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clipse/ma, i dont love her
( bio taken from mtv.com )
Bringing the streets of Virginia to hip-hop radio are Malice and Pusha T – a.k.a. Clipse. Both Malice (Gene Thornton) and Pusha T (Terrence Thornton) were born in Bronx, New York. After residing in the Gunhill Road section of the Bronx, the guys migrated to Virginia in the early 1980s. First to move was the older brother, Malice, who quickly developed a reputation as a lyrical wordsmith. Three years later, Pusha T joined his brother, and the duo began to combine their Kool G. Rap, Juice Crew, Eric B & Rakim and Large Professor influences with the unique sounds of Virginia. Malice caught the attention of an unknown producer named Pharrell Williams. Impressed by what he heard, Williams promised to work with Malice and Pusha T to produce a demo tape. As the duo started to develop their craft, they began to formally be known as Clipse. Meanwhile, Williams and his classmate, Chad Hugo, called themselves the Neptunes and became one of the brightest production teams in hip-hop. The producers helped Clipse land a deal with Elektra in 1999, where they released “The Funeral.” The single garnered Clipse attention, but their album was pushed back and eventually shelved indefinitely by Elektra. As MCs first, and entertainers second, Malice and Pusha T continued to stay busy after their initial setback by appearing on other people's tracks. 2000 found Clipse working with artists like Master P, 504 Boyz and Silk Da Shocker. In 2001, the duo appeared on releases from The Backstreet Boys, Jermaine Dupri and Nelly Furtado. They laced several tracks off the Neptunes' debut album, as well as guesting on Justin Timberlake’s first solo single in 2002. "After the whole album ordeal, we did a total 360," says Malice. "Thinking we was coming from the streets and into the music business, ready to drop an album – only to make a U-turn and go back." "We ain't mad though," says Pusha T. "Can't be, cause I can look back and say that this one is ready. The situations in our lives took this album where it went." The Neptunes stepped in again to help Clipse out with their 2002 debut album, Lord Willin'. "The album runs like a movie about Virginia," says Williams. "These cats have been quietly waiting for a long time, and now the timing is right for their perspective to be heard.” "I'm not gonna say we that much different than the next man, or that we that much better than the next man," says Malice. "But what we have is a perspective you don't hear. It's a Virginia perspective. It's lingo you don't hear – it's Virginia lingo. I don't think Virginia's ever been exposed like this."