Clipse

Hip-hop duo Pusha T and Malice comprise the crack-rap group Clipse, who rhyme about virtually nothing other than cocaine; preparing it, dealing it, taking it, and spending their illicit gains on more. To quote Malice on one recent track, 'If all I talk about is coke, let that tell you somethin’'.

Pusha T and Malice are brothers Terrence and Gene Thornton from The Bronx, NY. In 1993 they were introduced to Pharrell Williams, who was impressed by their flow and eventually helped them get a deal with Elektra for debut LP Exclusive Audio Footage (1999). Pharrell and Chad Hugo – by then known as The Neptunes – produced the album, but despite buzz generated by lead single “The Funeral”, Elektra decided it wouldn’t be worth releasing; they shelved the album and dropped the duo from their roster.

By 2001 The Neptunes had been given their own label imprint on Arista, Star Trak Entertainment, and signed up Clipse through that. Their first properly released album was Lord Willin’ (2002), which hit No.4 on the Billboard 200 and went gold in six weeks, boosted by lead singles “Grindin’” and “When the Last Time”. But soon the duo were having label difficulties again, as their contract was transferred to Jive despite Jive’s focus on pop acts. While Clipse tried to negotiate with Jive, they started the We Got it 4 Cheap mixtape series, releasing volumes one and two in 2004 and 2005.

Eventually Clipse were able to release Hell Hath No Fury in 2006. It was met by a wave of critical acclaim, with breathless reviews from music blogs and magazines, including a rare XXL score from XXL magazine. But since its release, some have sought to dampen the hype, and it’s not had quite the impact the early enthusiasm predicted. Despite the critical love, it has sold less than a third of Lord Willin’.s total so far

In 2007 Clipse announced they had signed to Columbia Records. They released the third installment of the We Got it 4 Cheap mixtape series in 2008.