24 July 24 - 30, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Re-Clipse Dallas fans get the Clipse show they’ve waited decades for. BY VANESSA QUILANTAN T he highly anticipated new al- bum, 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 install- ments yet. With over a million views al- ready, the perfor- mance starts with the native brothers’ epic tribute to their home state, “Virginia,” a deep cut from their first album, 2002’s Lord Willin’. 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 can- celed 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 roll- out, 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 sopho- more 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 de- buted, Clipse made a shocking split from Def Jam (Universal Music Group) and signed with Roc Nation to market and dis- tribute 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 sec- ond 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.” in- cludes 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 inte- gral component of the Clipse’s sound. But in this elevated delivery of their in- imitable, sinister and cinematic style, the rappers aren’t merely rapping at their highest techni- cal level — they’re storytelling in con- versation with each other, the audience and often their in- dustry 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,” fea- turing 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, mourn- ing mom and dad with old family photos in the background. “Remember those who lost their mothers and fathers and make sure ev- ery 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 at- tempt at conveying emotional pain just doesn’t land. 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 al- bum, they claim their throne. | B-SIDES | t Music Clipse is back. So be it, so be it. Cian Moore Hand built not bougHt. Franklins TaTToo and supply 469-904-2665 • 4910 Columbia ave, dallas, TX 75214 proFessional TaTToo supply For pros only Call for your appointment or design commissions today! Dapper TO Divey THE DALLAS BARS THAT KEEP ON GIVING IN 2025 VIEW FULL LIST
