Clipse
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Clipse is a Virginia-based hip hop duo. Formed by brothers Malice (born Gene Thornton in 1972, in The Bronx, New York) and Pusha-T (born Terrence Thornton in 1977, in The Bronx, New York) in 1992, the group is affiliated with multi-platinum production team The Neptunes.
History
Exclusive Audio Footage (1993–1999)
Clipse began its career in music in 1993 when the Thornton brothers met Pharrell Williams, one half of the production team The Neptunes. Impressed with their lyrical talents, Williams formed a working relationship with the duo. He eventually helped them secure a recording contract with Elektra Records in 1997. Under Elektra and with The Neptunes handling its production, Clipse recorded its debut album, Exclusive Audio Footage. Its first single, "The Funeral", helped to generate fan interest in the album, but failed to make a significant commercial impact due to poor promotion from Elektra. With "The Funeral" deemed a failure, Exclusive Audio Footage itself was shelved indefinitely. Clipse was released from its record contract shortly thereafter.
Lord Willin' (2001–2002)
In early 2001, Williams signed the duo to Arista Records through his recently established Star Trak Entertainment imprint. Clipse released its commercial debut Lord Willin' on August 20, 2002. The album opened at #1 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-hop Album chart and #4 on the Billboard Hot 200, fueled by the strength of the first two singles, "Grindin'" and "When the Last Time", which peaked at #34 and #19 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100. Third single "Ma, I Don't Love Her" (featuring Faith Evans) was a modest hit, reaching #86 on the Hot 100. On October 1, 2002—only a month after its release—Lord Willin' was certified gold by the RIAA.[1] Clipse made another dent in the pop music world that year by providing rhymes for Justin Timberlake's first solo single, "Like I Love You," another Neptunes-produced crossover radio hit.
Hell Hath No Fury (2003–2007)
In late 2003, Clipse began recording material for its second album, Hell Hath No Fury. However, further work on the album ground to a halt in 2004, when Arista Records was dissolved into its sister label Jive Records as part of a larger merger between Sony Music Entertainment and BMG. Due to contractual requirements, Clipse was forced to stay on Jive, while Star Trak and the rest of its roster moved to a new home at Interscope Records.
While Clipse resumed work on the album, and eventually finished its recording, the duo became increasingly frustrated with Jive, as the label overlooked them in favor of the more "pop" oriented acts on its roster, causing numerous delays in the release of Hell Hath No Fury. As delays continued, the group asked for a formal release from its contract. When Jive refused to grant this request, the duo sued the label. While the litigation took place, Clipse released new material through its We Got It 4 Cheap mixtape series. The mixtapes featured Clipse and two Philadelphia rappers: long-time friend Ab-Liva (of Major Figgas) and newcomer Sandman, known collectively as "The Re-Up Gang".
On May 9, 2006, Clipse finally reached an agreement with Jive Records to release the album through its own label, Re-Up Records, along with Jive.[2] After two more changes in its release date (originally August 29 and then October 31) Hell Hath No Fury was finally released on November 28, 2006. It spawned two singles: "Mr. Me Too" with Pharrell Williams and "Wamp Wamp (What It Do)" with Slim Thug. While the album received a great deal of critical acclaim, its sales were modest, at 78,000 in the first week.
Signing with Columbia Records (2007–present)
In a May 19, 2007 interview with Eye Weekly, Clipse revealed that the group had been officially released from its recording contract with Jive.[3] After this, the duo began discussions with several record labels, eventually signing with Columbia Records on October 26, 2007.[4] The duo plans to release the Re-Up Gang's first studio album and the follow-up to Hell Hath No Fury through Columbia within the next year. In a departure from the group's previous work, both albums will feature production from Timbaland, Danjahandz and Dame Grease (in addition to the Neptunes).[4][5] Their follow up to Hell Hath No Fury will also feature production from Sean "Diddy" Combs' production team, The Hitmen, and Kanye West.[6] In November 2007, Clipse announced the launch of their fashion line, Play Cloths.[7]
Discography
Studio albums
- 1999: Exclusive Audio Footage
- 2002: Lord Willin'
- 2006: Hell Hath No Fury
- 2008: Spirit of Competition
Mixtapes
- 2004: We Got It 4 Cheap, Volume 1
- 2005: We Got It 4 Cheap, Volume 2
- 2006: We Got the Remix
- 2008: We Got It 4 Cheap, Volume 3: The Spirit of Competition (We Just Think We're Better)
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (October 2007) |
- Prior to 2001, Pusha-T went by the moniker "Terrar," a simple play on his first name, Terrence.
- Pusha-T's verses were excised from the version of "Popular Thug" that appears on The Neptunes Present... Clones album. He was replaced by Nas.
- It is often rumoured that Pusha-T ghostwrites for Pharrell Williams. Pusha-T denies the rumor, however. From an interview with AllHipHop.com, in 2005:
I'ma keep it all the way hood for AllHipHop.com, ya’ll have to understand Pharrell is a rapper first. He was a rapper first, he was a native tongue rapper dude first. That’s why the exterior like fish eggs line comes out. He does a lot of wordplay trickery. That’s not me writing none of that, that’s all him. [laughs] And I’m putting pressure on him right now on AllHipHop.com that he is the best rapper/producer. Ain’t nobody touching him, I’ll put money on it.[8]
- The duo also performed as guests on the Nick Cannon show Wild 'N Out.
- The Clipse logo was designed by Mister Cartoon.
References
- ^ "Clipse Strike Gold, Neptunes Want To Go Country" (Online news article). AllHipHop.com. Retrieved June 11.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); External link in|work=|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Clipse Tour With Ice Cube; Album Release Date Set" (Online news article). AllHipHop.com. Retrieved June 11.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); External link in|work=|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Keys Open Doors" (Print interview). Eye Weekly. Retrieved May 22.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); External link in|work=|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "The Clipse Signs With Columbia" (Online news article). Billboard.com. Retrieved October 26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); External link in|work=|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Clipse Score Deal With Sony Music" (Online news article). MTV.com. Retrieved October 26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); External link in|work=|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ [1] . Retrieved on 2008-02-18
- ^ "Clipse officially launches fashion line Play Cloths" (Online news article). [2]. Retrieved November 29.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); External link in|work=|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Clipse: Time's Up, Part 1" (Online interview). AllHipHop.com. Retrieved June 8.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); External link in|work=|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)
External links
