Photography Estevan Oriol
Clipse
Til The Casket Drops
(Re-Up/Columbia)
Beats: XL
Lyrics: XXL
Originality: XL
The Clipse are seeking redemption. For rappers, and literal brothers, Malice and Pusha T, the rap biz has been bipolar, full of ups and downs. While their original planned debut, Exclusive Audio Footage, was shelved, their proper debut on Jive Records, Lord Willin’ (2002), was met with much praise and near-platinum sales. Unfortunately, label shenanigans delayed the Virginia duo’s sophomore salvo by four years. Like the We Got It 4 Cheap mixtapes their devotees rabidly consumed in the interim, 2006’s Hell Hath No Fury was also critically lauded (it earned a perfect XXL rating in this magazine), thanks to reflective street songs like the solemn “Nightmares” and the admirable “Momma I’m So Sorry.” Still, despite all of the adoration, HHNF failed to move weight at registers, or iTunes, stalling out at about 205,000 copies sold to date. As persistent with their product as ever, the Clipse return for the hat trick, this time on Columbia Records. And despite its grim title, Til the Casket Drops is more about celebrating life than foreshadowing a tragic demise.
From the onset, the disc’s beats are epic in scale. On the album’s intro track, the Sean C & LV–produced “Speak of Freedom,” Pusha spits, “All the apologies, I wear the cross, I bear the blame/We in the same group, but I don’t share my brother’s pain,” as he goes on to talk of music as a self-made prison. Separately, Malice speaks of a similar sentiment, when he questions, “How was I to know I was happy being piss poor?” over a perfect sound bed of rapid-fire drums, melodic strings and rock-guitar accents.
It is key to note that, until now, The Neptunes have been the sole sound providers of the two previous Clipse albums, but on Til the Casket Drops, Pharrell and Chad make a little room for Cali producer DJ Khalil and the aforementioned Sean C & LV. Rather than being stark contrasts, the outside contributions blend right in with The Neptunes’ otherworldly sonic bleeps and bangs—so much so that it’s Khalil who laces the bum-rushing, Kanye West–assisted lead single, “Kinda Like a Big Deal,” and the standout, dancehall-tinged “There Was a Murder,” two menacing additions to the Clipse’s catalog that otherwise wouldn’t exist had the group not branched out.
Just as with their prior releases, it is the duo’s ability to go out on a limb, beyond coke-fueled trappings, that remains their strong suit. On “Champion,” Malice kicks, “A long way from pumpin’ in housing projects/Investing in real estate, weighing out my prospects,” while a shimmering synth and numbing bass play in the background. Lord Willin’ and Hell Hath pounded listeners with tales of Pyrex, yet this album is more nuanced. Never mind the saccharine, Keri Hilson–laced radio volley “All Eyes on Me”—the Clipse’s need for something resembling a radio hit is to be expected. Instead, more emphasis should be put on the mid-’90s-sounding “Counseling” and the bright and boastful “I’m Good,” which sonically fare much better.
But don’t think for a second that the brothers Thornton have become milquetoast MCs who have forgotten their struggles. At least for a moment, the chest-thumping “Never Will It Stop” quells such notions and gives a nod to the Clipse of old. Says Malice, “Child of a lesser God, so when I drop the top on the Porsche/It’s my way of reaching for the Lord.”
Playing both sides, though, is nothing new to the pair. Paranoia-stained verses with touches of spirituality is a formula the brothers have perfected. Malice, whose pointed barbs are a highlight of the album, weaves these themes into his bars more and more often. Consider it hip-hop gospel, but without the cheesiness. It is most evident on “Life Change,” where he admits that he was “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked,” before adding, “Money, hoes and clothes is Malice’s past tense.”
Combining an even mix of maturity and playfulness (check “Back by Popular Demand” featuring Cam’ron), the Clipse’s future remains as prosperous as ever. With Til the Casket Drops serving as a return to grace, there’s proof positive that Pusha T and Malice still have much to live for. —Alvin Blanco
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November 2nd, 2009
at 10:59 am
klm1015 says:
Can’t wait for this to drop I know its gonna be a classic
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 11:10 am
Mitch says:
Well-written! This review deserves a byline.
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 11:17 am
Look Up says:
You must have missed the name at the end of the review… SMH/LOL
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 11:30 am
AZ40 says:
As long as Pharrell doesn’t do that horrible singing Im Good
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 12:14 pm
Blakout615 says:
I been saying forever that production wise they needed to step out. And im glad they finally did.
