In the lead-up to newmusicfrom rap duoClipse(made up of siblings Pusha T and Malice), we’d already explained some of what you could expectfrom their first new album in 16 years. NowLet God Sort Em Outhas officially arrived, andincludes plenty of important questions to be answeredwithin its thirteen tracks.
Will this record join the list ofmodern rap albums with 10/10 lyrics? Does Kendrick Lamar’s much-discussed guest verse havedeeper meaning than you might have realized? Is the LP ultimately overrated, or was that internet-based misinformation? We’llLet God Sort Em Out,andlet these songs tell the story.
13E.B.I.T.D.A.
A Survival Journey Story
Featuring album producer Pharrell singing on the opening verse, “E.B.I.T.D.A.” is an acronym that stands for “Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization." The meaning fits well within the song, as Pusha and Malice describe moving through their life struggle to get to the high-value-earning peak they’ve found today.
While the track doesn’t stick out as prominently amidst so manyLet God Sort Em Outheavy hitters, the swaggered confidence and suave wordplay are still trademark Clipse. The level of charisma that’s present throughout their music hereis a heavily addictive experience.
12By The Grace Of God
Blessing The Near-Misses
Backed by the vocals of Pharrell once again, as well as the gospel choir Voices of Fire, “By The Grace Of God” closesLet God Sort Em Outwith a softer tone of grace. Much like the opener, “The Birds Don’t Sing,” the Clipse duo get contrite, realizingthey’re lucky to still be here, fortunate to create together once again.
Lyrically, Pusha and Malice acknowledge that they stayed out of trouble despite what they got into in their younger years, and they didn’t get caught or “hit the wall” artistically or personally. It felt like it was"By The Grace Of God" that the pair have gotten here, and they aren’t going to waste this opportunity.
11All Things Considered
“All Things Considered” finds Clipse trading verses with Pharrell again, as well as R&B singer The-Dream, over a merciless, thumping beat that’s both as hard and soft as the siblings themselves here. Lyrically, you can sense Pusha and Malice’s vulnerability peeking out, interspersing lines ofguns, murder, and drug-running with miscarriages and regrets.
One of Clipse’s biggest career trademarkshas been spinning hard-hitting stories of drug and criminal life, but it’s also been about much more than that. Sixteen years later, Clipse is still striving for the highest peaks, while simultaneously, Pusha is getting real about his losses, and Malice fights to redeem himself from his past sins.
10Let God Sort Em Out/Chandeliers
Putting Down The Naysayers
Unlike a track such as “All Things Considered” that shows off the humanity within the hustle, “Let God Sort Em Out/Chandeliers” is justpure, uncut trash-talking directed at the haters and naysayers. So much great rap is built on the back of a confident strut, and Pusha and Malice do this like two voices inside of one vengeful soul.
As if the duo’s chemistry here wasn’t enough, rap icon Nas jumps in with pinpoint precision on the “Chandeliers” closing section to deliver the decisive blow.This is the first song that Nas and Clipse have performed together on, and over a cinematic, humming Pharrell beat, the wait feels long overdue now that we have it.
9M.T.B.T.T.F.
A Drug-Dealing Anthem Punch
Another acronym that stands for “Mike Tyson Blow To The Face,““M.T.B.T.T.F” has another fluidly flowing, Pharrell-produced beat with the Clipse brothers attacking over the top. There are no features here, just Pusha and Malice out to crush the competition, rising to the top with the righteous belief they’re the cream of the crop.
As a listener, it’s easy to believe that, too, listening to these two swerve in and out of narratives ondrug-dealing, success, and wordplay based around boxer Mike Tyson’s cocaine-imbibing past. Clipse is here to stamp out the second-bests, run through the drug world, and come out clean without the dirt of a guilty plea.
8Inglorious Bastards
Built on another standout, muscled beat from Pharrell (one of many consistent highlights on this LP), “Inglorious Bastards” is lyrically constructed with charactersresembling those from the Quentin Tarantino film of a similar name. They might be morally gray, but they’ll take those chances to kill their mission goal.
While Pusha and guest rapper Ab-Liva embrace that murkier side to win, Malice instead looks back at drug-dealing days with acceptance. He stands by where he was then, andthe man it has allowed him to become now.
7Ace Trumpets
The Duo’s Reintroduction
The first single released fromLet God Sort Em Out, “Ace Trumpets” served as a great way to get reintroduced (or freshly acquainted) with the Clipse duo. While Pusha comes in at his usual razor-sharp level of raps,this was the biggest showcase for Malice, who was returning to the Clipse style for the first time since 2009.
The veteran more than rose to the challenge here,dripping his verse with wordplay and layering it with meanings, making it feel like the elder of the siblings never stepped away. He may no longer curse as part of his religious faith, but that doesn’t mean Malice can’t viscerally pull his foes apart every time he goes to the mic.
6So Be It
A Sample-Switching Standout
Originally released only as a YouTube music video, “So Be It” was technically the second single from the album (not being fully released other than by streamers like Spotify until the LP dropped). Initially, the song was re-titled “So Be It, Pt II” with another mix (presumably due to a sample clearance issue), but returned to form on release night.
With that Middle Eastern-inflected sample back in place, “So Be It” burns coke-white-hot and with a weighty whomp, holding lyrical weaponry only Clipse can provide.Pusha throws shots at fellow rapper Travis Scotthere as well, which has provided plenty of internet fodder since the track’s release.
5F.I.C.O.
A Credit Score Type Of Life
With fellow rapper Stove God Cooks on the choruses, Clipse takes you into “F.I.C.O.” on a bassy, hard-thumping, head-nodding head tripthrough the psyche of drug-dealing street life. There’s a dark side to living that harder side of an existence, but Pusha and Malice dwell on how they did it well, and that got them out of their circumstances.
These songs. Songs like “F.I.C.O.” are right in the heart of the cocaine season, and Pusha and Malice are the Tony MontanaScarfaceof MCs; they pull no punches in reminiscing.
4So Far Ahead
Burning Down The Competition
Backed by a holy-hailing church-y rhythm and Pharrell’s high-register vocals in the choruses, it almost seems like a shock when the beatswitches into a deeper, rough pulse. But that’s the perfect battleground for Pusha and Malice, with the former talking up his reputation compared to those he’s left far behind.
Malice, on the other hand, predominantly sets his verse on why he left his fast-living life in music and drug-running behind for a time in favor of religion. He seems focused on finding his redemption and returning to his platform in musicto deliver a bigger message.
