A new album by Clipse, Til the Casket Drops, slips under the radar in terms of publicity, but soars according to quality. It’s a well recorded hip-hop album with some surprisingly fresh tracks. After finally settling all of their record label issues, Clipse is at last enjoying a little ease with Columbia Records, and it seems to be working for these two brothers from Virginia Beach. The duo has evidently been working hard on their style, perspective, and rhythm. Almost every song possesses a quality of its own; it’s still like current hip-hop, but with an inclination for something more unconventional. So many mixes echo off each other these days, with sounds and beats being digested a thousand times. But Clipse is looking to explore some new territory, albeit it in small ways. Kinda Like a Big Deal is a good number featuring (surprisingly) Kanye. I also like Showing Out, which is a flaunt-piece for rappers who know how to sustain a good rhyme for countless bars. However, the most notable track is There Was a Murder, a solid tune mixing reggae and hip-hop in a sly, cool admixture; it’s certainly a direction you wish Clipse would go in more. With some pretty clever ideas scattered around, Til the Casket Drops is worth the perusal.
David Rozon
Key Tracks: Kinda Like a Big Deal, Popular Demand, Showing Out
Moods: Fierce, Confrontational, Malevolent, Rebellious, Menacing, Harsh
Buy: Til the Casket Drops
related
- Bruce Springsteen – Working On A Dream
- Jay-Z Waves Goodbye To Def Jam
- Spaced Out: Dr. Dre Talks Instrumental Hip-Hop Album About Planets
