus, and Lil Wyte.
Tila Tequila and Method Man were featured performers at last year's Gathering -- but each left the stage dripping with blood after fans went ballistic ... and pelted them with rocks and beer cans.
The concert is set to go down in August -- leaving Hammer with a whole 2 months to change his mind ... unless he really needs the money.
Violent J from Insane Clown Posse claims Method Man dug his own grave when he took a flying beer can to the face -- because according to the clown, Meth riled up the crowd first with a nasty insult.
Violent J tells TMZ, the crowd at the Gathering of the Juggalos -- ICP's trademark music festival -- were chanting the word "family" when Method Man and Redman took the stage last weekend ... a word J claims is a term of endearment among Juggalos.
J claims Method Man didn't know the significance of the word, telling the crowd, "F**k family. It's all about hip-hop" -- and according to the man in black-and-white face paint, that's exactly where MM went wrong ... and paid for it with a bloody face.
As we first reported, Meth plans to sue over the incident -- but J tells us, "I don't feel responsible at all" ... referring to the impending lawsuit as "straight b*tch sh*t."
Despite the bad blood -- Violent J adds, "We don't think it should have happened ... We respect Meth and Red to the fullest."
Britney Spears might miss a lot more 'X Factor' auditions ... because she can! Simon Cowell gave Brit damn near free reign in order to sign the pop star to that $15 million deal -- but is it backfiring? We'll tell you what peeps on the set are saying.Plus, Chris Jericho's…
