Let God Sort Em Out

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Let God Sort Em Out
A grainy, cartoon-styled, pink-tinted drawing of a creature's disjointed skeleton with the eyes crossed out, with various gloves scattered around. Designed by the American artist Kaws.
Studio album by
Clipse
ReleasedJuly 11, 2025
Recorded2023‒2024
Studio
LabelRoc Nation
ProducerPharrell Williams (also exec.)
Clipse chronology
Til the Casket Drops
(2009) 		Let God Sort Em Out
(2025)
Singles from Let God Sort Em Out
  1. "Ace Trumpets"
    Released: May 30, 2025

Let God Sort Em Out is the upcoming fourth[a] studio album by the American hip-hop duo Clipse, consisting of brothers Pusha T and Malice. Set to be released by Roc Nation on July 11, 2025, it marks the duo's first album since Til the Casket Drops (2009); Malice quit in 2010, and the pair reunited in 2019. Pharrell Williams, a longtime collaborator and mentor to the duo who provided production for every previous Clipse album, returns as the album's executive and only producer. John Legend, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, and Stove God Cooks will appear as guests.

Rumors of a new Clipse album started when Pharrell, who became creator director of menswear at luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton in 2023, included a new Clipse song in the soundtrack to the Louis Vuitton Men's Spring-Summer 2024 Show; the next two annual editions would also feature music from the duo. The album's recording sessions, spanning from 2023 to 2024, were split between a studio in the trio's home city of Virginia Beach, Virginia and the Louis Vuitton headquarters in Paris, France. The cover artwork was designed by the American artist Kaws, who designed the artwork for Til the Casket Drops.

Originally planned for a 2024 release, the album was delayed when the duo's then-label Def Jam Recordings and its parent company Universal Music Group demanded Lamar's guest verse on the song "Chains & Whips" be either censored or removed. Although the official reason given to the group was that Lamar rapped the word "trump", and the label was worried about blowback from United States President Donald Trump, Pusha T publicly claimed in multiple interviews that he believed the real reason to be both his and Lamar's public feuds with the Canadian rapper Drake, resulting in Pusha T's 2018 diss track "The Story of Adidon" and Lamar's 2024 rap battle with Drake; in 2025, Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group for its publication of Lamar's diss "Not Like Us". Pusha T added that his music had been censored multiple times since 2018 over what Def Jam perceived to be lyrics about Drake. Refusing to censor Lamar's verse, Clipse agreed to pay a seven-figure sum to be dropped from the deal, signing to Roc Nation instead.

The lead single, "Ace Trumpets", was released on May 30, 2025. Another track, "So Be It", was released as a promotional single via YouTube on June 17, 2025.

Background

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2009–2022: Clipse breakup and reunion

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Til the Casket Drops (2009) was the final album before the duo split to make solo material. The breakup was initiated by Malice, who had multiple conversations with Pusha T about quitting the duo, including after a studio session with Rick Rubin.[4] The final straw was when, amid pressure from the indictment of their manager and other people in their lives, Malice angrily declared to Pusha T on a plane that he was done with the duo.[5][6] Although the breakup wasn't made public at the time, rumors that the duo was over began when Malice changed his stage name to No Malice, converted to Christianity, and started making Christian hip-hop.[b] In 2014, No Malice firmly denied the possibility of a reunion.[10] His attitude had softened by 2016: "I'ma tell you that I learned to never say never, and I don't shut the door on anything. I really don't. In fact, I would like to see Clipse do it. But I just do things differently."[7]

Without announcing a full reunion, the duo appeared together (credited as Clipse) on "Use This Gospel" by Kanye West, from his album Jesus Is King (2019),[11] having also worked on what would later become "Follow God".[6] They appeared again on "Punch Bowl" by Nigo, from his album I Know Nigo! (2022).[12] In 2022, the duo started performing live again.[3] No Malice made a guest appearance (credited as Malice) on "I Pray for You" by Pusha T, from his album It's Almost Dry (2022);[13] after the announcement of Let God Sort Em Out, he would change his stage name back to Malice, stating "That's who the Clipse is – Malice and Pusha".[6]

2023–2024: Behind-the-scenes label signings and dispute

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It was revealed in October 2024 that Clipse was signed to Def Jam Recordings, which had already been Pusha T's label as a solo artist.[14] The signing happened much earlier but went long unannounced. Journalist Elias Leight wrote that the duo was already signed as of "early" 2024.[15] Music industry executive Brian Zisook publicly claimed that Clipse was already under Def Jam c. June 2023.[16][c]

