“It’s a known fact y’all tired of the circus/So come home where you smell the crack in the verses.”There are plenty of pretenders to the throne in rap, rhyme-spitters that talk big but can’t deliver, and are hardly ever around when it comes time to deliver. But that’s not what you will find listening to Clipse, the Virginia-based duo that are without a doubt producing some of the most diamond-hard lyrics in the trade. On tracks like “Momma I’m So Sorry” they say “I’m sorry I’m so obnoxious, but I don’t fear Tubbs and Crocket.” They’re fed up with soft, empty club hits, though they’ve scored a few booty-shakers as well. They’re songs are all about peeling back all the fat that’s layered on over-produced rap songs today, leaving their rhymes in the forefront, loud, honest and with an edge in their voice.So where does that edge come from? Pusha T and Malice, the brothers that make up Clipse, grew up in Virginia Beach, watching nearby communities disintegrate under the rise of the drug trade in that area. Being raised in such a dangerous area, with the drug business so prominent, is obviously going to be an influence on anyone’s music. And undoubtedly, it did, inspiring lyrics like: “Virginia is for lovers, but trust there’s hate here.”In the early ‘00s, Clipse linked up with infamous producing team the Neptunes, becoming the first act signed to the Neptunes new label, Star Trak. The product of that collaboration was Lord Willin’, and the hit single “Grindin’.” The record went gold, setting the stage for these two to continue climbing the charts with their amazing brand of music.Unfortunately, a label merger left Clipse out to dry, and the legal trouble that ensued as they tried to pry their second album from the hands of lawyers left them frustrated. Worried that the hype they had built would all but disappear by the time a second album was out, they went to work on a couple mixtapes. These worked their way through the underground mixtape circuit and only made them more desired.Finally, Clipse set up their own label, Re-up Gang, and issued their long-awaited sophomore release, Hell Hath No Fury. No matter which of their albums you like more, you’ll always be able to download hot Clipse songs as ringtones or music tones here at Playphone, or get wallpapers to customize your backgrounds.