CD Review: The Clipse, Hell Hath No Fury
In recent musical memory, every year ushers in at least one critically acclaimed and commercially successful hip-hop album, whether it's Kanye West's Late Registration, Outkast's The Love Below, or Jay Z's The Black Album. What these albums have in common is a strong crossover appeal, thanks to a groundbreaking sound that helps redefine the genre.
This year, the closest thing to an album of that ilk (aside from perhaps the new Jay Z) is probably Hell Hath No Fury (Re-Up Gang/Zomba), the sophomore album from hip-hop duo The Clipse. Comprised of brothers Malice and Pusha T, The Clipse is tight with production duo the Neptunes, and listening to this album alongside Gwen Stefani's makes you realize just how versatile Pharrell and Chad Hugo are. Because unlike Outkast and Kanye—whose pop-influenced and sample-heavy rhymes take the "gangsta" out of rap—The Clipse relies on dark lyrics and eerie beats that explore the fallout from champagne, cocaine, and "dirty money," so read more
Musically, Hell Hath No Fury isn't revolutionary: The beat- and rhyme-driven songs are sparse, shadowy and, occasionally, too repetitive. But the duo's major accomplishment is in its lyrics, which cast a critical eye on a snow- and ice-drenched reality. In standout tracks like "Mr. Me Too" and "Dirty Money," The Clipse explore the constant tension between a yearning for the finer things life and a disdain for how those things are acquired. Namely, "Pyrex stirrers turned into Cavalli furs," as Pharrell raps on the album's swaying highlight, "Mr. Me Too." Similarly, on "Dirty Money," The Clipse call out the hypocrisy of any judgmental hangers-on:
"Long as I'm nice with the flame and the flask /
I don't mind keepin' you up on the must-haves /
Peep-toe pumps, Gucci slouch bag /
Now tell me, is that dirty money really that bad?"
Beneath it all, the well-crafted instrumentation and sonic accents lend an illicit vibe to even the most triumphant moments. Strange grunts and gagging sounds mix with sharp-edged percussion and orchestration befitting a horror film. Hell Hath No Fury won't be a dancefloor favorite, but it does manage to break new ground in its genre.
