The most refreshing thing about the Clipse is how little baggage they have. When you listen to a Clipse album you aren't looking for hidden inuendo alluding to beef, or some drama involving getting shot, or shootin' someone else, or time in jail, or any of the other garbage that rappers use to build hype and persona. When you listen to a Clipse album, you're listening to pure, unadulterated rap and you never know what the next bar holds. Some will argue that all that label drama is baggage, but at least the Clipse try to distance themselves from it and try to get past it to just deliver the goods. They don't parley the Jive stuff into record sales, which I find respectable. Not only that, they endure all that nonsense and deliver one of the best lyrical experiences of the year.

Before discussing the lyrical content, the beats and musical aspect must be addressed. The Clipse have stated in the past that they get first-pick when it comes to Neptunes beats and it shows on this album. From the bouncy "Mr. Me Too" to the oddly haunting "Keys Open Doors" to "Momma I'm Sorry" (is that an accordian???) this album represents Pharrell William and Chad Hugo's best production work in some time. Strangely enough, some of these beats are leagues above the stuff on Pharrell's own album.

The Clipse spit fire. They don't have the lyrical complexity of say, Nas. They don't have the mezmerizing metaphors found on a Jay-Z set, and they don't have the ability to make any two words rhyme like Eminem. But their bars hit you right in the chest. It's mean, ugly rap. It's so good. Here are a couple of examples (you really need to hear it though, it's all in the delivery): "When I picture bits and pieces of bones chipped and flesh, it tears me to pieces/ Cooperate, escape and choose this/ Trust me, I'm your friend, I will walk you through this." (Chinese New Year) or "Youngin' don't make my sales rise/ I'll push you out yo' chuckas, Pusha hear the whispers of all you mother******s/ Papa says stay free of them suckas', minus that wicked street-jumper baller like the rucker/ Skip to my loo if you lookin' for a couple, roosters in the duffle/ Keep the hood screamin' cock-a-doodle-doo/ Coke by the ton, rap ni***s I'm the one." Even on the more mainstream "Mr. Me Too," The Clipse take no prisoners, "Wanna know the time? Better clock us/ Ni***s bite the style, from the shoes to the watches/ We cloud hoppers, tailored-suits like we mobsters, break down keys into dimes and sell em like gobstoppers/ Who's gonna stop us? Not a goddamn' one of ya'll."

One surprise on the album was the quality of the hooks. I expect Malice and Pusha-T to come with the bars, but I didn't expect the catchy choruses on "Trill," "Keys Open Doors," or "Dirty Money."

All in all, the album was definitely worth the wait. The Clipse are the most skilled rap duo in the game, here's hopin' we aren't waiting another 5 years for an album. Also, here's hoping the album sells. As the Clipse commented in a recent interview, they may have to resort to the publicity-stunt beefs if they can't find commercial success based on their talent alone. I sincerely hope it doesn't come to that...

The Clipse has been in the mainstream for some time time since 2002. 4 years later they hit us with their third album (not their sophomore, their first one came out in 2000) "Hell Hath No Fury". And this has to be one of the best albums of 2006. Something must have happened to Pusha T & Malice these past 3 years, because they really come full force lyrically. "Hello New World" is one of those tracks that shows their lyrical skills. Seriously they have shown a BIG improvement from their "Lord Willin'" album. A lot of these songs have nice hooks which really makes their songs good such as "We Got It For Cheap (Intro)" & "Keys Open Doors".

Also the Neptunes beats are awesome! Their first single "Mr. Me Too" is one of the sickest beats I've heard from them. Heck even Pharrell spits a hot verse on that song. "Wamp Wamp (What It Do)" is just sick. To tell you the truth, I can't find one wack beat on this album from the Neptunes. Actually the beats here are much better than the ones you heard on Pharrell's "In My Mind" as well as The Neptunes' "Clone's" album.

Guests aside from Pharrell are also good. The Re-Up Gang do good jobs laying down verses on the songs "Ride Around Singing" as well as "Ain't Cha". Slim Thug handles the hook for the "Wamp Wamp" song. Bilal as well as Pharrell somes in for the slow & soft sounding track "Nightmares" to close off this album.

To have a gripe about this album would only be that the album seemed kinda short, only 48 minutes long, but still no filler. Also one song, "Chineese New Year" didn't appeal to me. Other than that, there is not one inconsistant part on The Clipse's or The Neptune's behalf.

To state before, this album is one of the best commercialized albums of 2006. I'm glad to see that they came back with a new album that is going to blow many weak albums way this year. (To tell the truth at one point, I thought they fell off). Three and a half years in the making, they really took their time with this one and made sure everything was carefully made. Guaranteed to make your head bop up and down. Props up to the Clipse for getting back in the game!

Lyrics: A

Production: A+

Guest Appearances: A

Musical Vibes: A-

Overall: A

Favorite Tracks: We Got It For Cheap, Mr. Me Too, Wamp Wamp (What It Do), Hello New World, Keys Open Doors, Ain't Cha, Trill, Nightmares

Peace!

When I first heard Mr. Me too it was all over radio and I liked the production so I just had to get the album but I was a little cautious because Pharrell kinda produces POP records but I was blown away by the top notch Production on many of the tracks "Ride Around Shining" is the Highlight of the album Pharrell was really focused on this project my favorite tracks are...

1. Wamp Wamp (What It Do)

2. Ride Around Shining

3. Mr. Me Too

4. Hello New World

5. Nightmares

6. Key's Open Doors

Those 6 songs right there get heavy play but overall I like the whole album except that song "Trill" the beat is very annoying. So there U have it this is a must buy if your a Fan of Hip Hop a very underrated classic go BUY It NOW!

Classic? Was XXL right? Yes this will go down as a hip hop classic up there with Nation of millions, Illmatic, Enter the Wu-Tang and even it's closest comparison Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. So yes, XXL was right. This is lyrically one of the most amazing albums ever. So much new slang is made and the lyrics are ALWAYS saying something much deeper than it may appear on the surface.

There's always something to be said about an artist that's able to expand and succesfully change their sound without compromising themselves. But, then, there's a lot to be said about the dudes that can remain the same and still sound fresh.

Clipse definitely falls into the latter category. These guys spit about crack, money, and cars (woop-dee-doo, same ol' same ol') but unlike most of these MFers on radio, they're actually good at it. Charismatic, tight flows, sick punchlines (Even the title of "Keys Open Doors" oozes with wordplay) and sick beats. I'm not gonna say they've made a classic album because it all IS very repetetive but the beats are all solid (Neptunes comes through as usual) and the lyrics are all tight. If ya lookin for enlightenment and metaphorical bliss, look elsewhere (this album doesn't have that), but if ya lookin for entertainment, clever quips, and tight beats...look no further, "Hell Hath No Fury" is the album for you.