Clipse have disclosed that they had to leave Def Jam after the label pushed for Kendrick Lamar’s verse to be removed from their upcoming album Let God Sort Em Out.
In an interview with GQ, Pusha T explained the breakdown in their relationship with the label due to Lamar’s contribution on the song “Chains & Whips”.
“They wanted me to ask Kendrick to censor his verse, which of course I was never doing. And then they wanted me to take the record off. And so, after a month of not doing it, Steve Gawley, the lawyer over there was like, ‘We’ll just drop the Clipse.’ But that can’t work because I’m still there [solo]. But [if] you let us all go… ”
It was also shared that Def Jam had concerns about how it would look to have two of Drake’s main opponents collaborating during his legal dispute with UMG.
Consequently, Clipse and Pusha T left the label and signed with Roc Nation for the release of their long-awaited reunion album.
So far, neither Def Jam nor UMG have issued a response to Pusha’s statements.
Clipse revealed the release date for Let God Sort Em Out last week.
Through a trailer and social media announcement, the duo informed fans that the album would be released on July 11.
Pharrell Williams is serving as the executive producer for the project.
They also disclosed that the album was fully recorded at Louis Vuitton’s headquarters in Paris.
The trailer includes scenes of the brothers in the studio along with archival footage featuring Mike Tyson, Slick Rick, and DJ Clue.
Marge Simpson’s voice appears in the video as well.
The artwork for the album was created by KAWS, who also designed the cover for Clipse’s earlier album Till the Casket Drops.
Pusha T had previously mentioned that the album was already complete by the end of the prior year.
Speaking with Ari Melber at Miami Art Week, Pusha said: “We always take long, people be mad. [But] it’s okay ’cause it’s done. I’m telling y’all, it’s done. I promose you. It’s in my phone.”
