Clipse ‘Til The Casket Drops’ – Album Review
So dope…
They needed two covers?
No payment of monies or any other types of Payola was received in the writing of this post.
There’s some artists, not much, but some that, every time they drop an album I’m fiending to cop, take home, ingest into my system and zone out on their work. Used to be a lot, when dope was flooding the streets, and mostly everyone had good strong product. Not so much of that these days. A lotta weak brands out there claiming strong doses of hits. These days, I don’t get high off music that much. One of the few acts I look to to get me head nodding is the Clipse. They seem to understand what addicts like me need, and they haven’t disappointed. Yet. Just got a copy of their latest, their 3rd studio album entitled ‘Til The Casket Drops’. Last night, I sweated as I waited, oh so patiently for wife and kids to go to sleep, so I could dim down the lights, open up the package and snort in their latest drug. Like a true fiend. So is ‘Til The Casket Drops’ a strong high? Did I nod out to it, drooling, waiting for that next song to hit the vein? Here, let me share a taste with you.
1. Speak of Freedom (Produced By Sean C & LV) -- No skit, no intro, just the red meat of what this album is supposed to be about. Soulful vocals. Haunting. Guitar lick. Crisp drums. Raw. Pusher spits.
Scornful. About his conviction to making dope crack music. His conviction to his will to gain. Like a gift. Like a curse. I believe him. Ugh. Only the first verse to this effin album and I’m feeling that dope warming up my arm. My chest. Head already nodding. Wondering how this nigga stays flowing like this. Then vocals. Malice.
Hateful. Cocky. Heartless. Cold. A wake up call for listeners to never confuse him with his brother. The casket already dropped. On how they kilt this. Fuck.
Quotable: “They only tell you you great when They Reminicing Over You… Before I Trouble T. Roy, it’s just a B-boy, lemme play the role of a Common on his Be, boy.
2. Popular Demand (Popeyes) feat. Cam’ron (Produced By The Neptunes) -- Haters can start acting like they don’t already know this bitch ain’t the hottest rap song of 2009. Triple threat song.
i. Neptunes. At their fucking best. Like Pharell been jerking Jay-Z these past coupla years, saving his top shelf for his niggas from back home. I’m so high off them keys.
ii. Clipse sounding like they back home with they cousin Skateboard P, on some family gathering shit. Happy Holidays indeed.
iii. Cam’ron. Last heard on his classic ‘Crime Pays’ from earlier this year. King Diplomat himself sounding ignorant as ever, but keen wit and clever wordplay translating so clear when placed side by side against the Thornton brothers. You cats stay sleeping on Killa if you want. Yes. Clipse just flooded the streets with some new red caps.
Quotable: Other than the hook: ” Woulda raaaaaan, if you knew what I use’ta do, but call me uncle (uncle what?) Uncle Cam, I tax em, (like who?) like Uncle Sam, from the Jungle fam, where niggas bundle grams, fumble or you tumble, get murked on the humble aaaand…the gat on the belt on the hip, aaaaand I keep it Pharell with the clips…”
Strongest shit on the street since Rae’s blue tape. I’m so high right about now.
3. Kinda Like a Big Deal feat. Kanye West (Produced By DJ Khalil) - Sounds better now than when it dropped earlier this year. I’m kinda heated at how, how ‘Ye might have just murdered the Clipse on they own shit. Not at that, but at how it’s Kanye West. My least favorite rapper slowly becoming one of my favorite emcees. For how he been spitting after his last album. My high’s still climbing, just took a different turn. Got a chill, shivering. Drumline and strings is straight cold.The laser sound effects is so right. Slick shot at Wayne? Heh.
Quotable: “Im kinda like a big deal, its Unbelievable, you see my Warning gives you big chills, the flow running on Big’s heel, my Life After Death, Big ain’t get to see how this feels. Third times the charm baby, after two classics another stripe up on my arm baby… “
4. Showin’ Out (feat. Yo Gotti) - Crazy uptempo. Clipse and Gotti showin’ out.
Quotable: “Young nigga old money Benjamin Button, seeing through your poker face, that nigga bluffin, ladies going gaga for a nigga tryna fuck ‘em…”
5. I’m Good feat. Pharrell (Produced By The Neptunes) -- Didn’t even know it was the Clipse when I first started hearing it on rap radio a coupla months ago. Sounded like a cool radio single, until I played closer attention and nodded with satisfaction when I realized it was them with the Neptunes. Sounds like something straight off the Rick Ross album “Deeper Than Rap” from earlier this year. But by the Clipse. And in a good way. A feel good song, like that Fresh Prince, Jazzy Jeff “Summetime” song, except for drug dealers. On a good day.
