The Clipse Respond To Tom Breihan’s (Pitchfork) Mixtape Review

One_Yaself_Hater · 12-12-2008, 01:43 PM

While we appreciate Tom Breihan’s zeal in reviewing the Till the Casket Drops mixtape, [read the full review here;

we feel his energy was misguided. As he admits, this is a mixtape, not to be reviewed like a studio album. He then proceeds to do just that. In the spirit of competition, please allow us a response.

The Clipse used to make good girl records? The Clipse have always made good records, period. Unlike many of our peers, we don’t get in the studio with the aim of making a club record, or a record for the ladies. In fact, if you’ve followed our career, you’ll note that even our most popular, club-celebrated joints contain dangerously hard subject matter. We go places other artists wouldn’t dare. Our club success has been almost coincidental, and is more a testament to our overall ability and versatility than it is a shrewd aim to appease a certain segment.

We’ve never bent or placated, ever. It’s resulted in some rather public label drama, perhaps you’ve noticed…? Moreover, there’s a prevailing theory that targeting women as the main consumer/enjoyer of hiphop proved the genre’s biggest misstep. Once you start catering, when you worry more about how your product is received versus your own, organic creative process, you should simply drop the mic. Since when was making a successful club/girl record a measure of a rapper’s talent? Instead, that’s an inversion of the intent. Hiphop from its genesis was a meritocracy—a bunch of dudes lined up in a sweatbox trying to outshine the next man. Their aim wasn’t MTV rotation or club spins; it was renown around their hoods. While the technology has improved and the production has gotten more sophisticated, we still approach our music with that same purity.

We rap about things we’ve done and seen, and we aim to tell the story in a unique and intriguing way. Our critical success and uncommonly loyal fanbase stand as evidence. We don’t count any perceived lack of club visibility as a shortcoming. In fact, it’s a source of pride, that we’ve managed to endure over a decade without pandering, without compromising, without deviating from our signature sound.

It’s very hard to swallow a review wherein the author slams the album for a full paragraph, but then backs off, saying ‘I’m mostly just quibbling here.’ Well, if you’re admitting the criticism is unimportant and misaimed, what then is the intent? The Clipse have smashed the mixtape circuit for years with the untouchable We Got it 4 Cheap series. That’s indisputable. And the Clipse are gonna come with it like nobody’s ever heard with our ’09 official studio release, Till the Casket Drops. As a major label release, it’ll have the energy and polish to merit full-bore scrutiny. We invite Tom Breihan and anyone else to focus that critical gaze on it; we’re certain it’ll shine. And by the way, that snide remark about Play Cloths; unless everyone who’s seen, bought, and fawned over the line is lying to us, we seem to have a fashion staple in the works. We’ll take that kind of unilateral reception any day, with (dis)respect to Breihan’s flawed fashion sense. Stick to music, Tom. Well, maybe not our music.

Source:

dunson23 · 12-12-2008, 01:45 PM

wait isn't pitchfork that one site who is bias on street rappers?

Tony Feudo · 12-12-2008, 06:31 PM

Wow, Clipse are very articulate. I'm impressed.

GMNRecordsCT3 · 12-12-2008, 07:27 PM

^^^ i dont kno bout u but i understand half of them words they used...

@ me

QBTrueG · 12-13-2008, 01:38 AM

WTF at these niggas expressing themselves in such an articulate, sophisticated manner. But really, they need to get off their own band wagons, cause really, these niggas not that hot.

Smithilberry · 12-13-2008, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Feudo

Wow, Clipse are very articulate. I'm impressed.

word... didnt know they hada brain... well, this coulda been ghostwritten

anyways, that dude got

clipse provided a madd valid response argument

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMNRecordsCT3

^^^ i dont kno bout u but i understand half of them words they used...

@ me

LOL

One_Yaself_Hater · 12-13-2008, 09:29 AM

====----====

TeGo · 12-13-2008, 09:59 AM

LMFAO!!!

