Anyone who's been reading this blog for a while knows that hip hop isn't really our bag. But there are a few artists in the genre that we do get excited for. The new album, the third, from Clipse is one of those. The record, Til the Casket Drops, err...drops on December 8th.What is most appealing about Clipse is the duo's rough edged approach to hip hop. The in-the-moment feel of the records provides a refreshing jolt in a genre that is saturated with over-produced and over-Autotuned. The mere absence of cliched samples makes Clipse a more worthwhile listen.
Til the Casket Drops is a little less in-your-face than the group's previous efforts. Yes, the themes of street life are still prominent, however, with a few notable exceptions like "Door Man", the raps are delivered with slightly less aggression than we've heard in the past. We are even treated to a fun-filled Sex Rehab-worthy track in "Counseling".
The Virginia Beach pair also succumb to the pressure to fill their album with guest appearances. Kanye West, Cam'ron, Pharrell, Nicole Hurst, Ab Liva, and Keri Hilson all lend their talents to the record with varying degrees of success. In fact, Hilson's soulful vocals on "All Eyes On Me" are the lone instance when a guest actually adds something that Clipse could not have done on their own.
The songs are actually best when Clipse are left to do it on their own. Unimpeded by having to fit in a guest rapper, tracks like "There Was a Murder" and the aforementioned "Door Man" blow your doors off.
Til the Casket Drops may not be the best work we've heard from Clipse, their worst is better than 98% of the hip hop you'll hear on the airwaves.
Best tracks: "Door Man", "Counseling"
Track listing for Til the Casket Drops:
- Freedom
- Popular Demand (Popeyes)
- Kinda Like a Big Deal
- Showing Out
- I'm Good
- There Was a Murder
- Door Man
- Never Will It Stop
- All Eyes On Me
- Counseling
- Champion
- Footsteps
- Life Change
7.0/10
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1 praise/complaints:
Good review - I think this new record's definitely a different direction for Clipse, but it's still completely solid. These guys do a great job of keeping their music interesting. Anyone who hasn't heard it yet should really check it out!
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