Clipse : "Let God Sort Em Out"

 The fourth album from hip-hop duo Clipse, finds Pusha T and Malice back together. The first song is well written and has a more 90s feels that I can appreciate. They are joined by Kendrick Lamar on the second song, which features a more urgent in-your-face production style that finds them up close on the mic. Guests abound on this album as Tyler Creator jumps in for the groove of: "POV. Lyircally they prove themselves dominant over the none on the radio. There is no need for auto-tune or a hundred producers on each track.  

While not devoid of coke slinging metaphor, they do have a little more to say this time around."So Be It' was the first song that I heard from this album, and it inspired me to check the rest of the album out, as it is driven by Middle Eastern beats and a more unique production style than the rest of the rap game that is rolling off the same assembly lines.  "Ace Trumpets" works a beat that reminds me of what the Weeknd used to do. The song is not as hooky as the previous songs. Pharell Williams does lend a heavy hand to "All Things Considered" but this creates a cool futuristic vibe. 

"MTBTTF" follows a more expected beat, as it returns to more of the drug dealing fantasy world sommon in rap. You can hear how sonically this project navigates the similar sphere as what Kayne and Kendrick does. As the album prgresses it continues further in this more mainstream direction. "Inglorious Bastards" works for what it is, but it's a more throughful and commerical version of trap rap dressed up like being conscious. Pharell hels use melody to elevate " So Far Ahead" above this. There are some nice sonic touches but the lyrical flow feels liek it is back in a comfortable place. 

The title track features NAS who does not really bring a ton to the table that we have not already heard from him. There is a more 80s beat to the last song that also finds Pharell helping out. I will give this album a 9, it's better than most but devolves in the second to be less thoughftful and more dialed in, but does offer more songwriting than most rap these days. 

pst523