The Clipse
Photo: MTV News

As of late, the Clipse have been flooding the game with something a little different from their typical subject matter. The past few weeks, the Brothers Thornton have released videos for their "I'm Good" remix with Rick Ross and the gritty street record "Doorman."

The Virginia duo re-upped on Monday (November 16), debuting another video, "Popular Demand (Popeye's)," featuring Cam'ron. Pusha T told MTV News last month that the video would continue their trend of videos shot guerrilla-style, because they technically weren't allowed to shoot in New York.

"We're going to have to do something else guerilla and renegade, because there's problem in NYC about shooting videos and being a rapper," Pusha explained. "If you're a rapper, you just can't shoot videos."

Though he had worried they'd have to shoot in Connecticut, the video looks like it was ultimately shot in Brooklyn — you can see the 3 train's Sutter Ave. and Rutland Rd. stop in the background. Malice and Pusha also managed to recruit Killa Cam for the video which features all three of them rapping and eating with a crowd at Obama Fried Chicken (rather than the Popeye's the lyrics suggest).

The Clipse, who will be performing with both Rick Ross and Cam at the mtvU Woodie Awards on Wednesday night, said this was their second attempt to collaborate with Cam'ron.

"That was the wild part about it, because when 'Grindin' came out, [Cam'ron's] 'Oh Boy' was crazy too," Pusha said, describing how Cam declined to be on their "Grindin' " remix. Malice added that this time around, Cam was about the business from the jump: "He definitely made sure you pay him first before he makes a move. Straight up!"

The "Popular Demand" video is slightly more upbeat than their "Doorman" clip, which is filled with dark scenes of drug activity (and actually features a shot of an MTVNews.com article about their manager being charged with leading a $10 million drug ring). "The Clipse done been through a lot, and we lost a lot of family — and when I say family, I mean, like, people that were down with us, near and dear to our heart, entourage, people that helped build this whole Clipse thing up together," Malice said. "We've been through a lot, but we still like to celebrate."

Pusha warned that the group will continue to flood the game with more material, from a mixtape to even more viral content in November, leading up to the December 8 release of Till the Casket Drops. "The levees are about to break."

• Clipse
• Cam'ron

Rick Ross
Photo: Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images

The list of nominees reads like an iPod party mix, so naturally, the 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards have lined up an eclectic list of performers and presenters too.

Passion Pit and the Clipse — featuring Cam'ron and Rick Ross — have just been confirmed to perform at the sixth-annual Woodies, joining already-announced acts Death Cab for Cutie, the Dead Weather and Matt & Kim. Breakout Woodie nominees Passion Pit will be performing their breakout single "The Reeling," while the Clipse will take on a pair of tracks, teaming with Cam on "Popular Demand (Popeye's)" and Ross for "I'm Good." Genre-blurring DJ/producer Diplo, who lately has been spending time as one half of Major Lazer, has also been announced as the house DJ for the night.

But all the onstage action won't just be of the performance variety. On Monday (November 16), the Woodies also announced a slate of big-name presenters, including Pete Wentz, Zooey Deschanel, 3OH!3, Mary-Louise Parker, David Cross, Janelle Monáe, and Woodie of the Year nominee Asher Roth.

The 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards will take place this Wednesday at the Roseland Ballroom in New York. The show will then premiere Friday, December 4, at 10 p.m. ET on mtvU, MTV, MTV2 and Palladia.

Winners in all Woodies categories — like Woodie of the Year, the Breaking Woodie and the Left Field Woodie, to name just a few — are determined by you, the college music fan. Voting is still open through Monday over at Woodies.MTV.com.

• Woodie Awards 2009 Performers And Presenters
• Woodie Awards 2009 Nominees

• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)
• Cam'ron
• Clipse
• Passion Pit
• Fall Out Boy

Photo: Jared Milgram

• Rihanna
• Kanye West
• Soulja Boy Tell'em
• Clipse
• Young Dro

Photo: Atlantic

• 50 Cent
• Andre 3000
• Clipse
• Lil Wayne

Rick Ross and The Clipse on the set of "I'm Good" remix
Photo: Spiff TV

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

Shout-out to Eskay and Dre at NahRight.com. The Web site put it out there that the Clipse and Jadakiss were talking about putting a joint mixtape together. Through our talks with the Clipse's camp, we have a little more clarity.

Pusha T has a solo mixtape coming sometime in 2010, and while talking to 'Kiss to try to get a guest appearance, he came up with the idea of him and Push doing an entire tape together. That joint mixtape is a ways away.

In the meantime, look for the Clipse to put out their own mixtape this month in advance of their December 8 LP, Till the Casket Drops. Earlier this week, the brothers finally released a video for their "I'm Good" remix.

