Review: Clipse – Til the Casket Drops
Clipse – Til the Casket Drops (2009) [Columbia] // Grade: A
In all honesty I’ve never been a huge fan of Neptunes production. I admit they are responsible for a handful of incredible tracks but I couldn’t get behind the mass fandamonium that seemed to solidify everything they did as gigantic. However, the exceptions to this were Clipse’s debut album Lord Willin’ in 2002, and 2006′s much anticipated Hell Hath No Fury. Chad and Pharrell used their understanding of bass, drums and synth for the powers of evil and turned out two amazingly brooding albums that defined (coined?) the musical genre, coke rap.
As much as I loved the first two albums I was always curious as to how a Clipse album might sound that wasn’t a Neptunes exclusive. When just that idea was announced to be in the works I got unbelievably stoked. There was a serious divide between fans whether this was a good idea or not. Well, they made us wait three years until we were able to decide for ourselves (good coke rap takes time) and as I sit here listening to the album over and over I am more than content.
‘Til The Casket Drops is still 60% Neptunes production but is cut with a few tracks from Sean C & LV and DJ Khalil which provide a very nice contrast that is little more rough and fuzzy but still well within the Clipse’s corporate standards. Exactly what I was hoping for. ‘Til The Casket Drops is true fans album with the club tracks left until the end and the street anthems up front. I’m the first to admit that I am generally turned off by hooks in rap as I’ve seen far too many potentially good tracks destroyed by a lazy hook however, even the hooks in this album are catchy and appropriate. Dj Khalil’s track ‘Footsteps’ includes the presently mandatory auto tuned crooner on the hook but is so chalk full of rock organs, and thumping bass it would make Just Blaze shed a joyful tear. ‘Popular Demand’ shows that the Neptunes can still reinvent themselves with some hella catchy cuerno and Sean C & LV bring the serious hood sex anthem, ‘Never Will It Stop’ that includes Ab Liva, the only Re-Up Gang cameo on the record (thank god).
The Neptunes finally let the Clipse go and them boys is flyin’ maaan. Make sure you own this record soon.
December 4th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I kinda think they should stick to mixtapes, I don’t like this glossy sound of theirs.
December 4th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
At first Popular Demand (need way more of this kind of Neptunes) was the only thing that really caught my ear but I’ve given it some more time and damn, loving it now! I wouldn’t mind more Ab Liva on this album though.
December 4th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
C’mon Doc. Helped define coke rap… OK. Coined coke rap? I’d say that honor might be reserved for Scarface, J. Prince, and the Rap-a-Lot fam. Perhaps Pusha and Malice assisted in making coke rap accessible to the masses, but they certainly weren’t the first to pull into that lane.
Unfortunately, the album features only 4 songs that hadn’t been leaked well in advance of release. Need a few more spins, but it seems to be missing a certain rawness that was present in the first two LPs.
December 4th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
It’s only natural that after 8 years and 3 full length albums a group isn’t going to spit as raw because lifestyles change. I also think a lot of the rawness was also attributable to the Neptunes minimalist, percussion based production that was controlling the instrumentals on the first two records.
Personally I’m stoked to hear the breach into something a little less synth but that just goes to show my personal taste when it comes to production. This is the argument that was dividing the fans long before the record dropped and I’m sure will continue on past its official release.
And on the topic of coke rap, I’ve got nuff respect for the architects but where Scarface and James Prince sold it to the fiends and heads, Clipse, with the help of Neptunes sold that shit to EVERYONE. Coke Rap Disney World. Created it no, perfected it, yes. I didn’t mean to get it twisted.
December 4th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Drinkin the kool aid
December 4th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Yeah, enough with the coke rap – let’s see some fucking crystal meth rap. Midwest represent!
December 5th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Love the album upon multiple spins. This is what Nas was trying to do when he was trying to go mainstream.
I’m digging the club tracks more than I thought. I want a Diplo + Clipse mixtape so bad.
December 5th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Haven’t heard this in full – just the singles – but something about this new Clipse direction TOTALLY weirds me out. ESPECIALLY “I’m Good”… uh, since when were the Clipse “good”? These are people who made their entire careers on being nihilistic and evil; all of a sudden they’re having fun?? I’m so not buying that.
Clipse have always tried WAY too hard, and to me that’s their downfall. They’re neurotic enough that I can fully see them thinking consciously to themselves: what makes rappers like Kanye, Weezy, Hov successful in the mainstream? Confidence! So they go and record “I’m Good” TOTALLY trying to prove to everyone that they aren’t worried about shit anymore. Counterintuitive.
To me, Clipse were at their most confident all the way up to the release of Hell Hath No Fury – when they were rhyming about being unapologetic villains. Then HHNF flopped and they started reconsidering their priorities. WGI4C Vol. 3, the official post-HHNF mixtape, is such an exercise in rock-bottom depression. All wondering if they’re taking the right path. So they change up again for Til The Casket Drops in search of that elusive commercial success. I really don’t see it happening. I bet TTCD’s gonna be fascinating, but they are not fooling the public acting all confident. Looking at them try to smile in the “I’m Good” video reminds me of Arnold trying to smile in T2.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:07 am
I really like The Clipse but I agree with a lot of what AKM is saying. I found the videos for the songs before the album really turned me off due to that feeling of inauthenticity. It’s when I got to listen to all the tracks free of the visuals that it really clicked for me.