Malice’s close relationship with his brother is part of why he’s back. And in some ways, Let God Sort Em Out is classic Clipse: With his witty, cocaine-based wordplay and dense rhyme patterns, Pusha T still plays the brash enforcer, while Malice raps with a weight and clarity that demands he gets the last word on songs. But there’s evolution, too. The production is often lush, with a gospel undercurrent throughout—a clear sign P is years removed from the haunting, skeletal minimalism of Hell Hath No Fury. The album also contains some of the most emotional songs of the Clipse’s career, including “The Birds Don’t Sing,” which features the two reflecting on the loss of both parents.
“I don’t think the fundamentals of hip-hop go out of style,” Pusha T said. “And so as long as you’re sharp there, then everything else is just about living and being able to articulate it.
During his solo years, Pusha developed a fighting streak that he hasn’t shaken. He takes aim at Jim Jones (on the aforementioned “Chains & Whips”) and Travis Scott (“So Be It”), without saying their names. He’s also been unapologetic in interviews, relishing the role of provocateur and leaning into conflict.
“I have to say, music journalism has been really good for us, so it’s something we don’t shy away from,” Pusha said. “We actually look at people who do as not being confident in their product.”
Malice added: “We’ve been fortunate enough to have really good journalism. Clipse is a deep group. There are many sides to us. We’re not your traditional, run-of-the-mill rap group. We’ve been addressing pretty much everything people want to know.”
That openness, paired with decades of Clipse lore, keeps them at the center of conversation—even when they’re not the ones talking. When N.O.R.E. recently appeared on a radio show, he talked about Pusha being furious that Pharrell didn’t pick him over Drake during a Drink Champs segment.
“That same conversation I had with N.O.R.E., I had it with P,” Pusha said. “I feel like N.O.R.E. made it feel like … I just had a conversation with him. Like no, it wasn’t all parties involved. I have no clue why he talked about it to that guy. It’s rollout time though, man. Everybody wants a part of the clickbait.”
