The Clipse Putting Va. on Hip-Hop Map

By Trina Logan
Black College Wire

Is Virginia going to be the next big spot for hip-hop? Members of the rap duo The Clipse, a.k.a. Gene "Malice" Thornton and Terrence "Pusha T" Thornton, are definitely trying to put the commonwealth on the map with their own personal "Grindin'" theory.

"Grindin'" and "When the Last Time" are two singles from the brothers' album "Lord Willin," which achieved gold status -- selling 500,000 copies -- in less than three months.

Malice said he was introduced to the drug scene in junior high but left it behind when he entered Fort Bragg.

"After I graduated, I found out that I had a son on the way, which made me change and enter the military," he said. "Even in the Army, we used to rhyme and have freestyle sessions."

Malice offers some advice for the next generation.

"I can't tell anyone to starve, but if you have something else to do, pursue it and definitely leave hustling alone," he said.

Pusha T reveals the significance of holding up T-shirts with the name "Shampoo" in the duo's videos.

"Shampoo was a guy that we came up with in V-A….that just got killed," Pusha T said.

Some of Clipse's influences were from some of the biggest names in hip-hop.

"I listen, really only listen, to mixtapes. My brother influenced me a lot but I like Biggie, Jay Z and Nas," said Pusha T.

Malice added rap artist Tupac Shakur, Large Professor and Big Daddy Kane.

Clipse said that they made "Lord Willin'" for the streets.

"Ma, I Don't Love Her," is a song that dudes and girls can relate to. "We always been in the streets with girls and they can be a little vicious at times, too," said Pusha T.

When they perform, fans tend to show love by "grinding" in their own little way.

"It's crazy to see people taking off their watches and putting their chains in their air during performances to prove that they're grindin'. It's no better feeling," said Malice.

The Clipse also provided some of their favorite chill spots in Virginia.

"We chill at Virginia Beach, Norfolk State, Military Circle, and we used to go to a club called Shadows before it shut down," said Pusha T.

"In V-A, everybody know about 7/11, MacArthur Center and going to Norfolk or Hampton watching cars rims shining on the streets," Malice said.

Catch The Clipse on tour with Nelly in November, Eve in December and Justin in February.

Trina Logan is a student at North Carolina A&T University who writes for The A&T Register.