It seems like the Neptunes are the kings of the last one and a half years. Everything they did went big except for the things they did not want to become big. One of the latest things that the Neptunes brought is The Clipse, a group consisting of two brothers representing the Virginia lingo – and of course, relying on Pharrell Williams’ and Chad Hugo’s productions. While “Grindin’” was a hot item this summer in the States, Europe doesn’t really know about the guys yet. And that’s why they were there: To get some fans, to get some attention, and maybe to get some publicity. And we helped them by interviewing them. In fact, we could only interview Malice, the older one of the brothers, while his younger bro, Pusha T, was laying low due to some sticky, icky, icky. But Malice told us everything we wanted to hear.

I read in your bio that you guys moved from the Bronx down to Virginia in the early 80s. That must have been around the time LL Cool J’s first record dropped. Did you wanna become MCs back then?

Malice: Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames. ng=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Naw, we always been fans of hip hop, you know what I’m sayin’, just like any other kid growing up. WE loved hip hop, LL Cool J, Run DMC, Whodini, everybody from back in the day or whatever. As far as I am concerned, I always felt like I had a natural gift for it [rapping], but I never, you know, was into a career, thought about getting a rapper.

Okay, consider all that you just told me. What made you guys wanna become MCs then? Were there any idols?

Well, it was nothing about the idol stuff, it was always just about having fun and coming up with good lyrics, you know, clever, thought-out lyrics. Things like battling or rhyming in front of people, you know, it was just cool, we were just cool.

Talking about your migration to VA from NY: Did you guys take a certain style from New York to Virginia?

Well, basically, you gotta know, we were young when we moved to Virginia. We was just born in the Bronx, all we know is Virginia. But we happen to have an older brother who was big in the hip hop scene, you know breakdancing…

Back in New York?

Yeah, back in New York. So yeah, we were definitely influenced by the new york hip hop scene.

And what was Virginia about back then?

Yeah, Virginia was into hip hop, not as much as New York at that time, but it was growing, you know.

So the roots were already there, like breakdancing and stuff?

Yeah, definitely. You got a lot of great breakdancers down in Virginia.

I also read in your bio, that you started rhyming before your brother Pusha T. What made you guys team up together?

Well, like, you know, everyday I was just in the addict and over at Chad’s house, Chad Hugo from the Neptunes. He had a studio in his addict and we were always makin’ songs, you know, having a good time, just messing around. Then, Pharrell [Williams] and Chad came up with this track where we wanted to do something like “The Scenario”, you know, with Busta Rhymes and Q-Tip and everybody. So it was me, my brother, Pharrell and we had this other girl that was down with us named Tracy. And, you know, my brother wrote his first rap, and it was really hot, you know, everybody loved it, so he was like, allright, that’s it.

(interrupting) Did he write them himself?

Yeah.

‘Cause I read somewhere on the internet that Pharrell, like, always thinks that you were writing the rhymes for your brother in the beginning.

Naw never...(hesitating) Oh, nono, in the beginning, (laughing everywhere) yeah, I mean, when we came out as a group, I never wrote any rhymes for him.

So when he got himself addicted to the rap game, he wrote everything on his own.

Yeah, definitely.

You guys got signed to Elektra in the beginning. Tell me that story. I know it’s gotta be annoying somehow…

No, it’s a great question, ‘cause Elektra signed us, Ms. Silvia Rhone [(?)] gave us our first chance, you know what I’m saying? They just had a different agenda, they had big records with Missy [Elliott] and Busta [Rhymes] at that time, and that was the bread and butter, you know what I’m sayin’? So were on the back burner, but you know, when they wanted to delay our album, you know, we wanted to get off of Elektra, so we never got dropped, and we, asked to get off…

So you wanted to get off of Elektra yourselves?

Ourselves, yeah, no one dropped us they just wanted to push our album back…

Why is that?

Well, like I said, they had Missy and Busta, and they just was all concentrating on them…

On the heavyweights they had.

Yeah, they were the heavyweights, they had the big records, makin’ the money, getting the spins and we were the newcomers. So, you know, we put out a video that the streets loved, it was called “The Funeral”. They just put the attention off us and wanted to push our album back and so we were like, naw, we wanna go somewhere else. And Silvia Rhone [(?)] played very fair with us, you know what I’m saying, she let us go out of the contract.

But then again, you guys are very lucky, you’re with today’s hottest producers, Chad and Pharrell [aka the Netptunes]. Is it a gift or is it a curse to be there?