Quotable: “Swimming through the streets looking like I’m Shamu, in that big body, with the wet paint, I got some pocket change, from selling wet weight. Today is a good day, Ice Cubes on my chest, looking at my Blackberry freak hit me on the text…”
6. There Was A Murder (Produced By DJ Khalil) -- More dope. They didn’t add too much cut to this batch. More spaced out slinkiness. Dope vocal hook. Southern cats on they Jamaican patois joint. I’m not mad at this. Five in, and I’m lost in a rap addict’s haze. Knowing that when more folk get up on this package, like me, they gonna be lost in the same haze, head nodding, wishing this high don’t ever end. Five songs in. “Niggas die out here for snitching.” My shit’s beating fast right now. Like I might eff around and catch an overdose. Fuck.
Quotable: “Seen police come rush, whole family crush, all because some pussy couldn’t hush, chatbox mouths wit no covers, body ‘pon body get stack one top the other, wish them ‘ell to suffer…”
7. Door Man (Produced By The Neptunes) -Oh. Shit. Completely forgot about this heatrock from a coupla weeks ago. Feels so good hearing it again. Right now, a blogger is completely numb to the pains of the world. Heart’s still pumping this poisoned Heaven through my system. Still high, but switched up, nigga starting to feel hyped. Scruntch face just turned into a scowl. Like if I was disgusted at how sick this shit is sounding to my ears right now. Like anything else I heard this year was straight wack. So mother. fucking. ready. to. kill. anyone tryna sell me weaker crack after this one. Ugh!
Quotable: “My life’s too real to be a P.S.A., the million in the ceiling for a rainy day. I cut it, then whip her like she Annie Mae, praise God I escaped by his amazing grace…”
8. Never Will It Stop feat. Ab-Liva (Produced By Sean C & LV) -- A Re-Up gang joint. With Ab-Liva. But with no Sandman Cannons. I like Sandman. Worked with him back in like 2000, another dope emcee that Clark Kent discovered and brought through the office. An interesting dude. Might have to drop a post on him one day. But before I get to miss him too much on this beat, Sean C and LV switch up the high again. This time with the album’s first urgent beat. Going from amped to nervous as I start tapping my left foot nervously. In my foggy mind, I’m distracted at imagining how Cannons would have sounded remarkable on this, but Pusha, Malice and Liva sound brand new on this. Dope. Would have been doper with Sandman.
Quotable: “I come from the corner like most niggas, now from afar I toast niggas, roast niggas, anywhere whichever the coast nigga, compare me to them two ghost niggas, Hail Mary…”
9. Eyes On Me feat. Keri Hilson (Produced By The Neptunes) - Damn. Really wasn’t ready for this. Abrupt switch up. Kinda kilt my high. Nervous went straight loopy. Neptunes on some Nelly Furtado Timaland track. Or like a Black Eyed Peas song. Keri Hilson sounding right though. Clipse rapping like this was “Planet Rock”. I get it. Clipse shot at a crossover hit. Not mad at them. Just wasn’t expecting it here, on an album that was straight heroin crack music. Not appreciating how this woke me but I hope it pays off for these cats. Hopefully I’ll dig this more once radio beats me into submission.
Qutables: Not on this one.
10. Counseling (feat. Nicole Hurst Produced By The Neptunes) -- Another poppy rap happy song about chicks. And how the Clipse need counseling. Not as abrupt and off like that song from before. More of a r&b synth 80’s type vibe. Gotta give it a couple more listen to’s. Not mad at it though.
Quoatable: “Maybe I’m crazy, maybe just maybe, it’s hard finding time, can’t tell me I’m lazy. The way my phone rings may seem a bit shady, I’m bout my cash money ma, maybe it’s Baby…”
11. Champion (Produced By The Neptunes) -- A typical Neptunes radio friendly track that Pharell could have sold to Jay-Z. Nice bouncy 808 base though, about how the Clipse is champions. Mos def will grow on me. But since I’m reviewing this on my first listen, I’ll keep from fully judging this.
12. Footsteps (Produced By DJ Khalil) - Okay. We back on that drug, like a relapse. No Eminem. Organs. Like a funeral. Greasy drum beat, strings. More lasers. This is soulful. Good too. I’m nodding out, eyes zoned out again.
Quotable: “Through flows I give you Mein Kampf , kilos consigned ‘em, do as I say like Simon, and U2 will diamond blind hon, I’m on my Dylan Dillinger, flow just killing ya, you wonder why the real ain’t feeling ya, ya frauding, I Masion jar Martin Margelled them oz together since Hov was name droppin Charles Jourdan…Yeecchh”. Yes. Yeecchh indeed.”
