A Glimpse Into Clipse: An Introduction Ahead of Their Return

Marcus Cortez

Rap/Hip-Hop Journalist

“You are now listening to the real and that would be Clipse, The Neptunes and the new label.” After a 15-year hiatus, hip-hop fans are finally able to hear this line come back to life, with the return of Virginia Beach duo Clipse collaborating once again with legendary producer Pharrell for their new upcoming album Let God Sort Em Out in late 2024. With their upcoming return I wanted to introduce Clipse to those unfamiliar with the duo and for those who haven’t explored their catalog, as now is the perfect time to.

Forming in the 90’s, brothers Pusha T and No Malice created one of the most underrated rap duos as their gritty storytelling and effortless flows and charisma helped solidify and influence the coke rap subgenre. Their run in the 2000s lead to three studio albums being released Lord Willin’(2002), Hell Hath No Fury (2006), and Till The Casket Drops (2009). Up until the duos focus to move onto solo albums cause a pause on new Clipse albums, however with Pusha T launching a new successful solo career and No Malice converting to Christianity and announcing the duos end in 2014. The initial pause led to a 10-year drought up until the duo reunited on “Use This Gospel” from Kanye West’s Jesus Is King (2019). Following with another gift of the duo reuniting on “I Pray For You” from Pusha T’s It’s Almost Dry (2022), talks began of a comeback. Two years later we can now finally anticipate a proper return of Clipse.

Along with the duo’s return, equally important is the reuniting of a longtime collaborator, with Pharrell set to produce the album. The Neptunes, led by Pharrell and Chad Hugo, have been integral to Clipse’s sound, producing 35 out of 40 songs across their three studio albums. This partnership has become one of the best rapper-producer duos in hip-hop history for their unique chemistry. Pusha T and No Malice’s sharp lyricism grounded in street narratives, perfectly complements Pharrell and Chad Hugo’s futuristic, minimalist beats, which made some of the most hard-hitting tracks of the 2000s. Pharrell’s return signals not just a continuation of this legendary collaboration but also the potential for innovation, as Pharrell, Pusha T, and No Malice have evolved artistically since their last collaborations. We can hope to expect the same intensity and creativity that once made them a defining force in hip-hop.

Starting in 2001 Clipse signed with Arista Records and began on the track to release their debut album Lord Willin’ (2002).  Their first single “Grindin” was released in 2002 and has now become Clipse’s most popular song released in their discography. An anthem for the streets they grew up in, “Grindin” right out the gate solidifies Clipse’s style of creating raw songs, not shying away from their criminal lifestyle. Their lyricism gives off an extreme sense of boastfulness yet filled with charisma. The Neptunes also helped create one of the best and most recognizable beats of the 2000’s with this song. The simple yet heavy hitting percussion gives the song a strong backbone. Lord Willin is filled with those type of raw songs, others like “Virginia” and “Comedy Central” are highlights following similar themes of Clipse shining light on their lives and their environment. My favorite from the album is the 8^th track “When the Last Time” where Clipse raps over one of the Neptune’s most creative beats. The main pattern in the instrumental is a sample of a printer or another kind of office machine, making it even more impressive with Pusha T and No Malice effortlessly rapping over a cubicle type beat. Lord Willin’ overall is a strong debut from Clipse, a very influential album with even Tyler the Creator calling it a very important album to him.

Five years after their debut, Clipse returned with their second, and my favorite album of theirs, Hell Hath No Fury (2006). Their sophomore effort amplifies everything that worked in Lord Willin’, turning the intensity up to 11. The hunger to prove they were no one-hit wonders is noticeable throughout. Tracks like “Keys Open Doors,” with its grimy beat, mark their shift into a darker sound, accompanied by sharp, descriptive lyricism. Lines like “This is my ghetto story like Cham, Ice-P is the Don Dada. Open the Frigidaire, 25 to life in here. So much white you might think your holy Christ is near,” shows their ability to write vivid street imagery. Other standouts like “Nightmares,” with its haunting R&B sound, adds layers of paranoia and reflection on the horrors they’ve witnessed. But my favorite track, and my overall favorite Clipse track, is “Mr. Me Too.” The Neptunes’ heavy percussion patterns and bass-driven production feels ahead of its time, and Clipse’s energy matches it perfectly. While the lyrics are mainly arrogant flex bars, creative lines like “Pyrex stirs turn into Cavalli furs” make the track standout from the standard bling era song. Hell Hath No Fury cuts straight to the point, throwing you into the gritty world that Clipse and The Neptunes created.

Although their third album, Till the Casket Drops (2009), failed to live up to their earlier work, venturing too far into pop-rap territory, standout tracks like “Footsteps” and “Kinda Like a Big Deal” offer reasons to revisit it. Even Pusha T reflected on the album’s shortcomings, admitting in a 2022 Tidal interview, “I hate it. And when a song comes on, like ‘I’m Good,’ man, this was a little bit of a bop. Hate it.” Despite this misstep, Clipse’s earlier work remains iconic. Hopefully, with Let God Sort Em Out set to release later this year, they’ll remind us that, even 15 years later, Clipse and Pharrell still have the magic to create timeless hip-hop.