The US rap duo Clipse features brothers Malice (b. Gene Thornton, 1973, USA) and Pusha-T (b. Terrence Thornton, 1977, USA). After relocating from the Bronx, New York to Virginia during the 80s, the siblings discovered rap music, but it did not stop either from following a life on the streets. The pair befriended a local production group, the Neptunes, who became one of rap's top hit makers in the late 90s. Working closely with the Neptunes, Clipse issued a debut single, "The Funeral" in 1998 via the Elektra Records label. When the record company began dragging their feet about issuing Clipse's debut album, the Thorntons left Elektra. They finally returned four years later, backed by Arista Records and a new single, "Grindin'". Another single, "When The Last Time', preceded the release of their debut, Lord Willin".
The duo began work on a second album for Star Trak in 2003, but record company politics caused the recording sessions to grind to a halt. After being stuck in a legal battle for over two years, during which time they released two volumes of the We Got It 4 Cheap mixtape series, Clipse launched their ReUp Records label and signed a distribution deal with Arista's new owners, Jive Records. The long-delayed Hell Hath No Fury was finally released at the end of 2006.