From the review,I cant see why they didnt give it an XXL. They said it themselves that the joint with keri hilson is to be expected. Cant wait to hear the album tho
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 12:33 pm
jonny bizness says:
yo blackout u ain’t gonna get a xxl with keri hilson on ur album but popeyes,kinda a big deal and i’m good more than makes up 4 it
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 12:28 pm
jonny bizness says:
I’M GLAD THAT THE CLIPSE HAVE BRANCHED OUT WITH OTHER PRODUCERS COS YOU CAN GO ONLY SO FAR WITH NEPTUNES BEATS 4 ME MALICE AND PUSHA R BETTA LYRICALLY THAN 99% OF RAPPERS OUT THERE I HOPE THIS 1 SELLS COS THEY DESERVE IT
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 12:48 pm
Chuck Platinum says:
The Clipse have always been banging them hits out I dont expect anything less and with Sean & LV on the prod. will give them an even more grittier sound cant wait for the album peace
http://myspace.com/chuckplatinum
http://twitter.com/chuckplatinum
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 1:51 pm
SOUTHSIDE A-TOWN says:
yo, anybody co-signing that classic status on they last album? i just started to fux w/ these dudes. they the truth. & i would like to reiterate (damn, i hope i spelled that right), I’m Good is MY SHIT!!!
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 4:16 pm
jonny bizness says:
southside i would give hell hath no fury xxl 4 rhymes and originality and an xl 4 production so yeah it’s a classic
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 2:04 pm
Phill Gates says:
I don’t know why people keep giving The Neptunes shit about there beats. Production doesn’t always need to be high-maintenance if you got the right rhymes. I was a little skeptical in the outside-production thing for this album too; but the more I’m hearing from the leaks, it fits TTCD well.
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 6:36 pm
KingPoetic says:
Holy smokes, a rap album getting an Xl review @ xxl??!?!
Reply
November 2nd, 2009
at 10:31 pm
DoubleClutch95 says:
I can’t wait to hear the album… I think that the clipse going with a more radio friendly album hurt them from receiving an xxl on Til the Casket Drops. Either way lyrics received XXL and that’s all that matters to me.
Reply
November 3rd, 2009
at 12:42 am
yoprince says:
i hear ppl say the clipse have two classics sometimes. i disagree. but hell hath no fury is a classic.
the neptunes are still and have always been brilliant.. and that includes pharrell on his own.
also.. fuck sales. i don’t see why this album review mentioned sales. these two in general do not make pop music and HHNF definitely wasn’t geared toward commercial success so why even mention it.
Reply
November 3rd, 2009
at 1:02 am
GO-Getta' says:
Cocaine rap sh*t!
Reply
November 3rd, 2009
at 8:53 am
kedordu says:
this feels like an xxl to me .. if lyrics are xxl and beats are xl .. then its xxl
Reply
November 3rd, 2009
at 10:44 am
Video: Clipse + Rick Ross “I’m Good (Remix)” « Slang Rap Democracy says:
[...] Review: Clipse Til the Casket Drops [XXL] [...]
Reply
November 3rd, 2009
at 11:55 am
Deadly MIME says:
Look out for Ugly People and the remake song “I’m Good” from the Clipse
Reply
November 3rd, 2009
at 4:52 pm
Daily Recap – 11/2/09 at SNICKA says:
[...] REVIEW: Clipse, Til the Casket Drops [...]
Reply
November 13th, 2009
at 10:27 am
RE-UP G says:
XL? are u stupid? XXL REAL TALK
Reply
November 16th, 2009
at 12:14 pm
Video: Clipse “Popular Demand (Popeyes)” + All The Others « Slang Rap Democracy says:
[...] Demand (Popeyes)” finally dropped. It’s above and the rest of the videos, so far, from Til the Casket Drops are below. December 8, third times the charm, [...]
Reply
November 24th, 2009
at 9:14 am
2009 Musical Jamboree: Intro « Mr. Hattsi writes says:
[...] in scope than is often used) has never been better. With the notable exception of Clipse’s Til The Casket Drops (out 8 December), it’s unlikely that the remainder of the year will witness any new albums of [...]
Reply
December 10th, 2009
at 11:22 am
XXLmag.com - » Gucci Mane Projected to Sell 85-90k in First Week says:
[...] Shock Value II is believed to fall somewhere between 35,000 and 40,000 and the Virgina duo’s Til the Casket Drops is looking to fall at about [...]
Reply
December 12th, 2009
at 11:05 am
kedordu says:
THIS IS MY FAVOURITE ALBUM THIS YR .
Reply
December 14th, 2009
at 8:58 am
XXLmag.com - » Super Tuesday First Week Sales Predictions [Snoop, Clipse, B.G., Gucci & Timbaland] says:
[...] TIL THE CASKET DROPS Brooklyne: 35K Rob: 32K Davina: 50K Neli: 70K Matt: 50K Rondell: 40K Jesse: 30K Travis: 25K Tee: [...]
Reply
December 16th, 2009
at 2:49 pm
XXLmag.com - » How Much Do You Love the Clipse? (Some Fan You Are) says:
[...] went up to Sony for a private (pause) listening of Til the Casket Drops, after which, Al wrote a review for the mag. To ask the homie to dissect an album like this after a single listening was a tall order, but he [...]
Reply
December 23rd, 2009
at 1:36 pm
XXLmag.com - » Gucci Mane Debuts in the Top 10, Clipse Beat out B.G. on the Charts says:
[...] pack on The Billboard 200 this week, zipping past the other new releases by Snoop Dogg, Timbaland, Clipse and [...]
Reply