"I think Rick Ross was a fan of the song," Malice said of their "I'm Good" co-star. "He reached out. He was feeling the song, laid his verse to it, killed it. We had to go in and rewrite our verses and put it together."

"His Internet game's been really good, as far as shooting the videos and so forth," Pusha added. "He's like, 'We gotta shoot this.' He sorta showed us a bit of that side, how they was hustling a bit. [The video] came out dope. Very crazy. Very much so performance-based, Miami nightlife. Miami's a movie in itself. When you got a hot record and that type of scenery around you and you in that type of company, just the whole performance side is the biggest thing. It's a really good look."

Pusha and Malice also shot a video for Rick Ross' "Maybach Music 2" remix the same night. The track features Birdman, whom the Clipse have thrown some lyrical shots at in the past. The duo say they are done with any rivalry they had with Stunna and Lil Wayne, so they had no problem being on the same song as the Cash Money CEO.

"That's water under the bridge. That whole Cash Money/ Clipse thingy, it's nothing," Pusha insisted.

"It's nothing, man," Malice concurred.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily: 50 Cent, Andre 3000, Clipse, Cookin' Soul, Lil Wayne

• Clipse
• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)

Clipse
Photo: MTV News

Malice and Pusha T finally linked up with Killa Cam. The Clipse and Cam'ron are set to shoot the video for their collaboration "Back by Popular Demand (Popeye's)" on Wednesday (October 21). Pusha says the video will be real "guerilla and renegade" and not shot in New York (though we suspect otherwise).

"The whole idea for the whole record came about because at the time the Clipse were real heavy on the blogs," Push explained, sitting next to his big bro in the New York showroom of their clothing line, Play Cloths, on Tuesday. "Cam's comeback was real heavy. We were both about to drop albums. We're like, 'Yo, we need to make one of them New York records — real lyrical, like, a fan record.' We both have two really strong cult followings. From that conversation, Pharrell went into the studio and start playing with the drums and [came up with] 'Popular Demand.' Once the title came up, it was over. Pharrell got in full Cam mode."

Skateboard P does a mean Killa mimic on the hook.

"We'd been fans of Cam for a minute," Push added. "Actually, we wanted him to get on the 'Grinding' remix. And he didn't do that."

"He dissed us," Malice inserted with a laugh.

"Yeah, he dissed us on that one," Pusha went on, grinning. "He was like, 'Nah.' "

But the brothers were determined to get a Killa verse for this new record, the next single from the Clipse's December 8 release, Till the Casket Drops.

"We started reaching out to Duke [DaGod, Cam's A&R], just making sure it happened," Pusha recalled. "He came through and he did it. I think everybody is gonna take to this record. Everybody!"

"[Cam] definitely makes sure you pay him first before he makes a move," Malice said. "Straight up. Handle that business first. Straight up!"

The Clipse recently shot the video for their "I'm Good" remix in Miami with Rick Ross. After "Back by Popular Demand," their next video will be for a track called "Doorman."

• Clipse
• Cam'ron

Kanye West and Pusha T perform at the Diesel show at Webster Hall in New York City on Thursday
Photo: Theo Wargo/ WireImage

NEW YORK — The Diesel show at Webster Hall Thursday night was on a smaller scale than the denim brand's 30th-anniversary celebration last year, but with performances from the Clipse, the Roots, Cobra Starship and surprise appearances from Kanye West and Lykke Li, it packed a powerful punch.

Last October, Diesel celebrated its 30th birthday by throwing parties all over the world in cities like Tokyo, Paris and Sao Paolo. The New York party was held at Brooklyn's Pier 3, which was transformed into a circus tent featuring high-wire acts, thousands of screaming fans and performances from T.I., Franz Ferdinand, N.E.R.D and a then-pregnant M.I.A.

Thursday night's show wasn't nearly as extravagant but, with hundreds of fans packed into the sweltering venue, it was a lot more intimate.

	Kanye West, Clipse, Cobra Starship Live In New York

Theophilus London was one of the show's openers, mashing up dance and electronic music with African rock and jazz to the crowd's delight. Passion Pit performed next, with a set of winning pop drawn largely from their recent debut LP.

Cobra Starship followed, but they were initially hampered by sound troubles. After lead singer Gabe Saporta pleaded for a new mic, the band continued their set, including a Leighton Meester-less performance of "Good Girls Go Bad."

Drake was scheduled to perform as well, but rumors were circulating all day that the Toronto MC had pulled out due to his much-publicized ACL injury and was scheduled to be replaced by the Clipse. Those rumors were confirmed when the brothers Thornton could be heard soundchecking their mics as the DJ spun a medley of their tracks. Still, the crowd was caught by surprise when they actually started to perform.

