clipse

Clipse, often stylized as Clipse, was an American hip hop duo from Virginia Beach, Virginia, formed by brothers Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton and Gene “No Malice” Thornton in the late 1990s. They gained prominence after signing with Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo’s Neptunes-created Star Trak label, releasing music that paired stark street narratives with spare, drum-driven production.

Their debut studio album, Lord Willin’ (2002), was produced largely by the Neptunes and featured singles such as “Grindin’” and “When the Last Time.” The album established Clipse’s reputation for gritty, cocaine-centered storytelling and helped bring the Neptunes’ minimalist sound to mainstream hip hop. The duo followed with Hell Hath No Fury (2006), which received strong critical acclaim and is frequently noted for its cohesive concept and hard-edged lyricism, though it faced release delays and label tensions.

In 2009, Clipse released Til the Casket Drops, expanding their collaboration list to include artists like Kanye West and Ab-Liva, with additional contributions from the Neptunes. Around this period, No Malice began stepping away from recording to focus on his faith; he retired from music for several years and later re-emerged as a solo artist under the name No Malice, releasing music in the 2010s. Pusha T pursued a highly successful solo career and became a key figure in Kanye West’s GOOD Music imprint.

Clipse has largely been described as influential for bringing a stark, lyrically dense street-centered approach to early-2000s mainstream hip hop and for helping to popularize the Neptunes’ signature production style. The duo has not released a new studio album since 2009, though their work continues to be cited for its impact on hip hop.