Malice and Pusha T of Clipse Cian Moore Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment In the span of just four months, Pusha T and Malice lost both of their parents. The rappers' mother, Mildred Thornton, died in November 2021, while father Gene Thornton passed soon after in March 2022. Needless to say, it was a soul-crushing blow, two devastating losses with little time to process in between. And yet, through the pain, the Thornton brothers managed to pour their grief into their art. The result was July's Let God Sort Em Out, their first album as beloved hip-hop duo Clipse since 2009's Til the Casket Drops, and one of the best albums of 2025. Now, the album is a strong contender this coming Grammy season. Still, despite three years of grieving and more catharsis with the album, the wounds still feel fresh. Related Stories Music Pusha T Says Def Jam Tried to Censor Kendrick Lamar Verse On Upcoming Clipse Album Due To Drake Beef Lifestyle Met Gala 2023: All the Stars in Thom Browne's Class Photo (Exclusive) Among the 13-track effort is leadoff track "The Birds Don't Sing," an emotive and brooding ballad that finds Pusha T and Malice describing that experience in such acute detail that it's impossible not to feel the heaviness of every word. That brutal honesty and vulnerability continues to be displayed throughout the entire album. But in a way, Let God Sort Em Out is also a victory lap for Clipse. The album was intended to arrive in 2024, but as the duo claimed this year, Def Jam Recordings was concerned about the optics of Kendrick Lamar's verse on "Chains & Whips" amid his highly publicized feud with Drake. Clipse decided to sever all ties and move forward without Def Jam, opting instead to go with Roc Nation. Though it cost them a hefty sum to get out of their contract, it turned out they didn't need Def Jam - the album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and was universally praised for its compelling artistry. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Pusha T and Malice opened up about grief, the vindication they felt in the wake of the album's success, how important their sibling relationship is and Pusha T's goal of landing the cover of Men's Health. I want to get clarity on the name Malice. What's the deal with Malice versus No Malice? Malice: Since inception, it was Malice, and the theme behind it was I was just attacking these verses maliciously. That's what the whole name was about. With my convictions and with my heart change over time, I just wanted to show that there was nothing malicious about me as far as bringing harm or ill will about anything. But when my brother and I decided to come back together into the group, I felt like we owed it to ourselves and to the fans to stick with the initial branding. I never wanted to try to do Clipse with a little tweak or a little change. Clipse will always remain Clipse. It's who we are when we come together and it's who the fans know it to be, and I wouldn't want to have that any other way. So were your two solo records under No Malice? Malice: Correct. I really think you're the first person we've talked to who really want to clarify that. I've spoken on it, but you're making it a staple, so I appreciate that. I lost my mom in 2019. When I heard "The Birds Don't Sing," it struck a different chord with me. How has your grief evolved since you lost your parents?Pusha T: I can't really say how it's evolved. It just doesn't go away. It's tough. Some days are better than others. Some mornings, it's fine. Other mornings, it's tears in the shower. Some shows, it's fine performing it. Some rehearsals, it's not. It's just random times where it strikes you more than others. It's kind of like a disbelief when I feel like "damn. I'm really singing this song and it's real." I can't tell you how many times I've said, "I just can't believe it." Malice: Yeah. I agree with everything Push said. You have those moments where it just seemed so unreal, because you're just so used to having your parents here and being able to call, talk and get advice-just being able to communicate with your parents. I will say, for me, and with my 16-year absence, my faith is absolutely what gives me strength and brings me comfort. How important was that sibling relationship when this all happened? Malice: It was everything to not have to walk this walk alone. To know that you have a brother who is unspoken. The pain. I know what he's feeling. He knows what I'm feeling. You don't have to verbalize everything. Understanding, that helped a lot with the grieving process. Pusha T: Having an older brother, I've always leaned on him, probably more than usual. In a situation like this, Malice was definitely the backbone. Even in like the discovery of my parents and delivering the news and, you know, I say it all the time that God picked