Well known hitmakers The Neptunes have made a living by producing huge records for themselves along with other artists. But sometimes that effect doesn’t trickle down when additional camp participants are involved; take for example the 2-man group they helped to bring to the masses who go by the name of the Clipse.

After meeting Pharrell Williams, the brother duo born as Gene “Malice” Thornton, and Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton came to us back in 1999 by way of their album Exclusive Audio Footage, but Elektra Records quickly shelved the project. They re-emerged in 2002 with their official release, Lord Willin’ and their huge single ‘Grindin’’ spearheading the campaign.

Filled with tales of cocaine smuggling, selling, and all other types drug paraphernalia scenarios the album was one of the best of that year. What followed was an endless stream of red tape preventing them from dropping their highly anticipated second project, Hell Hath No Fury.

After the label drama finally settled, and the album was available to the public, it didn’t garner the response that the first one did. Still, the siblings from Virginia Beach kept their heads high enough to form their own label in Re-Up Gang Records and their We Got It For Cheap mixta pe series.

Now with a new situation over at Columbia Records, they’re back on track and on pace release their group effort with fellow Re-Up Gang members Sandman and Ab-Liva, Clipse Present  Re-Up Gang not to mention their next album, Till The Casket Drops. Proving that perseverance is the key, it’s good to know that the Clipse haven’t lost the “grinding” mentality during their up and down rollercoaster ride known as the “music business.” 

So how has things been for you guys lately?

Malice: Everything has been really good man, right now we’re currently working on the album.

Talk about the Re-Up Gang album a little bit. Are you guys taking the bulk of the load, or is it evenly distributed with your other artists?

Malice: Actually what is, is a re-distribution from [We Got It For Cheap] volume three, with some new songs on there. Of course we started it off with “Fast Life” produced by Scott Storch, and we’re going to have new music as well.  

What made you guys form the Re-Up Gang?

Malice:  We just thought it would be dope just to get a 4-man [group] going. We already had Ab-Liva, so we thought it would be good to try and get another group off the ground. It was a business move as well as being with other MC’s who really involved with this music.

Is Pharrell going to be involved with the project?

Malice:  Yeah definitely, The Neptunes are never too far away from anything we do. And we’re definitely going to have new tracks by The Neptunes on the new Clipse album too. 

Have you guys ever been discouraged from making music with all the label drama you’ve gone though?

Malice: It gets frustrating, you know? The label drama is definitely frustrating, but our ride in this industry has never been easy. We’re accustomed to the bumps in the road; you know what I’m saying? And that’s definitely inspired the mixtape series, and that was like a therapy man. 

So that’s basically why you guys created the whole ‘We Got It For Cheap’ mixtape catalog?

Malice:  Exactly, exactly… Just being able to put out music, and not having to wait around, we were able to stay creative and stay busy. 

Did you ever worry about over saturating yourself through the mixtape series before your official release dropped?

Malice: Nah man, it’s all good. You have to appease your fans, and your listeners. The ironic thing is that we couldn’t get on a music we when first started, we couldn’t but our way onto a mixtape for whatever reason. Maybe it was because we were from Virginia or whatever, and I guess it was because we had to compete with everybody from New York at the time. It was just hard for us new “country guys” to get on a mixtape. Now we have a way to reach our fans, and offer them new music, without having to deal with the label drama. The fans don’t care about the label drama; they want to be able to hear new music.

If you didn’t put out the mixtape series, do you think you and your brother would still be just as relevant as you are now?

Malice: From my standpoint, I would have to think so, because I know we are relevant. I know whatever we put out, regardless of how much of an hiatus we’re on, it will always be relevant, because that’s just who we are as a people. We talk about what we know about, and what we do. You get real music when you deal with the Clipse—and not only that, because it’s food for thought with a lot of the verses and that’s something you get with the Re-Up Gang as well.

Hell Hath No Fury didn’t perform as well as Lord Willin’ did. Is that something you think of as you get ready to release the Re-Up Gang album, and your next official project Till The Casket Drops?

Malice: Nah, because we just roll with the punches. At the time we were the most downloaded group on the Internet, and we were only second to Jay-Z. And at one time, I think we had him beat. [Laughs] But it goes like that with everybody, it’s not like the game is only picking on the “Clipse.” The game is hard, but it’s fair, so life is what you make it man. You just have to make the best of it, and if I did think about that, then I’d probably go crazy. I’d probably start looking for all of our fans one-by-one.   

With all the different label situations you’ve been though, what made Columbia the right fit?

Malice: As far as I’m concerned, a label is a label. It can either work right, or it can work wrong, it all depends while you’re there. As far as Columbia being the right move, they knew about the Clipse movement, and they appreciate what we do. It was really important for us to move, because we already wasted enough time, and Rick Ruben understands the plight of the artist. Everything was just great. Great timing, great enthusiasm, and great money

In all your years in the music industry, how do you think you guys have grown as artists?

Malice: Just quite naturally man. As time goes by, you can’t be sitting by idle and not paying attention to the ways of the world like you’re just stagnated. But as time goes, you should be learning, growing, and paying attention to the signs. I think right now our business sense is way better than it was when we first initially came into the game. Right now, we’re more hands-on, and we’re running things now. So it’s easier to deal with stuff. If something doesn’t succeed it’s our own fault, I can’t blame anybody else other than myself. So I’m really happy about where we are right now.