“I’m not trying to please nobody but myself”- Pusha T hits back at critics claiming Clipse only rap about drugs

Pusha T has responded to claims that state that Clipse, the hip-hop duo with his brother No Malice were guilty of rapping about the same thing over and over again in their music throughout the years.

While appearing on the Joe & Jada show, hosted by Fat Joe and Jadakiss, the Virginia native made it known why he doesn't worry about critics calling Clipse rappers too repetitive and focusing more on drug-related topics in their songs.

"Rap has always come from a very real place, What that being said, being in it 23 years, I feel like at this point, I liken it to somebody who loves mob movies." Pusha T said.

Pusha T responds to music critics who says he always raps about selling drugs and never switches topics.

(🎥 Joe and Jada/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/hjwFqYYANe

— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) July 15, 2025

Talking about personal preferences and subjective opinion, Pusha stated how different people like different genres of art.

"I don’t watch horror, I watch A&E. It’s scarier because I believe it. I liken my music to that as well. You can’t please everybody, but 23 years in this, I’m not trying to please nobody but myself. he added.

According to Complex, the controversy began when Pusha T and No Malice released their latest album, Let God Sort Em Out. The album is the duo’s first full-length music in more than 15 years. A project mostly overseen by Pharrell Williams, the album includes appearances by Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, Nas, and John Legend.

A look into the Clipse's early career and their recent collaboration with Kendrick Lamar

According to Hip-Hop Golden Age, Clipse’s music has always been a reflection of their real-life experiences while growing up in Virginia Beach. The hip-hop duo Clipse was assembled in 1992 by two brothers, Gene “No Malice” Thornton and Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton. The duo piqued the interest of Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes who was instrumental in the beginning of the career.

Clipse later signed to Elektra Records, where they began working on their debut album Exclusive Audio Footage. Their debut single, “The Funeral,” however, did not translate into commercial success, and the album was shelved, leading to their release from the label.

In 2001, Pharrell signed Clipse to his Star Trak Entertainment imprint under Arista Records. Their official debut album, Lord Willin’ (2002), garnered both critical and commercial success and debuted at the number one spot on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Clipse Peforming “The Birds Don’t Sing” Live On The Tonight Show (Jimmy Fallon) pic.twitter.com/v3X505NFhN

— Dre (@drearetas) July 16, 2025

Their second album Hell Hath No Fury (2006) is also considered a cult classic despite facing several struggles and delays.

The recent release of Let God Sort Em Out sparked conversations around Clipse’s recurring topics once more. Their most recent music video, Chains & Whips with Kendrick Lamar, also received backlash (Rolling Stone).

There was some behind-the-scenes controversy around the track. Universal Music Group, the label responsible for releasing the song, reportedly had concerns over possible references to Drake, the Canadian rapper who is in an ongoing lawsuit against the label. But Clipse persisted, as the group independently released the album with Roc Nation as its distributors.