13. Life Change (Produced By The Neptunes) -- More dopeness. Sounds like the Clipse is spitting confessionals. Like they seen shit that made them, forced them to change their lives. Like they sending a kite to they niggas locked up behind bars. Sounding real inspirational right about now. Neptunes top shelf again. Like Jay got jerked again. Heh. Hook is uplifting. Yeah. This shit hot B. Great way to end a dope fucking album.
Quotable: “Yes, more than blessed I was chosen, I been known the truth my wisdom is that of old men. Wasted so much time stuntin’ for folk, when really the whole time I was stunting my growth…”
14. I’m Good (Remix) Featuring Rick Ross -- Like I said, sounded like a Rick Ross song. The Bawss does a great job staying fresh on this, keeping on point alongside these Va. spitters. Not that the remix was necessary, but it’s not exactly like this is overkill. I’m good with this.
Quotable: “The indictment’s unsealed all the lawyers paid, to my players getting money you I serenade, in that German Nazi, them Italian mobsters, talking Benzes and Ferrarris if you couldn’t follow. They say I’m underrated, I say that’s overstated, I couldn’t tell I thought a kilo meant I finally made it. Then came ten, twenty came quick, walked out the kitchen face white as Taylor Swift’s…”
Whew. Album’s done. I feel like I was high for most of this album. And like they claimed, the third time’s the charm. Clipse dropped a certified third classic piece with this one. There’s no question that rap fiends everywhere will find a way, through copping, beg, borrow or stealing to catch a dose of this drug. Trust. This right here is good money for real. Streets just turnt into Hamsterdam again. Instantly going head to head with Raekown’s “OB4CL2″ for top contender of the year. This albums one of the reasons I continue to eff with rap, eff with Hip Hop. Nasir Jones was dead wrong. Shit ain’t never dead B, cats just ain’t doing it right. Salutes. Salutes. Salutes. ‘Til The Casket Drops‘ is a must have and will be staying on deck for a long effin time. I’m buying a copy on gp when it drops. Next month. December 8th 4th. Made my year hearing this. Can’t wait for the next time I sniff this in again, like that snow white. The casket done dropped, because the Clipse cold murdered this bitch!
Got the munchies now. Need me some chicken and fries. With a cold ass Sprite.
Dope review! Literally HA! But you missed that Showin’ Out track with Yo Gotti!
got my promo copy as well…pure fire…Clipse killed it AGAIN! To me despite Hov and Rae album of the year.
daaaaaaaaamn @ Clipse knowing what “Mein Kampf” translates to… this is why I always vote for the Clipse all day every day, they are bar-for-bar the most literary out there.
“I’m such an author, I should smoke a pipe”
Album is fire. I think it’s mature in that it cut back on the “coke rap” that we’ve come to expect from the Clipse. I was wondering about their budget for this album being that they got a new deal with Columbia. It’s bit “happy” for me compared to Hell Hath No Fury but kudos to the Bro’s Thornton. It’s like a movie where they got out the dope game and can now sit back and celebrate like Avon and Stringer gone right.
Great fucking review CJ. Exactly how I felt this album, been waiting on this for a while and got to give it to the Brothers Thornton…..they didn’t disappoint. I’m wasn’t sold on the radio-friendly tracksn that litle patch from 9 to 11, but like the other leaks the work sounds right in sequencing. Album of the year.
Speak of Freedom is jus, Cot Damn! Shit’s ridiculous, best opening shot on any LP in a looong fucking time.
EEUUGHCKK!
And for the record, I’m mos def coppin this CD when it hits the shelf next week (as should anyone else who cares for good music)…. but I had to get a taste when i new there was a leak.
Man I OD’d on this joint last night, woke up drooling, needle still in my arm…If any1 doesnt like this album kick rocks and swim in sand!
*CJ the correct pronunciation is “eeeeeeeuuuuuuuuccccccckkkkkkkkk!” lol
^ “*CJ the correct pronunciation is “eeeeeeeuuuuuuuuccccccckkkkkkkkk!” lol”
Good looking fam. I was up late last night writing this, thinking “how in the hell do they spell that?” Heh.
there was neverrrrr a doubt
great review.. but im biased cause clipse is one of my all time favorite groups
CJ add this 2 the ‘Showin Out’ quotable “They tell me rap changed well I’mma have 2 let her, Commom loved her, i wish i never met her, they slutted her out theres nuffin left 2 treasure, all she seems 2 say is n*99a where them dollas at…” and this is the lyrics from the prerequisite stuntin song…Red tops indeed
great review.
without the pop break (9 10 n 11) this one would be classic galore.so it’s’just’very dope.
