Clipse and Kendrick Lamar's "Chains & Whips" Music Video Imminent Amidst Album Anticipation

A highly anticipated music video for "Chains & Whips," the collaborative track by hip-hop duo Clipse and acclaimed artist Kendrick Lamar, is set to be released soon. The visual, directed by Gabriel Moses, accompanies Clipse's upcoming album, Let God Sort Em Out, which is slated for release on July 11. The tweet from "Dre" announcing, "> Clipse X Kendrick Lamar Chains & Whips Directed By Gabriel Moses COMING SOON," has amplified excitement among fans for the project.

The collaboration has garnered significant attention, partly due to a leaked version of Kendrick Lamar's verse and subsequent revelations about its tumultuous journey to release. Clipse, comprising Pusha T and No Malice, reportedly parted ways with Def Jam Records over the inclusion of Lamar's verse. According to Pusha T, Def Jam and its parent company, Universal Music Group (UMG), expressed concerns about the optics of Kendrick Lamar and Pusha T, both known for their past feuds with Drake, appearing on a track together, especially amidst Drake's ongoing lawsuit against UMG.

Despite the label's apprehension, Pusha T refused to censor or remove Lamar's contribution, leading to Clipse securing a new distribution deal with Roc Nation. Kendrick Lamar's verse on "Chains & Whips" has been described as a "State of the Union" address rather than a direct diss, yet its perceived controversial nature by the former label highlights the sensitive landscape of inter-artist relations in hip-hop. LeBron James notably reposted a lyric from Lamar's verse, "Therapy showed me how to open up! It also showed me I don’t give a F," further underscoring the track's impact.

Gabriel Moses, known for his distinctive visual style and work on videos like Travis Scott's "4X4" and Little Simz's "NO THANK YOU," directs the "Chains & Whips" video. A teaser for the video featured two women performing an a cappella rendition of Clipse's classic "Grindin'," hinting at a visually compelling and perhaps nostalgic approach. The entire Let God Sort Em Out album is produced by long-time Clipse collaborator Pharrell Williams, marking a significant return for the Virginia duo after over 15 years.