2025 is truly the year for the hip hop resurgence. 16 years after their last studio album, the brothers Clipse reunite for their fourth, Let God Sort Em Out, with production supplied solely by their longtime collaborator Pharrell Williams.

The rollout for this album will be the subject of lore; there was true desire and longing in the midst of events that could be generally categorised as fantastical. There were the disses to former partners in Ye and Travis Scott. There were the disses to old foes in Drake and Jim Jones. Originally poised for distribution through Universal Music Group, Clipse paid to be released from their contract so that they would not have to censor what was apparently a controversial verse by Kendrick Lamar. It was previewed at Louis Vuitton fashion shows headed by Williams. There were the merchandise collaborations with Denim Tears, Billionaire Boys Club, Adidas and Carhartt. There was an emphasis on the physical release with vinyls and compact discs. There were the interviews, breakdowns and appearances on Complex, Genius, NPR Tiny Desk, Apple Music and The Breakfast Club all shared on the day of release. This was an event. A spectacle. It felt like the old days of hype building.

Of course there was natural intrigue elsewhere. Pusha T elevated himself to being a leading solo artist since Clipse disbanded in 2010. Malice pursued his own solo career too yet not to the same level of his younger brother. How would they sound together again after their lives had unravelled in completely different directions once they split from their mutual starting point? There was reunion on one side of the Clipse story and then separation on the other: their ever-present musical suppliers The Neptunes are no longer present in harmony. Williams provides the instrumentation on his own without his former partner, Chad Hugo, due to a public separation.

Clipse and Williams show out in all of their luxury. There is a certain lavishness involved that seeps across tracks that are otherwise laced with introspective tales of loss, treachery and religion – in addition to the Clipse staple of drug references. They provide an all-star guest rapper line-up to support them which span across all realms of their musical connections: superstar Kendrick Lamar, mass appeal Tyler, the Creator, triumphant legend Nas, underground representation Stove God Cooks, and close associate Ab-Liva. Hooks are often provided by Williams with additional support by John Legend, The-Dream and the choir Voices of Fire.

What we have here is a tour de force. Clipse have crafted an album so steeped in legend that it could do nothing else but confine them to the status of being among the all-time greats.

Let God Sort Em Out
Clipse
Featuring: Ab-Liva, John Legend, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Stove God Cooks, The-Dream, Tyler, the Creator, Voices of Fire, Pharrell Williams
Production: Pharrell Williams
Singles: “Ace Trumpets”, “Chains & Whips”