Clipse

Clipse is an American hip hop duo from Virginia Beach, Virginia, active from 1992 to the present. The group is made up of brothers Gene “No Malice” Thornton and Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton, and is also associated with DJ Yoo Q! They are known for coke rap and hip hop.

Career

Clipse form in Virginia Beach in 1992 and meet Pharrell Williams, of The Neptunes, in 1993. Williams develops a working relationship with the duo and helps them secure a contract with Elektra Records. Early mixtape releases on Clinton Sparks’ Exclusive Audio Footage build their audience, although their first major single performs poorly. Williams later helps revive their career by signing them to his Star Trak label.

Their debut album, Lord Willin', appears in 2002. Their second album, Hell Hath No Fury, is delayed by label problems before its release in 2006 and receives strong critical acclaim. While waiting for that album, they release three We Got It For Cheap mixtapes with Ab-Liva and Sandman, who are part of the Re-Up Gang. Their third studio album, Till The Casket Drops, follows in 2009.

Later activity and related work

Clipse announce the end of their career together during a live show in 2010 and maintain that position until 2024, when Pharrell announces a new album with them. Pusha T is also signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music label. Outside the group, Pusha T releases his first solo album, Fear of God, in 2011, and Malice publishes the book Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind, & Naked around the same period.

Recordings and associated material

The group’s songs are widely remixed and mashed up on mixtapes, and unreleased recordings from their Star Trak period circulate as the mixtape The Lost Tracks.