It is a gift, definitely, it’s only a gift. You have your naysayers, who wanna say that, you know, we ride the Neptunes, whatever. But you know, we don’t care about that, we are best friends coming up and we came out with “Grindin’”, “Grindin’” is so far left, it doesn’t like anything the Neptunes have ever done. We could have done something like “Pass the Courvoisier”, or “Like I Love You”, [something] by Jay-Z or “Shake Ya Ass” by Mystikal. That was in the heyday when it was all copying and stuff, and we did none of that. We came out with a simple basic beat and just gave you straight lyrics.

But don’t you have to come up to certain expectations as far as for example sales figures are concerned? Like, you were the newcomers when you got there, and other people like Justin, he wasn’t, Jay-Z wasn’t. Don’t you guys have to come up to certain things ‘cause you’re at least at this label, you know what I mean?

But let me tell you about the whole hip hop thing, it’s fun to us, and it’s nothing we shoot for or stress ourselves about. It ain’t no pressure or shit like that, we just sit down and do what comes naturally. And if you like it, great, we hope the world loves it, and whoever doesn’t you know, you don’t have to listen to [us]. But we definitely appreciate all the support.

Considering the fact that the Neptunes have like a 150 current radio singles being on heavy rotation. What do you guys do to make your sound special?

We talk about this a lot, you know. Pharrell, likes to think that this is the new Neptunes sound, you know what I’m saying, with us. We’ve been, we’ve done so many songs together man, and, we’ve heard everything like, what the world is hearing now, we’ve already heard, you know what I’m saying? We’ve heard it, we’ve lived to it, we’ve rapped to it, we’ve done that. Now, you know, Pharrell and Chad like just collaborating and coming up with what they call the new Neptunes sound, so we just rhyme to it, you know, we let them handle that department and we just keep up with the lyrics.

You guys are not yet that famous here. People don’t know you yet. Do you wanna expand right now?

That’s why we are here right now. We are definitely here to support Jay-Z, but you know, we are also here to hopefully gain some European fans and, you know, just come out here, do a good show, put it down, put on a good show, and, just know, feed off the energy from the crowd.

How do you feel about the crowd in Europe in general?

Love it, love it, love it. Listen, I’ve been having a hard time finding weed man.

Here?

No, we just got here today. But we need some more. But the crowds, they love us, man, they give us a lot of love.

I heard that, 'cause people like GZA were telling me that they...

(interrupting) GZA?

Yes, he somehow prefers the European crowd ‘cause they give him the love. If someone like GZA comes, it’s a real event, you know, all the fans are coming, rhyming with him, not really like [once again just] another rapper.

Well, I’ve been here for the first time, and to get the reception that we’ve gain, you know what I’m sayin’, it’s ridiculous, I didn’t expect it. The crowd giving us love, we were videotaping it, it’s ridiculous. It feels like they know us already.

How come that we see Pharrell in the videos all the time and Chad not?

Well, Chad is a dedicated family man and not one for the spotlight, you know what I’m sayin’? He comes in, does his work, and then goes back to his family, you know what I’m sayin’?

You are Jay-Z’s support act today, that’s why you are here. How did you even hook up with the Roc?

We were fortunate enough to make it to Europe with the Jay-Z tour. Jay-Z has seen my brother at a club and said that he would like to have us with ‘em on tour, you know, which was like one of the best things. And were more than honoured, so I guess the promoters put it together and it’s been great, and as far as the treatment over here goes, I mean I couldn’t ask for any better treatment any better love. It’s cool, I gotta say it’s my first time in Europe, and we definitely will be back.

Virginia is known for Missy, Timbaland etc. What’s the real difference between the big apple and the guys more down South?

The big apple bein’ the birth place of hip hop you know, influenced everybody. The difference is, you know, the Virginia hip hop scene is still up and coming, is still risin’ where New York is more established. I think that plays a part in our uniqueness, bein’ different as far as bein’ The Clipse, you know, we don’t have to contend with the whole New York rap race or L.A., the West Coast or down South. We’re pretty much like our own and we just deal with ourselves, so, hopefully it’s a breath of fresh air.

And finally: Are there things that Pharrell taught you guys in the studio? 

You know, Pharrell, ain’t goin’ to tell me anything about my flow. (laughing and grinning) That’s my department. But what I have learned from Pharrell and Chad as well is that work ethic. Like, being consistent, and not being lazy, you know what I mean? I mean, they’re in the studio… all the time, all the time. You just gotta be consistent and stay about your business and give the people what they want.

Thanks for the interview.

And there you go with the Neptunes. It's nothing but calculated and big. And they are gonna succeed once again. For damn sure. And the Clipse are probably gonna be part of that thing. Lucky bastards.