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Clipse (pronounced "clips"), also known as the Clipse, are an American hip-hop duo from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Formed in 1994, it consists of brothers Gene "Malice" and Terrence "Pusha T" Thornton. Pusha T was known as Terrar during the group's early years, while Malice was originally known as Malicious. As key figures in establishing Virginia as one of Down South's strongholds in hip-hop, the duo's subject matter is frequently based around the illegal drug trade.

The two were discovered by producer and fellow Virginia Beach native, Pharrell Williams, who convinced the artists to work in tandem. Williams served as executive and lead producer for their first two albums, as part of the Neptunes and as a frequent guest performer. Williams led Clipse to sign with Elektra Records, for whom they recorded an album, Exclusive Audio Footage. The album was shelved, and the duo were dropped by the label after the lukewarm commercial response of its supposed lead single, "The Funeral".

In 2001, Williams signed the duo to Arista Records as the first act to sign with his newfound Star Trak Entertainment imprint. Their debut studio album, Lord Willin' (2002), peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, received gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and was met with critical praise. After a several-year delay due to record-label reshuffling, the duo's second album and third albums, Hell Hath No Fury (2006) and Til the Casket Drops (2009), were both met with critical acclaim despite commercial stagnation. In 2010, the duo went on hiatus and both members pursued solo careers.

Clipse officially reunited to guest appear alongside Kenny G on Kanye West's 2019 song "Use This Gospel", from the latter's album Jesus Is King. The duo's fourth studio album, Let God Sort Em Out was self-released (distributed by Roc Nation Distribution) on July 11, 2025, to widespread acclaim. Produced entirely by Williams, it was preceded by the singles "Ace Trumpets", "So Be It" and "Chains & Whips".

History

1993–2000: Formation and Exclusive Audio Footage

The Thornton brothers were born in The Bronx, and in 1979 their family moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was here that the brothers were exposed to the illegal cocaine trade, and this would become an essential part of their musical career. In junior high school, Malice began rapping in a group called Def Dual Productions, for whom the producer was classmate Timbaland, at the time going by DJ Timmy Tim. During this time, Malice also began selling the drugs that would form the basis of much of the duo's lyrical subject matter. A mutual friend introduced him to Chad Hugo in 1988, with whom he started recording songs as a solo act. In 1990, he met Hugo's friends Magoo, Larry Live, and Pharrell Williams through other mutual friends. Williams and Hugo formed the production duo The Neptunes a few years later and continued recording with Malice. After graduating high school in 1991, Malice enlisted to serve in the Army to support his family, working as a generator mechanic. It would not be until Malice's enlistment ended in 1994 that the brothers would start recording together. Pusha, five years Malice's junior, would accompany his brother to recording sessions at Hugo's house. He eventually decided to rap as well. They recorded their first song together "Thief in the Night", featuring vocals from Pharrell, who suggested they should become a duo, calling themselves Full Eclipse, later shortening their name to only Clipse. The Neptunes helped them secure a recording contract with Elektra Records in 1996. Under Elektra, and with the Neptunes handling its production, the Clipse recorded its debut album, Exclusive Audio Footage. The group's first single, "The Funeral", helped to generate fan interest in the album, but failed to make a significant chart impact. With "The Funeral" deemed a failure, Exclusive Audio Footage itself was shelved. The Clipse was released from Elektra shortly thereafter. However, promotional CDs of the album still exist; it would get an unofficial release on May 2, 2022, via Spotify.