4 out of 5 stars
Clipse were set to take over the world. Pusha T and Malice had a well-publicized feud with Jive Records, an album packed with stunning Neptunes beats, and the hunger to deliver a masterpiece. The critical praise for its sophomore effort Hell Hath No Fury was overwhelming, and many believed that Clipse would finally reach the status it has richly deserved. But then nothing came. Selling only 80,000 copies, Hell Hath No Fury was a complete commercial failure.
Following the disappointing sales of that disturbingly angry album, Clipse have released a similarly dark mixtape. Joined by Philadelphia rappers Ab-Liva and Sandman, the group is rechristened The Re-Up Gang. We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 3 is just as lyrically complex as its predecessor, but some of Clipse’s greatness has faded.
Much of the blame lies with the beats. While it is exciting to hear Re-Up spit over Kanye West’s “Good Morning” and Jay-Z’s “Roc Boys,” many of the instrumental tracks are mediocre at best. But the lyrical prowess on We Got it 4 Cheap Vol. 3 is undeniable. Each MC has an incredible grasp on internal rhyme and an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture. While an overwhelming majority of the record is dedicated to the cocaine business, Clipse’s ability to remain original with such a limited topical range is impressive.
The Re-Up Gang glamorizes the wealth that comes with drug dealing, but they also make it clear that they are morally conflicted. What we are left with is an album as perverse as it is mature. Though the public may have missed out on the height of Clipse’s creative output, Pusha T, Malice, Ab-Liva and Sandman make it clear that they are still as brilliant and pissed-off as ever.
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