The album was delayed significantly from a planned 2024 release when Def Jam and its parent company, Universal Music Group (UMG), wanted a guest verse by Kendrick Lamar to be censored or removed.[d] Clipse refused to censor or remove Lamar. The stalemate ended when Pusha T paid a seven-figure sum[15] for him and the duo to be released from Def Jam before signing to Roc Nation instead.[18]

The latter signing was informally announced in May 2025 when a picture of the duo in front of the Roc Nation insignia, captioned with the album title, was posted to Instagram jointly by the duo and Roc Nation itself.[19]

Promotion

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Teaser tracks and promotional press

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"[This album is] a whole new chapter. This is new, it's groundbreaking, it's fresh. This isn't a reminisce runway. Everything is new—the music, the energy, the competitive spirit. It's all about what's next and being what's next."

Pusha T, in a May 2025 solo interview with GQ.[20]

A new Clipse track, "Chains & Whips", was played during the Louis Vuitton Men's Spring-Summer 2024 Show on June 20, 2023—the first fashion show by longtime Clipse collaborator Pharrell Williams[3] as creative director of menswear at the company.[21] Another song, "Birds Don't Sing" (featuring John Legend), was previewed during the next annual edition of the show on June 18, 2024.[22] The next day, an upcoming album produced entirely by Pharrell was confirmed.[23] An interview with Rolling Stone in September announced that the album was recorded in Paris (the Louis Vuitton headquarters),[24] that a feature from Nas is recorded and planned for the album, that the album's conception point followed the 2023 Grammys, and that "Birds Don't Sing" will be the album's opening track.[6] By December, the album was confirmed to be finished.[25]

A Pharrell-produced Pusha T track, then titled "Mike Tyson Blow to the Face", was featured in Pharrell's short film All Day I Dream About Sport in February 2025.[26] Another teaser, which Billboard named "So Far Ahead", was posted to Pusha T's Instagram account on May 7.[27] Through their joint and individual Instagram accounts on May 28, Clipse announced that the lead single, "Ace Trumpets", would be released on May 30.[28] The next day, the album's release was set for July 11, with distribution to be handled by Roc Nation Distribution; the cover art by Kaws was also revealed.[24] A lyrics video for "Ace Trumpets" was released on June 4.[29] In a June duo interview with GQ, more tracks and features were confirmed: "Mike Tyson", "POV", "FICO" (featuring Stove God Cooks), and "Chains & Whips" (featuring Kendrick Lamar).[18] "So Be It" was sent to DJs and previewed on June 16[30][31] before being released as a music video the next day.[32] GQ published a follow-up article (with unused excerpts from the interview) in which the song was discussed, including lyrics from Pusha T which diss former GOOD Music labelmate Travis Scott.[33] A listening party for the album was held at the Louis Vuitton headquarters on June 23; recordings of Lamar's verse on "Chains & Whips" subsequently circulated on social media.[34] The next day, Nas' guest verse was previewed on social media by LeBron James[35] and Clipse appeared on The New York Times' podcast Popcast, discussing various topics from the history of the duo and the upcoming album to Pusha T's issues with Drake, Kanye West, and Travis Scott.[4] A remix of "So Be It", titled "So Be It Pt. II", was played during the Louis Vuitton Men's Spring-Summer 2026 Show, also on June 24.[36]

Tour

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Clipse announced a United States concert tour in promotion of the album on June 9, consisting of twenty-five planned shows from August 3 to September 10. Atlanta hip-hop duo EarthGang is the planned supporting act.[37]

Track listing

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Credits adapted from Apple Music[38] and the YouTube description box for the Louis Vuitton Men's Spring-Summer 2025 Show.[39]
All tracks produced by Pharrell Williams.
The album is confirmed to have thirteen tracks.