ps.. lulz @ a response being ghost written

12-12-2008, 01:43 PM	#1
One_Yaself_Hater The "B-Boy" Circa '82-'88 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In A Weed Spot!!! Posts: 5,757 Repped: 1,173 Repped 11,539 Times in 1,360 Posts Neg Reps: 148 Neg Repped at 107 Times in 98 Posts	The Clipse Respond To Tom Breihan’s (Pitchfork) Mixtape Review The Clipse Respond To Tom Breihan’s (Pitchfork) Mixtape Review While we appreciate Tom Breihan’s zeal in reviewing the Till the Casket Drops mixtape, [read the full review here; we feel his energy was misguided. As he admits, this is a mixtape, not to be reviewed like a studio album. He then proceeds to do just that. In the spirit of competition, please allow us a response. The Clipse used to make good girl records? The Clipse have always made good records, period. Unlike many of our peers, we don’t get in the studio with the aim of making a club record, or a record for the ladies. In fact, if you’ve followed our career, you’ll note that even our most popular, club-celebrated joints contain dangerously hard subject matter. We go places other artists wouldn’t dare. Our club success has been almost coincidental, and is more a testament to our overall ability and versatility than it is a shrewd aim to appease a certain segment. We’ve never bent or placated, ever. It’s resulted in some rather public label drama, perhaps you’ve noticed…? Moreover, there’s a prevailing theory that targeting women as the main consumer/enjoyer of hiphop proved the genre’s biggest misstep. Once you start catering, when you worry more about how your product is received versus your own, organic creative process, you should simply drop the mic. Since when was making a successful club/girl record a measure of a rapper’s talent? Instead, that’s an inversion of the intent. Hiphop from its genesis was a meritocracy—a bunch of dudes lined up in a sweatbox trying to outshine the next man. Their aim wasn’t MTV rotation or club spins; it was renown around their hoods. While the technology has improved and the production has gotten more sophisticated, we still approach our music with that same purity. We rap about things we’ve done and seen, and we aim to tell the story in a unique and intriguing way. Our critical success and uncommonly loyal fanbase stand as evidence. We don’t count any perceived lack of club visibility as a shortcoming. In fact, it’s a source of pride, that we’ve managed to endure over a decade without pandering, without compromising, without deviating from our signature sound. It’s very hard to swallow a review wherein the author slams the album for a full paragraph, but then backs off, saying ‘I’m mostly just quibbling here.’ Well, if you’re admitting the criticism is unimportant and misaimed, what then is the intent? The Clipse have smashed the mixtape circuit for years with the untouchable We Got it 4 Cheap series. That’s indisputable. And the Clipse are gonna come with it like nobody’s ever heard with our ’09 official studio release, Till the Casket Drops. As a major label release, it’ll have the energy and polish to merit full-bore scrutiny. We invite Tom Breihan and anyone else to focus that critical gaze on it; we’re certain it’ll shine. And by the way, that snide remark about Play Cloths; unless everyone who’s seen, bought, and fawned over the line is lying to us, we seem to have a fashion staple in the works. We’ll take that kind of unilateral reception any day, with (dis)respect to Breihan’s flawed fashion sense. Stick to music, Tom. Well, maybe not our music. Source: __________________ "REP" or "No PROPS" DONT PUT FOOD ON MY TABLE, FUCK 'EM!!!!!! SO "REP" If U WANT, IDGAF!!! DiGiJeff (12-17-2008), J-Banks Thanked Post HAPPY BIRTHDAY One_Yaself_Hater !!!-HH411: "instead of hittin 'no props' button i'll just neg ya". - Gods Plan

12-12-2008, 07:27 PM	#4
GMNRecordsCT3 Macaroni wit the Cheeesse Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wash Heights, NYC Posts: 17,607 Repped: 6,779 Repped 2,309 Times in 618 Posts Neg Reps: 202 Neg Repped at 50 Times in 40 Posts	^^^ i dont kno bout u but i understand half of them words they used... @ me __________________ myspace.com/bummydavis - soundclick.com/gmnproductions "The name on my car insurance is YOUR FUKIN FAULT!!"

12-13-2008, 01:38 AM	#5
QBTrueG 1st & 15th Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: From NYC To Tha CT Posts: 1,571 Repped: 718 Repped 184 Times in 104 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 9 Times in 9 Posts	WTF at these niggas expressing themselves in such an articulate, sophisticated manner. But really, they need to get off their own band wagons, cause really, these niggas not that hot. __________________ [04:56PM] OFFiCiAL JAE ROCK - ima print her pic. off...n when im drivin down there..ima beat off to it multiple times..so i can be ready when i sling her ass to tha ground...n ram my monster insider her butt hole.... [04:56PM] OFFiCiAL JAE ROCK - oh yea nigga...u done fucked up

12-13-2008, 09:29 AM	#7
One_Yaself_Hater The "B-Boy" Circa '82-'88 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In A Weed Spot!!! Posts: 5,757 Repped: 1,173 Repped 11,539 Times in 1,360 Posts Neg Reps: 148 Neg Repped at 107 Times in 98 Posts	====----==== __________________ "REP" or "No PROPS" DONT PUT FOOD ON MY TABLE, FUCK 'EM!!!!!! SO "REP" If U WANT, IDGAF!!! DiGiJeff (12-17-2008), J-Banks Thanked Post HAPPY BIRTHDAY One_Yaself_Hater !!!-HH411: "instead of hittin 'no props' button i'll just neg ya". - Gods Plan

12-13-2008, 09:59 AM	#8
TeGo Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: In Ya Bedroom Wit Da Nina, Where The Lube At? :ninja: Posts: 8,273 Repped: 1,076 Repped 1,599 Times in 723 Posts Neg Reps: 23 Neg Repped at 121 Times in 91 Posts	LMFAO!!! ps.. lulz @ a response being ghost written __________________

12-12-2008, 01:45 PM	#2
dunson23 Hip-Hop We Won't Stop Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hip-Hop Posts: 3,200 Repped: 741 Repped 1,144 Times in 168 Posts Neg Reps: 23 Neg Repped at 12 Times in 11 Posts	wait isn't pitchfork that one site who is bias on street rappers?

12-12-2008, 06:31 PM	#3
Tony Feudo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 7,104 Repped: 6,067 Repped 18 Times in 12 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wow, Clipse are very articulate. I'm impressed.

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