Persuasive but… I know it’s a minority hardcore opinion but the Clipse bore the fuck out of me; that Cam elevates that Obama Fried Chicken song waaaay up shows the difference between dudes who mean well (like Clipse) and one who’s a mad genius and far nicer with the wordplay.
I like the idea of Clipse = Mobb Deep 2009 with a Virginia twist but other than some nice beats, I don’t hear ‘em as better than, say, Wu Syndicate– who, despite the lame, shadows-of-Shaolin name, made the best VA hip-hop album I’ve ever heard.
^^^^ Lawrence of Flatbush^^^^^^ what exactly bores you about The Brothers Thorton? I think they are the best rap group out at this time; lyrics, flow, and delivery are all exceptional to say the least. The subject matter is a stickin point, I will give you that, but the way its presented to the listener is quite head and shoulders above any ‘Coke’ rappers out there. If you havent take ‘Til the Casket Drops’ to the lab and i doubt you will walk away not entertained.
*No Play Cloths were accepted for the creation of this comment lol
I’m just gonna riff Fresh but it’s too much empty style; fuck knows I can’t listen to a whole Jeezy or Officer Ross album either but they at least mix it up a little in their best moments. Even if I empathize with dudes trying to make hard albums with at least some radio potential…
… the concept is so limited they’re just good guest rappers to me, as on whatever Ghostface remix I’m thinking of (“Kilo”).
Speaking of which, maybe we can get a Combat Jack “Wizard of Poetry” review as part of 2009 wrap-up? I think it’s both brilliant and flawed but peaks way higher than Clipse ever have.
I do dig the song with Cam– check “nugget’s” (sic) on the awning of Obama Fried Chicken too!
^^^^Lawrence of Flatbush^^^^ I can dig it, we all like what we like, so we can just agree 2 disagree (as he thinks of what songs can convert this wayward soul lol)….
I agree a good Wizard of Poetry review would be nice 2 close out 2009
haven’t heard this yet (tell me they went with the first cover!) but before you start talking about best of 09 albums, make sure you listen to that new O.C. & A.G.!!!!
Popular Demand (Popeyes) feat. Cam’ron (Produced By The Neptunes) — Haters can start acting like they don’t already know this bitch ain’t the hottest rap song of 2009
=====================================
Nah, I can’t co-sign this. Cam was sleepwalking through his verse.
Thank you for that.
Just heard the joint and its solid. I cant front at first I thought CJ was a lame suit(whats dudes name from entourage) not knowing his hiphop background but your opinion has to be respected like one of my loyal hip hop heads
i haven’t let the whole album sink in yet, but that’s just cause i’ve been busy listening to “freedom” on repeat. jesus, i don’t even know what to say. might be my favorite raps in at least 2 or 3 years. 50 play counts since yesterday evening and i’m not even considering stopping.
yo man, took me a coupla listens and yeah man… the clipse have come just as hard as the last two albums, no filler… im diggin all the r&b hooks and some def hip hop quotables on this album… yup agreed cj nailed it… clipse have done it again
[...] You’re right about emo rap killing it with numbers, and if that’s what we talking about, the yes. But with regard to that shit that knocked the most to true heads, I’d say no. And don’t be afraid to listen to ‘Til The Casket Drops’. It’s all that. Peep: http://daily-math.com/weblog/?p=1970 [...]
This 128 rip is killllling my ears.
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I just peeped this. This could potentially be top 5 album this year. I wasn’t feeling that ‘Eyes On Me’ shit though. Other than that, it knocks!
I really have to take a listen now
[...] Combat Jack Clipse ‘Til The Casket Drops’ – Album Review Share and Enjoy: [...]
[...] Daily Mathematics (9.2 out of 10) [...]
[...] to build with the Clipse last week. You already know how I feel about their recent release “Til The Casket Drops”. Them dudes was mad cool as we discussed a range of topics. One question I had to squeeze off was [...]
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hiphopblog.com/
[...] ‘Til The Casket Drops’ – Clipse: You already know. Delete three cuts from this and Til The Casket Drops is a no brainer. Brothers Thornton spitting [...]
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I was playing this album yesterday and still curious why it didn’t have a bigger impact with people and overall sales. I think its a great album. However, sonically I think the album was more suited for a summer release rather than December when it dropped. Take an album like “Liquid Swords” by GZA; that LP is perfect in the winter time (released 11/1995). If it dropped it in summer I’d still play it but would it resonate with me the same way? I don’t think it would. The first three singles; “Kinda Like A Big Deal”, “Popeyes” & I’m Good” are all sonically/thematically better in the summer. On some level the album delays affected the the success this album could’ve had in my opinion. Just my theory I could be wrong. The Keri Hilson song was not needed AT ALL on this album. Solid review.
peace.
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