review of first Clipse album
MJ
Clipse
Exclusive Audio Footage
Elektra
Production: The Neptunes
3 1/2 mics
Chances are the average hip-hop listener doesn't know
too much about Clipse. Why? First of all, the two-man
team hails from Virginia, and outside of Mad Skillz and
the various members of Missy and Timbaland's camp,
there aren't too many MCs reppin' VA. Secondly, they
haven't been thrown in your face by guest appearing on
every record from East to West like most debut rappers
these days.
Individually known as Malice and Terrar, Clipse provide
a delightful deviation from the normal overdose of clutter
flooding the current hip-hop market on their first trip
through hip-hop orbit, "Exclusive Audio Footage".
Various references to outer space and Star Trek invite
comparisons to Outkast's "ATLiens," but Clipse quickly
establish their own identity through their concept-driven
lyrics and original, fast-paced rhyme style.
You've already seen the highly stylized and very creative
video for "The Funeral," on which the two tell of their
demise in the past tense. But check "Hostage," where
their lyrics race the track while the two rappers meta-
phorically describe a hip-hop hostage situation with the
hostage being anyone - from the wack rapper to the playa
hater to the street enemy. On "Stick Girl," Malice and
Terrar put an interesting twist on checking a mistress
who doesn't seem to understand what purpose she serves.
With production handled exclusively by The Neptunes
(responsible for Noreaga's "Superthug"), the beats on
this debut sound so different they further distinguish the
VA-based production duo's sound from the competition.
On "Power," they combine a repetitive bass music-
reminiscent snare drum with a regal horn. Songs like
"You Don't Even Know" and "Feel Like Me," both
with catchy sing-songy choruses, are sure to have long
lives simply because of their club potential.
Of course, an album with 21 cuts is bound to have
a few mediocre moments. "Bodysnatchers" and "Wild
Cowboy," for example, just don't live up to Clipse's
potential. But even on those tracks, the music comes
across so uniquely it doesn't seem to hurt the album
at all. Although the blood brothers more than establish
themselves as lyrically and conceptually adept song-
writers, the production on "Exclusive Audio Footage"
really makes this first effort worth a listener's hard-
earned dollars.
(Kim Osorio)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As Delacroix pointed out before, the album
was shelved by Elektra.
Still - anyone heard it?
Matt
Delacroix
wonder why she became editor. I remember that that "Funeral" video was big on
Rap City for like 2 months straight (it might have even been #1 on the top 10
for a week) and that they had a song with Kelis. I really wanna get a copy of
this album. I am sure that there's gotta be a few copies around somewhere for
the bootleggers to take advantage of, since I know it was reviewed in XXL too
and I am almost positive it was in Blaze as well, but I'll have to look through
it tonight. I bet there's probably a couple promotional copies that are
floating around in used cd bins somewhere and the store owners don't even know
what they have.
MJ
news:20021203152840...@mb-ml.aol.com...
> Damn, this review makes this album sound damn interesting and worth
buying, no
> wonder why she became editor.
I wonder if the 'Star Trek' references she pointed out
were actually just mentions of Star Trak Entertaiment.
> I am sure that there's gotta be a few copies around somewhere for
> the bootleggers to take advantage of
Google does produce a few results, I'm sure it was
available for download and maybe still is if you're
looking at the right places.
Matt
Bruce-Bruce
> from: The Source (8/99)
>
> Individually known as Malice and Terrar
Peace.
Terrar now pens himself 'Pusha T'.
Pizon
That's a pun on Booker T the wrestler, right?
Get at me,
Pizon
http://www.lascalaentertainment.com
--
My mentality is "what, kid?"
Bruce-Bruce
Maybe. I haven't watched wrestling ever since Hercules Cortez and Red
Bastion were killed in a auto wreck.
"Pizon" <rocks...@aol.commonsense> wrote in message
news:20021205103526...@mb-ch.aol.com...
Next Movement
>from: The Source (8/99)
>
>Clipse
>Exclusive Audio Footage
>Elektra
>Production: The Neptunes
>3 1/2 mics
>
>
>
>As Delacroix pointed out before, the album
>was shelved by Elektra.
>Still - anyone heard it?
>
>Matt
>
>
>
>
I copped this a few weeks ago. It's pretty dope and funny as hell
because Pusha-T's voice has changed a lot since the conception of that
1st album. There is a song on it called "Breakfast In Cairo" featuring
Noreaga & Kurupt that heads might want to check out.
N_M