Clipse New Album Recieves an XXL

[Webby05]

Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury



“When I get mad, I put it down on a pad,” Chuck D said on Public Enemy’s classic “Welcome to the Terrordome,” explaining a lesson he “learned in Virginia (Beach).” Chuck was referring to the 1989 Greekfest riots, where the perceived racism of police and local businesses toward the droves of Black college students resulted in two days of looting. Virginia Beach’s most famous brothers, Malice and Pusha T, were only teenagers when their hometown exploded from its built-up frustrations, but it’s possible that the Clipse have learned the same lesson as Mistachuck.

After being stuck in label limbo for the last four years, Clipse have plenty of reason to be mad at the world. While the rest of their Star Trak family jumped ship to Interscope, Clipse had to sit back and watch as an unresponsive Jive Records let the original follow-up to their 2002 platinum debut, Lord Willin’, sit on the shelf past its expiration date. Rather than self-destructing, the duo started from scratch and channeled their frustration into a new, confidently mature sophomore effort, Hell Hath No Fury.

Best known for their unconventional radio smash “Grindin’,” Clipse are no strangers to taking risks with the boundary-pushing Neptunes, who return as trusted co-pilots for Fury. This time, Pharrell and Chad’s well-known hollow Korg drums and distorted synthesizers are replaced with an unpredictable gathering of lush instrumentation that embraces Pusha’s inventive drug-game metaphors and Malice’s soul-baring confessionals. On the hypnotic “Keys Open Doors,” over the eerie mix of screwed-up angelic voices, chimes and congas, the brothers run circles around the competition, while the spine-tingling boom-bap of “Ride Around Shining” sets the stage for Pusha’s hilarious boasts (“The Black Martha Stewart/I can show you how to do this!/Break down pies to pieces/Make cocaine quiches”). Whether rhyming over wild steel drums (“What It Do [Wamp Wamp]”), distorted, lo-fi guitar plucks (“Dirty Money”) or overblown 808s (“Trill”), the brothers come with colorful references and inventive wordplay that easily put them in a lyrical class of their own.

Leapfrogging over rap’s stereotypically one-dimensional hustler, Clipse proudly bare their scars without compromising their larger-than-life persona. Older brother Malice accepts responsibility for his missteps on the woozy accordion thump “Momma I’m So Sorry,” spittin’, “I’m sorry grandma for the mistakes that I have made/When I aired family business out, you put me in my place.” While Pusha is more known for his witty one-liners, he brings a new level of honesty to the album as well. Bilal’s aching vocals frame the soulful, stripped-down “Nightmares,” where Neighborhood P’s paranoia takes center stage (“Hoping my karma ain’t come back to haunt me/Was it that nigga?/I took his powder with a smile/Praying to the Lord the gun ain’t pop and hit the child”). Super thugs take note—this is how you create compelling crime tales.

In retrospect, perhaps Clipse should thank the “crackers” at Jive for the four-year hiatus. At a time when most MCs are pressured to strategically churn out a cookie-cutter album every year for fear of losing their spot, Fury is street hip-hop built to last. The forced sabbatical gave them ample time to painstakingly evaluate their musical motivations. Avoiding the extraneous guest appearances and the stepped-on pop confections of their debut (such as, “Ma, I Don’t Love Her”), the 12 carefully crafted tracks on Hell Hath No Fury are pure, uncut dope. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.—BRENDAN FREDERICK

[Bojakabo]

yeah..i think this can be a dope album..whens the release date?

[Webby05]

October 31st 

[DopeDeala]

Now, thats promising. Clipse are entertaining, seen them live in Holland some years ago and i remember 'grindin' coming up

[Meho]

October 31st 

No sir. 

After seeing their sophomore album, Hell Hath No Fury, pushed back again, The Clipse is now slated to hit stores on December 12th and are shooting a video for the LP's second single, "Wamp Wamp," today (September 25th).

"We wanted to put out a second single, shoot a video and have it up and running by the time the album comes out," a Jive spokesperson told SOHH.com.

The duo is shooting a video for "Wamp Wamp" featuring Slim Thug in Miami today. Pharrell Williams is also slated to appear in the video.

Malice and Pusha T's album was last slated for an October 31st album before being postponed for the third time last week. The CD was previously set for a September released date before being pushed back to the following month.

Hell Hath No Fury will be produced entirely by The Neptunes. The album features guest appearances by Pharrell Williams, Sandman, Slim Thug, Ab Liva and Bilal.

[Minkaveli]

It will be dope but XXL?  Gotta be some politics here.

[wcsoldier]

The 1st album was crack... hope a hot album

[Lunatic]

I am really debating whether or not I should pick up this album. I LOVED da 1st 1. Great cd all around. I'm really feelin' "Mr. Me Too" (Can't believe that track flopped, sounded like a very radio friendly track). But on the other hand, thier new single "Wamp Wamp" really hasn't caught my attention. Hope fully I'll like it as time passes. And agian, 12 tracks on a RAP album?

[Crack Tastic]

well the first one was hot. but it wasnt crack. but any magizine giving out a top teir rating is noteworthy.but lets all remember lil kim.

[suckaa free]

It will be dope but XXL?  Gotta be some politics here.

[KURUPTION-81]

dec 12th thats too far away !

[fptz]

I somehow remember The Clipse as being some terribly simpistic rappers. Either I'm wrong, or XXL is involved in some shady business here.

[QuietTruth]

The Clipse is tight and all but why the fuck they get a XXL and Xzibit only gets XL??

[Diabolical]

It would be interesting to hear the scrapped album.

[jeromechickenbone]

I'm def checkin for it.  I honestly think Grindin was one of the best singles I've heard in the last several years.  When the Neptunes get that grimy production, it sounds perfect with The Clipse style.  Those dudes can def rhyme.