Released: 2025
Genres: Southern Hip-Hop, Gangsta Rap, Hardcore Hip-Hop
The Musiquarium’s Let God Sort Em Out Review Score: 10 out of 10
2009’s aptly-titled Til the Casket Drops signalled a funeral for Clipse and was a relative dud, especially when compared to its predecessors, Lord Willin’ and Hell Hath No Fury. Where Pharrell William’s production was the perfect compliment to the coked-up rhymes of the Thornton Bros. (Pusha T and Malice, now known as No Malice), his production on their last outing failed to deliver on what was expected from their 2006 opus, resulting in an album that sounded bored with itself. It seemed like the brothers’ hearts just weren’t in it anymore.
Fortunately, Til the Casket Drops proved to be a one-time misstep in Pusha T’s career trajectory (the more prominent member of Clipse to go solo), appearing on critically-acclaimed Kanye West songs such as Runaway, So Appalled and New God Flow, as well as releasing a string of strong solo albums that featured plenty of Kanye West production (including all of 2018’s DAYTONA and the half Kanye/half Pharrell-produced It’s Almost Dry in 2022). The younger Thornton brother had become one of the biggest and best rappers in the industry and was one of Ye’s greatest and most consistent collaborators.
In 2019, Clipse had reunited as a duo on Kanye West’s Christian anthem Use This Gospel, but it would take another six years before the duo decided to release a new Clipse album. Where their last album ended the duo’s first era with a whimper, Let God Sort Em Out is a masterful return from the grave and quite possibly one of the best rap albums in the history of the genre.
The Birds Don’t Sing features John Legend and is one of the prettiest songs in the Clipse canon. Whips & Chains features a fierce Kendrick Lamar, hot off winning his beef with Drake. Tyler, The Creator makes an appearance on P.O.V., and while I’m not the biggest fan of his body of work, his verse does elevate the song (a version without him appears on first pressings of the album, for comparison). So Be It incorporates eastern sounds and is a unique standout in the Clipse catalogue. M.T.B.T.T.F. stands for Mike Tyson Blow to the Face, which works on multiple levels, considering the boxer’s past use of said drug.
Ace Trumpets was a wise choice for lead single, showing off Pharrell Williams’ fantastic production, which is only aging like wine. Inglorious Bastards (which was the name of a 1978 Italian war film, long before Quentin Tarantino re-appropriated the name in 2009) is a tour de force of horns. So Far Ahead and By the Grace of God both sound like something that could have come out of Kanye West’s JESUS IS KING / Donda period, adorned with soulful Pharrell Williams vocals. Let God Sort Em Out / Chandeliers invites N.Y. rap legend Nas into the mix, rounding off the all star cast of the album.
This new batch of songs shows immense growth from Clipse’s early days and even from Pusha T’s solo albums. With the born again No Malice’s presence on the album, there’s even more of a Christian influence that permeates the duo’s music, though that’s no surprise coming from a band who’s debut album featured Jesus Christ riding with the brothers in a convertible. Let God Sort Em Out is one of the all-time great comeback albums and Clipse’s magnum opus.
For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Clipse on Discogs.
Back to the 2025 Album Guide or the Clipse Reviews page.
Written by Brett Nippard
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