Clipse - Door Man [Prod. The Neptunes]

From the upcoming ‘Til The Casket Drops album which streets December 8 (and makes a great stocking stuffer for the kids!). A lot of familiar Neptunes sound effects mixed into this 5-minute composition, with a swishing drum pattern tempo not unlike a DJ Toomp beat (ie. Ye’s Can’t Tell Me Nothing, Nas’ N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave And The Master)). Clipse getting slightly darker here on the lyrical tip (well, Malice anyway) in comparison to all the other tracks that have leaked so far (but nothing even remotely approaching HHNF levels). Which is good considering the lighter tone that seems to be permeating the new album; Pusha T and Malice are clearly trying to reach a broader audience (and I ain’t mad at ‘em because most of these tracks bang). But I’ll reserve judgment until I can “spin it for the whole joint, ‘cause I like to get the whole point” (c) Little Brother. Either way, this may be my favourite Neptunes-produced offering from Casket (out of the 4 that are floating out there).

(via Spine Mag)

5. Clipse - Hello New World

Straight crushin’ you (and how!). From the near flawless 2006 Hell Hath No Fury LP comes this certified cocaine-rap street banger and…holy-sh!t-this-song-goes-at-you-incredibly-hard-no-really-play-this-in-the-whip-or-on-some-sennheisers-in-your-bedroom-you’ll-see-what-I-mean-damn-it-my-eardrums-got-bruised-it-hurts-in-a-good-way!

Press play and P immediately sets things off by singing the hook. What you are listening to right now is by far the most menacing beat that The Neptunes have ever created IMO. And if the album credits, which state that Pharrell produced HHNF all by himself without Chad (something I find hard to believe), are true. Then sweet Lord! Where has P been keeping these beats all this time? He must have locked himself in the same type of dungeon that Lafayette found himself trapped in at the beginning of True Blood: Season 2, because dude had to be in a dark and hopeless place to produce all of them angry heat rocks. Sheeeiiiiiit.

Hello New World is dark, moody, subterranean and gutteral; it virtually digs down to the earth’s core (and that’s not even counting Pusha T and Malice’s ambitious and cautionary floetry). It knocks me right in between the eyes everytime the first drums come out to kick the listener’s ass and I get so hyped up (I’ve used it many times to prepare for my marathon push up sessions and it works). And ironically, as hopeless as the beat sounds, it’s complemented by hopeful lyrics from the participants. Well, hopeful in a sense that they plan on taking over this new post-apocalyptic drug-filled wasteland they find themselves in. They’re on their way!

Everything in this song is dark and I love it. In particular, the synths sound like they’re being stretched then suddenly scratched back and recoiled like a possessed record player stuck in a perpetual motion loop. Then there’s a foreboding humdrumming sound permeating throughout the entire recording that is just chilling, nuff said. Sh!t, even the cowbell (which there is just the right amount of, thank you) sounds like it’s on the neck of a restless raging bull and not some tasty bovine (“When I grow up, I’m going to Bovine University” (c) Ralph Wiggum). Which I have no doubt was by meticulous design.

If hustlin’ is a must, be Soze NOT Tony (c) Pusha T

Good advice. Speaking of which, this beat is how Keyser Soze would sound like if the mythical drug lord somehow spiritually entered an MPC and turned himself into a frightening amalgamation of musical sounds. The mood created is intimidating, lays very low and you never once doubt that this music wouldn’t kill its entire family just to make a statement to its enemies. Yes, I know I’m talking about a beat here, but do bear with me, it’s a mean one (and go see The Usual Suspects if you somehow don’t know what I’ve been referencing for this entire paragraph). Basically, don’t f*ck with them drug lords…and don’t f*ck with this beat either.

There’s nothing catchy, upbeat or anything even remotely clubby about this track. Which leads me to believe that it may get the least total spins out of my 8 Neptunes selections on this list (prove me wrong, Internet!). But therein lies the brilliance, as this example displays the ‘Tunes’ incredible range. They can produce beats for both TOP 40 pop starlets and grimey-ass thug rappers alike, successfully adapting to the style of each client, bringing the best out of them in the process. Although for the record, Pusha T and Malice always come across as much more intelligent and articulate than your average rap thug (Philly’s Most Wanted on the other hand).

This is my favourite Clipse/Neptunes collabo (and that’s saying something as there are 3 albums worth of beats to choose from). But after reading over 600 words about one track, you probably already deduced as much. And with this latest entry, Side A is complete as we have now flown halfway across Planet Neptunes. Hope you’re enjoying the journey.

Clipse - Kinda Like A Big Deal (feat. Kanye West)

Produced by DJ Khalil. From the upcoming 4th album from Malice & Pusha T: ‘Til The Casket Drops (which is definitely a big deal).

Via Spine Mag.