Rap duo Clipse came together in 1993 when Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes heard Malice and Pusha T (who are brothers) and knew he wanted to work with them, but they didn’t put out their first album, Exclusive Audio Footage, until 1999.
The three carved out a place for themselves in the rap world with Lord Willin’ (2002), which contained such club classics as “Grinding.”
Now, four years later, Clipse is back with Hell Hath No Fury, staying consistent with the gritty lyrics of Pusha T and Malice, and the unparalleled production of Pharrell Williams.
Hell Hath No Fury is the third album by Clipse, and the maturity shows.
In Lord Willin,’ Clipse was very excited to be making it in the rap world, and the upbeat production mirrors their excitement.
However, despite Lord Willin’s success, the brothers brag about never leaving the drug game, “Yes I rap but bes’ believe them things still get wrapped by popi screaming, ‘It’s on its way!’ Pharrell shows the roller coaster of emotions within the mind of a drug dealer with an array of varying instrumentals, that rang from emotional organ to electric guitar samples, but each beat has the complicated drum hits to keep your head bobbing, and the heavy bass to keep your trunk bumping.
It is clear Pusha T and Malice have no shame in selling cocaine, and find a new way to rap about it in every song, boasting, “I philosophize about glocks and keys.”
While rapping about drugs and money has been overplayed in rap genre, Pusha and Malice’s lyrical ability brings life and poetry to a rap clichCB), especially wrapped around Pharrell’s mood-setting instrumentals.
Clipse gives off the arrogance, and confidence of a coke lord.
Yet, the rappers make it clear that with the money and women, which they love, comes isolation and only material happiness.
Hell Hath No Fury has something for everyone, whether it is the club banger single “Mr. Me Too,” or the more soul-searching, chilled out “Nightmares,” featuring Pharrell on the organ, which is always a treat.
Malice and Pusha feature other Star Trackz and Re-Up Gang records artists, but the lyrical ability of Clipse is a burden to the featured artists, and makes their lack of originality stand out.
Malice and Pusha work so well together because of their similar styles and voices (you’ll only know it’s Pusha because he always has a “EGHCK!” in each song), but add a featured artist, and the album loses some of its flow due simply to the lack of lyrical originality and talent.
The use of featured artists works when they’re chorus rappers, such as Slim Thug on “Wamp Wamp (What It Do),” but Pharrell should have cut out their verses.
Pharrell heavily produces the album, but the music never feels too busy, and still allows for the lyrics to shine in light of the featured artists.
Clipse has returned with a darker more emotional view of their world of drugs, money and women, and the result is their strongest album to date.
This is a must-have album if you have ever liked anything Pharrell produced.
Even fans of “Toxic” will find Clipse’s new production a real winner. Hell Hath No Fury gets a 4 out of 5 stars.
