Rapper Terrence LeVarr Thornton ‘Pusha T’ and his older brother Gene Elliot ‘Malice’ Thornton (who had been absent from the rap game for several years) and celebrity producer, Pharell Williams reunited after 15 years on Let God Sort Em Out. The sleek production and vitriolic delivery album showcases that the group hadn’t lost the talents that made the first two Clipse albums exceptional.
Amongst the highlights are certainly the bluesy atmosphere of Chains and Whips ft Kendrick Lamar, the sinister P.O.V. featuring Tyler the Creator and a superb staccato hook by Pusha, So Be It built on chopped Middle Eastern dissonance and M.T.B.T.D.F featuring probably the strongest rap performances. The dramatic and surprisingly emotional intro for the duo, The Birds Don’t Sing, sung by John Legend, further represents something different for the trio, showing Pharell and Pusha T had absorbed a few tricks from Kanye West and also that the group were willing to compromise on their cutthroat personas. There is also the short Let God Sort Him Out/Chandeliers with an acrobatic beat (ft Nas).
Alas, the album starts to become repetitive. Ace Trumpets, F.I.C.O (ft Stove god Cooks) and Inglorious Bastards hark back to the bling rap era with precision but without much that’s particularly novel or standout. Meanwhile, Pharrel’s strained vocals cap the potential of the gospel-tinged So Far Ahead and By The Grace of God. The primary limitation of this project is the lack of any particular innovative or interesting ideas. The rapping, which remains impressive (though perhaps, lacking variety), can only carry the show so far. This is far from a simple exercise in nostalgia but the trio’s new, glitzier soundscapes don’t fully exploit the potential.
Label: Self-Released
Released: July 11, 2025
Losing My Edge Rating: 5/10
Best Tracks: Chains and Whips, So Be It