clipse-til-the-casket-drops

Record sales and industry accolades be damned. The blood-brotherly tandem of Gene “Malice” Thornton and Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton have maintained an admirable career on the basis of their consistency to bring lyrical prowess to the forefront in a genre which is slowly devaluing the occult. Unwilling to put even a raindrop to their creative flame, the Clipse exist in Hip-Hop as a dying breed–affirmed by their third studio album Til The Casket Drops. An album unique in its identity with all the wow factor (and drab moments) that best describe a Clipse excursion.

As expected, lifetime collaborators/extended family The Neptunes handle most of the production duties with irresistible charm as heard on the hypnotic piano scales of “Popular Demand (Popeyes)” and boisterous aura of “Door Man.” But surprisingly enough, it’s the outside conductors that lay the foundation for The Brothers Thornton to engrave their most prolific sermons on to wax. DJ Khalil feeds the congregation with an exaltation of organs on a trek through the valley of death in a fitting album anchor on “Footsteps.” Malice in particular, bares his soul for all to examine the damage of living with regrets. The flickering wah-wah hymns on the genesis “Freedom,” produced by American Gangster commanders Sean C & LV, is equally as enlightening as the two open up on their moral standing, emancipating the quotable as if to make amends for their conflicted past.

Not that the Clipse ever needed assistance with creating killer cuts, but some of …Casket’s pallbearers help boost the appeal of its journey rather considerably. The inconceivable pairing of Yo Gotti pays off as he slays his guest spot on the red-hot “Showing Out.” Another DJ Khalil conception, “Kinda Like A Big Deal” is a no holds barred swagfest of wit and braggadocio featuring an aggressive Kanye West attacking his verse like a rabid dog sensing blood and even has a cocksure Pusha T boldly proclaiming “Third time’s a charm baby/After two classics another stripe up on my arm baby!”

Not quite. While it is highly questionable the Clipse even have one crowning achievement linked in their discography, incidentally, Til The Casket Drops falls victim to its own sporadic highlights; with the major records exposing their weaker counterparts for everything they lack. VA’s finest waste precious time on an already-brief LP chasing radio spins with unworthy candidates in the sappy “Counseling” and disjointed club dud “All Eyes On Me.” Both tracks shed light on the infrequent chemistry between The Neps and Clipse, further suggesting changes of paces aren’t always unwarranted. Especially with the magnetizing hues of “I’m Good” sustaining the commercial slot with precedence. On the flipside, the Re-Up Gang pow-wow “Never Will It Stop” offers very little to the fray musically and adds a bit of dead weight to the album’s lean physique.

A few rusty nails in the coffin aren’t nearly enough to kill the vibe Malice and Pusha set from the beginning of the funeral, however. The usual blend of uncanny wordplay over enamored sound demonstrate to be a lethal combo yet again for the duo. Once the shovel breaks soil, Til The Casket Drops is conclusive evidence that the Clipse will live vicariously through the music, even in death.

4 CIGARETTES