Hell Hath No Fury : Clipse : Review : Rolling Stone

The new Clipse album sounds a hell of a lot like the last one. Neither rapper Pusha T nor Malice exhibit much personal or artistic growth -- or star power, for that matter. All the songs are about selling cocaine and driving sports cars, with no R&B divas anywhere in sight to give listeners a break.

So why is it one of the best hip-hop albums of the year? For one, nobody gets the beats -- dry, hard and evil -- that Clipse get from Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. (As Pusha and Malice say themselves, "We Got It for Cheap.") The clappity-clap and synth line of "Wamp Wamp (What It Do)" hit the back of your head, where the nerves bunch up. The speedy synth drum hits of "Ain't Cha" could raise the beats-per-minute of hip-hop radio single-handedly. The queasy "Chinese New Year" groove has the tension of somebody busting into a room with a gun.

It's almost enough to make you think MCs are completely unnecessary, except that Pusha and Malice complement the Neptunes, and each other, perfectly. The similarity of the duo's voices gives the music a subtle push and pull -- the brothers pick up on the other one's verses like they were harmonizing. Since their 2002 hit "Grindin'," they've captured the mind-set of the hungry, midlevel dealer: "You're trying get that big chain, ain't cha?" they ask, "You're trying to save for the Range, ain't cha?" No matter how much they talk about their Lotus, they still sound on edge, a little paranoid that they could be broke tomorrow -- more Bodie than Marlo Stanfield, if this were The Wire. A word of advice: Take it easy, fellas. You have the good stuff.

NATHAN BRACKETT

(Posted: Nov 27, 2006)

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Give us your review of Hell Hath No Fury

Review 1 of 9

5of 5 Stars

Best hip-hop album since Late Registration.

Mar 26, 2008 10:18:48

Review 2 of 9

5of 5 Stars

The creativity and graphic musical and lyrical detail elevates this cd above gangsta rap as usual. Tracks like Chinese New Year take the gun clappin' antics of Bone Thugs 'n' harmony and g-unit to a much more real and scary place. these brothers are going to stick around, whether there shit sells out or not. the only drawback to this album? no lp.

Jan 24, 2007 22:30:15

Review 3 of 9

4of 5 Stars

ok ok ok ok lets give these guys a round of appluase! the beats are crazy and the lyrics are even better. So yea but this one out the store not on bootleg but it out the dtore because its that cold....

Jan 9, 2007 08:45:36

Review 4 of 9

5of 5 Stars

Been 2 years like I wa patty waggin cruisin.....
This album is the best album to come out in 2006. It was more complex than Lupe, more lyrical than Nas and Gay-Z. The Clipse have found the Holy Grail of Hip Hop, and everyone is about to hop on their nuts. Only a few minor bumps on the album, like the Pharrel hook on We On Our Way, but the rest was crack. These niggas got bars for days.

Dec 28, 2006 11:45:37

Review 5 of 9

5of 5 Stars

dis album iz da shyit! go an get it ppl. its flamin like dem lighters in rock concerts. da competition of rappers da likes of jay-z or nas has jus entered da buildin yo. deez niggaz got skillz fa'rilla doe!

Dec 12, 2006 00:19:35

Review 6 of 9

5of 5 Stars

Very few times can artists raise the bar from their original breakthrough album. The beats are ridiculous....havent been feeling recent Neptunes efforts. But this time they got it right. I think its important understand how well the Clipse Duo raps....in an age of hooks and repitition, these kats rip through the mic with hunger.

Dec 6, 2006 10:57:21

Review 7 of 9

5of 5 Stars

The best Hip Hop album since, well, Lord Willin'. Nobody can beat the Neptunes when they are on their game like this. No filler, no intros, no outros, just 50 minutes of the creme of the Hip Hop crop.

Buy this now.

Nov 29, 2006 10:33:12

Review 8 of 9

4of 5 Stars

fire....best hiphop album of the year. The album doesnt try to please anyone. Its 100% clipse cocaina music.
Of all the rap albums I have anticipated this year, this is the only one that doesnt disappoint.

Nov 28, 2006 20:44:55

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