Clipse’s Thoughtful Hip-Hop Hit Hard at Coachella, With an Assist From Travis Barker

Toward the end of Clipse’s hour-long set on the Outdoor Theatre stage at Coachella, the duo broke into “The Birds Don’t Sing,” a standout track from their Grammy-nominated album Let God Sort Em Out. The song is about the deaths of rapper Malice’s parents; it’s heartfelt, warm, and loving, with lyrics like “You told me that you loved me/It was all in your tone/“I love my two sons” was the code to your phone/Now you’re gone.” There’s no apologies or cynicism or irony: this is earnest, heartfelt hip-hop, here abetted and made even more emotional via family portraits. At the end of the song, Malice and his partner-in-rhyme Pusha T looked back in silence at the final photo, paying homage to the family love and support that allowed them to pursue their dreams.

It’s a far cry from “Grindin’,” the Neptunes-produced cocaine-slanging smash that put them on the map in the 2000s, and it’s proof positive of their longevity: They’ve matured expertly without losing their edge along the way. The story of Clipse is also the story of one of hip-hop’s most unlikely reunions: Let God… is their first album in 15 years, and many fans never thought they’d see the duo perform together again.

Trending Stories

Donald Trump’s Incompetence Is Costing Him the Country
Justin Bieber Draws Massive Crowd for Messy, ‘Swag’-Heavy Set at Coachella
‘SNL’ Weekend Update Roasts JD Vance for Failed Iran Deal, ‘Weird’ Wife Comments
Jay Weinberg on His Exit From Slipknot: ‘Maybe I Became a Scapegoat’

So it’s a neat miracle that, despite some mic problems that found Pusha T constantly just a bit too low in the speakers, Clipse kept their easy confidence throughout. They came out strong, opening with a shortened version of the Grammy-winning “Chains & Whips,” expertly assisted by Blink-182’s drummer Travis Barker, who remained onstage for the first four songs of the set (it’s a shame he wasn’t there for the whole thing, his snare snaps were the perfect accent to Clipse’s sometimes-minimalist beats, and his energy was clearly contagious to the two rappers.)

High-drama scenes from boxing matches, ballet recitals, stripper-po;e dances, and revival services appeared onscreen throughout the show, enunciating the words and messages of songs like “Keys Open Doors” and “F.I.C.O,” the latter inspiring mass sing-alongs to the duo’s flow-centric verses. Their charisma was infectious and real, and their set served as another chapter in what will hopefully be a lengthy return to form.