Even though the title has been used already that still should be the name of the Clipse’s final CD with Jive Records. The relationship was tenuous at best and both parties went to counseling to try to work things out, but it looks like Koch Records is the winner again.
Why can’t Clipse find that next plateau that music acts need in order to remain relevant on the ledgers of their record labels? They were in New York City performing twice within the space of two weeks. They have across the spectrum appeal from their fan base. Emo thugs and hipster fans(heretofore regarded as Clipsters) alike love the Clipse yet between these two groups nary is a CD with legit cover art to be found.
I saw the Clipse get down at the Sneaker Pimps event in Manhattan. Even though I was there to see GhostFace it seemed to me that the overwhelming number of people had turned out for the Clipse. One way this was evidenced was that everyone knew all their songs line for line. Not just the eternal Hip-Hop bangers, but even the shitty non-descrip mixtape joints featuring the Re-Up Gang. You couldn’t tell me after seeing that show that the new Clipse album wasn’t going to be hard to handle the way they had these sneaker freaks on smash. Turns out that the sneaker lovers and the Clipsters alike both get their Clipse albums for cheap.
The Clipse return to the top of my list as the most downloaded of all time, surpassing even Jay-Z and Nas. Try this little experiment… Ask someone you know that listens to Hip-Hop if they like the Clipse. Then ask them how many Clipse albums they’ve bought. If they say more than two they’re lying to you. I’ll bet they’ve bought more Clipse ringtones than CD’s. This is the conundrum that the execs at Jive Records have had to deal with. They have a wildly popular group of artists and they can’t seem to move the units that correspond to their popularity.
I blame the Neptunes. Their track record is that they don’t craft albums sonically. They make hit singles which become hit ringtones, but their inability to texturize their sound makes anyone that works with them on a large project sound redundant. The Neptunes sound ruined Philly’s Most Wanted. The same thing is happening for the Clipse too. If they were produced by DipSet’s Heatmakers the Clipse might have sold four million records by now. Or maybe their Clipster fan base likes them in a different way.
Jay-Z’s fans worship his image and believe his backstory to the point that they hypothesize how Jay was able to be a kingpin while selling crack and never get caught. The Clipsters don’t create the same illusions in their minds. There are no long lines of crack fiends to co-sign Pusha T and Malice’s narco-trafficking achievements. When these fans think of the Clipse having it for cheap, they think dirt cheap wamp wamp.
MP3 freestyle.
Funny you should bring this up. I was in NY last week on business for the day. I took the Amtrak and coming back home, guess who was on my train….the Clipse. These gentlemen had Louis Vuitton suitcases, bathing ape jackets, jewelry, blackberry phones, etc….on the damn Amtrak. Interesting huh?
Ab-Liva > Jay-Z
For real, coming from the home of the Neptunes, Kenna, and Clipse, I’ve always thought that Neptunes production was wrong for hip-hop.
They’ve made some rap bangers too but I just couldn’t fully co-sign their sh*t because they can’t hold down the task of making grimy tracks like that. I haven’t heard the new Clipse joint yet but it’s a shame cuz those cats can SPIT!
DMP (Nottz’ crew) should have been blown up too. They been around as long as Clipse.
It’s true. People can say whatever they want about his rapping ability, the beats on that Jim Jones record are 50 times better than the ones on the Clipse record. Those dudes would murder those beats like they did on We Got it 4 Chad Hugo (bad) Vol. 69. (No Skateboard P)
Hmm..you make some interesting points, however I will disagree on the Heatmakerz being able to sell the Clipse like they did with Dipset. The Heatmakerz fell off after D.I. 1 for the sole reason that after a while you can only loop whole songs and add a break…it gets redundant after 3 songs.
“Turns out that the sneaker lovers and the Clipsters alike both get their Clipse albums for cheap.” – that made me laugh out loud.
best regards, nice info