Dallas Fans Get the Clipse Reunion Show They've Waited Decades For

The highly anticipated new album, Let God Sort Em Out, from early 2000s cocaine kingpin-rap duo Clipse, consisting of brothers Gene "Malice" and Terrence "Pusha T" Thornton, arrived on July 11, along with an NPR Tiny Desk video.

Millennial hip-hop heads on lunch break rejoiced over their phones, watching in awe of, possibly, one of the longstanding web series’ most memorable installments yet. With over a million views already, the performance starts with the native brothers’ epic tribute to their home state, “Virginia,” a deep cut from their first album, 2002’s Lord Willin’. They also did "Keys Open Doors," "Momma I'm So Sorry," "Chains & Whips," "Birds Don't Sing" and "Grindin'" for the day one Clipse fam. Who would have thought this day would ever come? Once the first note rang out, a lucky audience member yelled in amazement, “Oh my God!” Who wouldn’t?

Clipse is back, and that is a big deal. It’s been a long time coming, and fans deserve this. A new album means a reunion tour and redemption in North Texas. The last time they came through Dallas should have been in August  2009 on a co-headlining tour with another erstwhile backpack rap duo, The Cool Kids (known then as a litigious thorn in the side of Denton band Teenage Cool Kids). That show, however, was unceremoniously canceled on 24 hours’ notice. The following year, Clipse broke up — the beginning of a 16-year hiatus.

For the Let God Sort Em Out album rollout, Clipse will return on Sept. 4 at The Bomb Factory to perform in Dallas for the first time in 19 years, since they billed third on an Ice Cube tour stop in Deep Ellum in support of their critically acclaimed sophomore album, Hell Hath No Fury (2006).

This new album, produced entirely by Pharrell Williams with artwork and design by KAWS, has been long hoped for and dreamed of by the rap world, but the release was not without its controversies. Less than two months before Let God Sort Em Out debuted, Clipse made a shocking split from Def Jam (Universal Music Group) and signed with Roc Nation to market and distribute the album. Pusha T confirmed via Complex that the duo paid seven figures to buy out their record contract from UMG, over the company’s attempted censorship of a featured Kendrick Lamar verse that could’ve been directed at rival Drake.

Further fueling the buzz, the album’s second single, “So Be It,” includes a harsh Travis Scott diss from Pusha T. Although he doesn’t call him out by name, he mentions “utopia” and an ex-girlfriend whose “lip gloss was poppin,’ she ain’t need you to eat.” Malice delivers a cool line about our city (“Y’all tweet, bird talk, we all parrots / Lone star, cross the border, we like Dallas). Tyler, the Creator’s featured verse on “P.O.V.” includes an alleged jab at Playboi Carti. Ultimately, Let God Sort Em Out was worth the wait and the headaches.

Pusha T and Malice boast their masterful wordplay as skillfully as ever. Pharrell’s high-art production still stands as an integral component of the Clipse's sound. But in this elevated delivery of their inimitable, sinister and cinematic style, the rappers aren’t merely rapping at their highest technical level — they’re storytelling in conversation with each other, the audience and often their industry peers.

Standout tracks on Let God Sort Em Out include the bombastic “Chains & Whips” (featuring the aforementioned Lamar verse that spooked Def Jam) and “Let God Sort Em Out/Chandeliers,” featuring a verse from one of the greatest rappers to ever master the craft – Nas.
As they’re known to do, Clipse opens the album with a deeply personal, emotional and grandiose epoch, a beautiful and heart-wrenching journey through the devastating process of grieving beloved parents. They performed “The Birds Don’t Sing” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, mourning mom and dad with old family photos in the background. “Remember those who lost their mothers and fathers and make sure every single moment you have with them, you show them love,” a message says at the end. “You show them love.”

But unfortunately for G.O.O.D. Music fans, John Legend’s one-note chorus fell flat. The essentially rangeless pop star’s attempt at conveying emotional pain just doesn’t land. The crooner is no longer capable of evoking any emotion in his voice beyond his highly gainful brand of perfectly serviceable first-dance songs for the average bride and groom.

Clipse has not only proven that they’ve still got it after all these years, but they’ve truly cemented themselves as one of the greatest rap duos of all time. With this album, they claim their throne.