#38 - Phil

Clipse

Lord Willin'

2002

Seven years ago, brothers Pusha T and Malice – together known as Clipse – released their debut rap album Lord Willin’ off the Neptunes’ brand new label, Star Trak. The album was received pretty well critically, but Clipse weren’t able to attain the kind of commercial success they and the Neptunes hoped for. I didn’t purchase my first Clipse album until 2006’s Hell Hath No Fury, a spectacularly well-produced album that was hailed as a masterpiece by XXL magazine. For me, the record was solid but minimally affecting; despite the Neptunes’ phenomenal production I was not a big fan of Clipse’s lyrics or even most of the songs in general. All that changed when I finally heard Pusha T and Malice’s masterful debut from four years earlier.

An adjective that’s very commonly used in hip-hop circles is “hungry.” It’s a measurement of a rapper’s effort to bring all of their skills to the table; in theory the “hungrier” an MC is the greater work he or she will produce. I can honestly say that Lord Willin’ is one of the hungriest rap albums I’ve ever heard. Both Pusha T and Malice sound like they’ve been waiting for years for the chance to show off their skills to the world; every track brings a level of youthful energy that few artists can match. And while the Neptunes’ production may not quite reach the heights of HHNF, it’s still incredibly solid; frontman Pharrell Williams does an excellent job of knowing when to provide his voice and take the songs’ beats to new directions. What makes this album such a classic for me, though, is Clipse’s brutal honesty and grittiness with where they came from – just listen to their coke-infested single below and you’ll know just what I mean. -P.W.

As I’ve said in previous comments, I have a difficult time getting into hardcore gangsta rap. That’s why I was surprised when I loved Hell Hath No Fury so much. Clipse may not initially come off as the most intelligent rap duo when superficially listening to their music, but when I listen more closely they always impress me with how clever their lyrics can be. While I still have a difficult time identifying with the culture of this kind of rap, the swift yet cool production style always grabs me. - Ryan

The grittiness of Clipse has always been alluring to me since I first heard "Hell Hath No Fury". This debut, produced by the Neptunes, puts that record into perspective for me. While "Hell Hath No Fury" is a honed masterpiece of dirt and cocaine, "Lord Willin'" suffers a little from some of the clean synth-based production. All in all though, I was terribly impressed with this debut, certainly a record that I shall be revisiting in the future. Thanks for this one Phil. - Steve