Let God Sort Em Out track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Birds Don't Sing" (featuring John Legend)
 
2."Chains & Whips" (featuring Kendrick Lamar)  
5."Ace Trumpets"
  • G. Thornton
  • T. Thornton
  • Williams
2:34

Other confirmed tracks

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Apple Music.[38]

Notes

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  1. ^ As per promotional material. Some sources label Let God Sort Em Out as the duo's fifth album, counting Exclusive Audio Footage (1999), intended to be the duo's first album. Initially limited to promotional copies which later leaked online, it was officially released via streaming services in 2022.[1][2][3]
  2. ^ He has pushed back on the terms "Christian hip-hop" and "Christian rap" being used to describe his music, stating: "To me, it's no different than the music I was putting out. It still sounds very real, street hip-hop. It's just minus the ignorance. I hate when someone tries to label me as Christian hip-hop or positive music. I think that's crazy because the music is very hard."[7] Nevertheless, the terms have been used by various magazines and blogs, including HotNewHipHop,[8] Maclean's,[9] and Uproxx.[2]
  3. ^ Zisook uses the March 2024 song "Like That" by Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar as a reference point.
  4. ^ Initially reported to be because both Pusha T and Lamar have had feuds with the Canadian rapper Drake, leading to the exchanging of diss tracks in 2018 and 2024, respectively. UMG were said to be uncomfortable with the "optics" of the situation, and Drake's feud with Lamar would eventually result in a lawsuit by Drake against UMG. It was later clarified that the official reason was Lamar's use of the phrase Trump card in his verse and concerns of conflict with United States President Donald Trump, although Pusha T personally believed that this was merely an excuse, as he claimed to have been censored by Def Jam numerous times since 2018 over lyrics that could be perceived as Drake disses.[17]
  5. ^ Credited only as an "engineer" on Apple Music, Ulsh's biography on his studio's website portrays him primarily as a recording engineer as opposed to a mixing or mastering engineer.[40]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Blake, Cole (September 26, 2022). "Pusha T & No Malice's Clipse Album, "Exclusive Audio Footage," Added To Streaming Services". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Williams, Aaron (May 2, 2022). "Clipse's Shelved Debut Album Is Now Available For Streaming". Uproxx. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Garcia, Thania (June 19, 2022). "Pusha T and No Malice Reunite as Clipse for Pharrell Williams' 'Something in the Water' Festival". Variety. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Coscarelli, Joe; Caramanica, Jon (June 24, 2025). "Pusha T and Malice Reunite as Clipse, With Vengeance on Their Minds". The New York Times. ISSN 1553-8095. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  5. ^ Thornton Jr., Gene (March 1, 2016). "No Malice Details Exact Moment Clipse Broke Up" (Video). Interviewed by Justin Hunte. HipHopDX. Retrieved May 29, 2025 – via YouTube. They were picking up all of our friends at different times, you know. I had a friend—he just had a baby, and he wheelchairing his wife. She holding the baby. Soon as he come out the hospital, bam, they got him. Had another friend—he's driving on the interstate, you know, with his girl, his daughter in the car, and police just come, hit, you know, they car. Like, really crash into they car, you know, to make them pull over. And they were just picking up everybody, you know. [...] When I was on the plane, and I didn't see my brother get on the plane, you know, I knew. Like, I knew what was up, 'cause we never miss flights. We weren't never late, you know. [...] So I'm sitting on the plane, and, you know, the very last minute, the very last minute, he comes stumbling in the door, so I stood up in the middle of the aisle in front of all those people on the plane, and I told him— I was like, 'Yo, I don't know if you thought I was joking, I don't know if you thought I was playing, but I'm letting you know I ain't doing this no more!'
  6. ^ a b c d Gee, Andre (September 4, 2024). "How Pusha T and Malice Resurrected the Clipse After 14 Years". Rolling Stone. ISSN 0035-791X. OCLC 969027590. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Diep, Eric (February 19, 2016). "No Malice Details His Journey of Finding Religion, New Album & Leaving His Past Behind in 'The End of Malice' Film". Billboard. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Horton, Chad (November 28, 2022). "5 Christian Hip-Hop Artists Infiltrating The Mainstream". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  9. ^ Lee, Adrian (January 28, 2022). "Rap's crossroads: Why big-name rappers are daring to be religious". Maclean's. ISSN 0024-9262. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  10. ^ Coleman II, C. Vernon (March 30, 2014). "No Malice Emphatically Confirms It's A Wrap For The Clipse". XXL. ISSN 1093-0647. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  11. ^ Strauss, Matthew (May 29, 2025). "Clipse Announce Let God Sort Em Out, First New Album Since 2009". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  12. ^ Walker, Joe (March 25, 2022). "Clipse's Pusha T & No Malice Reunite With The Neptunes On Nigo's 'Punch Bowl'". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  13. ^ Breihan, Tom (April 22, 2022). "Premature Evaluation: Pusha T 'It's Almost Dry'". Stereogum. OCLC 1142733705. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  14. ^ Caraan, Sophie (October 30, 2024). "Clipse Officially Signs With Def Jam for New Album 'Let God Sort Em Out'". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  15. ^ a b Leight, Elias (June 3, 2025). "Steven Victor On the 'Insane Amount of Money' It Took For Pusha T, Clipse to Exit Def Jam". Billboard. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  16. ^ Zisook, Brian [@BrianZisook] (June 3, 2025). "Signing announcements rarely follow signings in real time. In Clipse's case, the duo were already with Def Jam in 2023. Songs were even added (and later pulled) from the release calendar that summer, 9 months before we heard "Like That."" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ Thornton, Terrence (June 24, 2025). "Clipse's Pusha T & Malice Would Rather Not Talk Kanye, Drake, Kendrick + Travis Scott—But They Will!" (Video podcast). Interviewed by Joe Coscarelli and Jon Caramanica. The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2025 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ a b Tharpe, Frazier (June 2, 2025). "Clipse Talk Love, Hate, and What Rap's Been Missing". GQ. ISSN 0016-6979. Archived from the original on June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  19. ^ Thornton, Terrence [@kingpush]; (May 27, 2025). "LET GOD SORT EM OUT". Archived from the original on June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025 – via Instagram.
  20. ^ Gheciu, Alex Nino (May 16, 2025). "Pusha T Is Selling Off Some of the Rarest Designer Grails in His Closet". GQ. ISSN 0016-6979. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  21. ^ Bateman, Kristen (June 20, 2023). "Pharrell Williams's Louis Vuitton Men's Debut Was a Star-Packed Celebration". W Magazine. ISSN 0162-9115. OCLC 1781845. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  22. ^ DeVille, Chris (June 18, 2024). "New Clipse Song "Birds Don't Sing" Debuts At Louis Vuitton Fashion Show". Stereogum. OCLC 1142733705. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  23. ^ Jenkins, Craig (June 19, 2024). "The Clipse Missed This". Vulture. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  24. ^ a b Saponara, Michael (May 29, 2025). "Clipse Announces 'Let God Sort Em Out' Release Date With Cinematic Trailer, Reveals Album Cover Art". Billboard. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  25. ^ Diaz, Angel (December 11, 2024). "Pusha T Promises the New Clipse Album Produced by Pharrell Is 'Done'". Billboard. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  26. ^ Jones, Okla (February 18, 2025). "Pharrell Williams Expands His Artistry With Powerful Short Film, 'All Day I Dream About Sport'". Essence. ISSN 0014-0880. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  27. ^ Diaz, Angel (May 8, 2025). "Pusha T Teases a New Clipse Snippet Featuring Pharrell: 'So Far Ahead'". Billboard. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  28. ^ Thornton, Terrence [@kingpush]; (May 28, 2025). "ACE TRUMPETS PRODUCED BY @pharrell OUT FRIDAY 5/30". Archived from the original on May 29, 2025 – via Instagram.
  29. ^ Clipse (June 4, 2025). Clipse, Pusha T, No Malice - Ace Trumpets (Official Lyric Video) (Video). Retrieved June 4, 2025 – via YouTube.
  30. ^ Horvath, Zachary (June 17, 2025). "DJ Hed Premieres New Clipse Song "So Be It" And It's A Banger". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  31. ^ @Kurrco (June 17, 2025). "NEW CLIPSE SNIPPET 🚨Previewed by Funk Flex — 'So Be It'" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ Strauss, Matthew (June 17, 2025). "Watch Clipse's Video for New Song "So Be It"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  33. ^ Tharpe, Frazier (June 17, 2025). "Pusha T Explains Why He Has Words for Travis Scott". GQ. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  34. ^ Darville, Jordan (June 24, 2025). "Watch Clipse debut the Kendrick Lamar verse from "Chains & Whips"". The Fader. ISSN 1533-5194. Archived from the original on June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  35. ^ Fisher, Caroline (June 24, 2025). "LeBron James Previews Nas' Verse On New Clipse Album". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  36. ^ Louis Vuitton (June 24, 2025). Men's Spring-Summer 2026 Show I LOUIS VUITTON (Video).
  37. ^ Harrison, Scoop (June 9, 2025). "Clipse Announce 2025 US Tour, Their First Nationwide Outing in 16 Years". Consequence. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  38. ^ a b Let God Sort Em Out - Album by Clipse, May 30, 2025, retrieved May 30, 2025
  39. ^ Men's Spring-Summer 2025 Show | LOUIS VUITTON (Media notes). June 18, 2024.
  40. ^ "Rob Ulsh". Master Sound Studios. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
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Album's official website