Clipse and Kendrick Lamar launch “Chains & Whips” video

It’s been over 15 years since Clipse—the influential hip-hop duo of Pusha T and Malice—launched a full-length studio album. Their final joint venture, Til the Casket Drops, got here out in 2009. Since then, followers have waited, speculated, and hoped.

Now, in 2025, they’re lastly again. Their new album, Let God Kind Em Out, isn’t only a nostalgic revival. It’s an announcement of progress, artistry, and resilience. Launched independently through a Roc Nation distribution deal, it marks a shift not simply of their careers, however in how veteran artists can reclaim management of their narratives.

And this time, they’re not holding again.

Past Coke Rap: Themes of Religion, Grief, and Identification

Clipse made their identify within the early 2000s with street-heavy lyricism, vivid drug tales, and luxurious aesthetics. Their 2002 debut Lord Willin’, produced solely by The Neptunes, was gritty and intelligent. Observe-up Hell Hath No Fury in 2006 was darker, extra introspective, and stays a cult traditional.

However Let God Kind Em Out presents a brand new dimension.

This album wrestles with grief, legacy, religion, and growing older in hip-hop. Each brothers at the moment are of their late 40s. They’ve misplaced each mother and father. Malice spent years centered on his Christian religion, leaving secular rap solely. But, as an alternative of abandoning their previous, they confront it instantly—utilizing it as a backdrop to ship a few of the most emotionally mature bars of their careers.

Songs like “The Birds Don’t Sing” discover loss and therapeutic, whereas tracks like “So Be It” and “E.B.I.T.D.A.” reassert their dominance within the rap hierarchy.

Pharrell’s Cinematic Manufacturing Holds It All Collectively

The album is solely produced by Pharrell Williams, long-time collaborator and fellow Virginia Seashore native. Although Chad Hugo is notably absent from the venture, Pharrell crafts a novel sonic palette—half gospel, half entice, half futuristic soul.

It’s a soundscape that honors their Neptunes-era legacy whereas pushing ahead.

Highlights embrace:

• “Chains & Whips”: Brooding and slow-burning, led by ominous strings and minimalist drums.
• “Inglorious Bastards”: A murky, cinematic banger that looks like a non secular sequel to Nightmares.
• “P.O.V.”: Bounces with distorted synths and a twitchy Tyler, The Creator characteristic.

Pharrell doesn’t chase traits right here. As a substitute, he builds a world across the lyrics—an album that sounds timeless, fairly than well timed.

“Chains & Whips” with Kendrick Lamar Units the Tone

The album’s standout second—and maybe its most controversial—is “Chains & Whips”, a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar.

Kendrick’s verse touches on generational trauma, masculinity, and the intersection of energy and ache. Pusha and Malice match his depth, buying and selling verses that stability luxurious with lament. The manufacturing is sparse and ominous, giving all three voices room to breathe.

The music nearly didn’t make the album. Reviews say Clipse walked away from Def Jam after the label allegedly tried to censor Kendrick’s verse. By leaving, they gained full artistic freedom. It’s a transfer that underlines the significance of artist integrity—a central theme of this venture.

On July 14, a music video for “Chains & Whips” dropped, directed by Gabriel Moses. The visible options surrealist symbolism: jail chains, church altars, grime roads, and chic rituals. Kendrick doesn’t seem, however Pusha and Malice dominate the display, usually in stark black-and-white pictures that emphasize the music’s weight.

Malice Returns with Redemption and Fireplace

One of the talked-about parts of Let God Kind Em Out is the return of Malice.

After years away from secular music, he’s again—not simply as a visitor, however as a full artistic companion. His bars are exact and layered, usually mixing biblical references with avenue reflections. He doesn’t moralize. He displays.

His standout moments embrace:

• “The Birds Don’t Sing” – the place he mourns the loss of life of his mother and father with soul-stirring honesty.
• “Ace Trumpets” – the place he flips non secular metaphors into sharp, reducing verses.

Malice’s return doesn’t really feel like a throwback—it looks like evolution. His voice is extra commanding than ever.

Pusha T Sounds Sharper Than Ever

Whereas Malice advanced by means of religion, Pusha T stayed lively within the trade, releasing critically acclaimed solo albums like Daytona and It’s Virtually Dry. However on this album, Pusha returns to a collaborative dynamic that appears to raise him much more.

He’s as sharp as ever—whether or not he’s calling out rivals, flexing designer tastes, or reminding listeners of his longevity.

In “So Be It,” he’s rumored to take pictures at Travis Scott. In “All Issues Thought of,” he coolly navigates household, trade betrayal, and legacy.

With Pusha, there’s at all times a double that means. And with Malice beside him, he doesn’t want to hold the burden alone.

A Fastidiously Chosen Supporting Solid

Let God Kind Em Out options a number of main visitor appearances, all of which add weight fairly than distraction.

Notable options embrace:

• Kendrick Lamar – poetic firepower on “Chains & Whips.”
• Nas – sage knowledge on the title observe.
• Tyler, The Creator – warped creativity on “P.O.V.”
• John Legend – soul on “The Birds Don’t Sing.”
• Range God Cooks & Ab-Liva – hard-hitting verses on “E.B.I.T.D.A.”
• The-Dream – lush vocals on “All Issues Thought of.”

Every artist brings their A-game, complementing Clipse’s lyrical focus with out overshadowing them.

Fan Reactions Communicate Louder Than Charts

For the reason that album’s launch, the fan response has been overwhelming. Twitter (now X), Reddit, and TikTok are stuffed with reward for Clipse’s return, Kendrick’s characteristic, and the album’s daring sound.

High reactions:

• “Actual rap is alive and effectively.”
• “Malice’s return gave me chills.”
• “That is how legends age—gracefully and fearlessly.”

Clips from “Chains & Whips” have gone viral. Followers are stitching movies dissecting Kendrick’s verse and Pusha’s coded strains. TikTok creators are utilizing tracks like “Inglorious Bastards” to attain private tales of battle, ambition, and religion.

Why This Album Will Final

Let God Kind Em Out isn’t only a good album—it’s a blueprint for a way hip-hop artists can develop with out shedding their voice.

Key takeaways:

• Artistic freedom issues: Leaving Def Jam gave Clipse full management—and it reveals.
• Lyrics can evolve: The duo blends previous sins with current knowledge, one thing many rappers battle to stability.
• Spirituality belongs in rap: Malice proves you possibly can rap about religion and nonetheless be ferocious.
• Legacy is constructed, not purchased: After 20+ years, Clipse isn’t chasing relevance—they’re defining it.

This isn’t simply an album for the second. It’s an album with that means.

Let God Kind Em Out is the return followers didn’t know they wanted—and a strong reminder that progress and grit can coexist. Clipse didn’t simply reunite. They reinvented.

The manufacturing is cinematic. The lyrics are layered. The themes are wealthy with humanity. Whether or not you’re right here for the bars, the beats, or the emotional honesty, this album delivers.

For anybody questioning if Clipse may recapture the magic—sure. After which some.