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The Clipse have long been one of my favorite rap duos. I can’t even tell you where my affection for them streams from, but everything they do, to me, is just pure brilliance, and that is a strong statement especially for a hip-hop artist to claim. Their sophomore album Lord Willin was really what affected me; hearing Grinding for the first time was like a religious experience. It was one of those songs I was profusely singing everywhere I went, booming in my CD player or simply just telling other people about it.

With that said, I am highly disappointed with their latest effort, Till the Casket Drops. The first thing I did was quickly read reviews. They were mostly favorable and had high praise for the unique departure for the duo. In my opinion, they were wrong.

Till the Casket Drops is exactly what I have been preaching against- artists who have maintained integrity in their music veering towards a more mainstream or pop focus. The Clipse used to be known for their gritty, raw and individualist lyrics/beats. This time around, I was so caught off guard by the bubbly over tone of the tracks, I couldn’t even focus on their, as Malice and Pusha put it, “coke rap” ridden lyrics.

Despite the fact that they rap about things most others do as well, it’s their performance value and execution which makes their music so attractive. Paired with the incandescence of The Neptunes, The Clipse were unstoppable. The thing that killed them on this album was their production team including DJ Khalil and…Diddy.

This is not to say that The Clipse cannot do better. They can. Their last album Hell Hath No Fury was absolutely magnificent and was filled with the past effects which made people love them in the first place. I in no way am saying that artists are not supposed to experiment and take a risk. But when the risk is so over done that it sounds like a plea for mainstream acceptance, there is a problem. The album also had it’s good takes as well; Kinda Like a Big Deal featuring Kanye West, I’m Good and Popular Demand (Popeye’s) featuring Cam’Ron were all standouts for me.

All I have left to say is: next album please.

Clipse featuring Kanye West- Kinda Like a Big Deal
Clipse featuring Pharrell- I’m Good
Clipse- Popular Demand (Popeye’s)