Pusha and Malice tore through a battery of tracks, including "Grindin'," "Keys Open Doors" and "Mr. Me Too." The crowd rapped along with every word, and the Clipse rewarded them with a surprise guest: During their performance of "Kinda Like a Big Deal," Kanye West hit the stage to perform his verse, causing the crowd to erupt. Camera phones lit up to catch West onstage, who stayed there until the song was done.

Finally, the Roots crew closed the show. Black Thought called on the audience to keep the energy up, waving his mic and yelling, "Can I get some head?" The crowd erupted each time the Philly MC asked, causing him to laugh and continue asking.

People in the audience speculated that Jay-Z would join the Roots onstage, but out came Lykke Li instead. The Swedish pop songstress did not disappoint — in fact, she stole the show, mesmerizing the already hyped hip-hop crowd with Roots-backed performances of "Little Bit" and "Dance, Dance, Dance."

Then she proceeded to "assist" ?uestlove by banging raucously on his drums before joining Black Thought for a performance of "The Seed 2.0" and concluding with "Breaking It Up." The MC closed the set with an impressive — to say the least — display of lyrical prowess and lung control.

As they left the stage, some fans began to halfheartedly chant Jay-Z's name, only to give up, realizing they had enjoyed more than enough.

• Kanye West, Clipse, Cobra Starship Live In New York

• Kanye West
• Clipse
• Lykke Li
• Cobra Starship
• The Roots

Photo: Koch

Anthony "Geezy" Gonzalez, who at one time was the lead manager for hip-hop duo the Clipse, has been charged with leading a $10 million drug ring and will face an 82-count indictment for drug trafficking.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, Gonzalez is accused of being part of a ring that distributed more than a ton of marijuana and more than 100 pounds of cocaine since 2003 throughout Virginia and at least six other states and parts of South America. Also connected in the ring, according to the report, is an unidentified police officer.

Gonzalez, 34, reportedly turned himself into police in Miami on Tuesday (April 28), and is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate there on Wednesday afternoon. He will be returned to Hampton Roads, Virginia, to face the indictment.

Gonzalez's current relationship with the group was unclear at press time, but the Virginian-Pilot states that he managed the group through at least 2006.

Besides working with the Clipse, Gonzalez is reportedly the owner of the Encore Lounge nightclub in Norfolk, Virginia. That establishment closed earlier this year after more than 100 incidents of violence, shootings, drug dealing and disorderly conduct, according to the report.

Gonzalez played a role in the Clipse' rise to their current status as one of the most viable groups in hip-hop. While the group has not been an enormous commercial success, brothers Malice and Pusha T developed a strong core following and remain a credible entity in hip-hop. The duo are working with such stalwarts as Kanye West, Cam'ron and Pharrell Williams on their new album, Till The Casket Drops.

At press time, neither the Clipse nor their representatives were available for comment.

• Clipse

The Clipse recently told MTV News about a high-profile guest spot on their third LP, Till the Casket Drops — Kanye West. The brothers from Virginia looked to the Big Apple for their next collabo, getting Cam'ron on the track "Back by Popular Demand."

"I think Killa is about to really, really show off," Pusha T said. "When you hear the Clipse and Killa, it's gonna be an amazing thing. Definitely!

"It's entitled 'Back by Popular Demand,' " he continued. "I think the title explains a lot. Cam has been away from the scene. The want for the Clipse is high. It's just, like, 'Back by Popular Demand' is fitting."

"It's crazy, I can say that," big brother Malice added, not wanting to divulge too much about the song.

Pharrell Williams produced the track and sings on the chorus. The Clipse and Williams are in Miami, deep in studio mode — as we talked to the brothers, Pharrell was inside making a new beat. Till the Casket Drops is tentatively due in early September but, before then, expect a ton of material in advance of the project.

"It's about to be an onslaught of just viral footage, music ... just everything leading up this album," Pusha promised. "We're really trying to get into the depths of the streets, get to the Net crazy — just put a whole campaign together for everything coming with this one."

• Clipse
• Cam'ron

Clipse
Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images

The Clipse are no strangers to critical acclaim. While brothers Malice and Pusha T enjoyed minimal commercial success with their breakthrough album Lord Willin', their rhymes have always caused critics' hearts to flutter.

The Thornton brothers are hoping to keep critics hooked, as well as find some new fans, on their third album, Till The Casket Drops, by working with legendary producer Rick Rubin. Rubin signed the Clipse to Columbia Records in 2007 soon after he became the label's cochairman. According to EW.com, the Clipse and Rubin have completed one track while recording in Malibu, California. They plan to record one or two more tracks in the coming weeks.

Although Rubin has most recently worked with rock groups ranging from Metallica to Weezer and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, he's no stranger to hip-hop. He helped found Def Jam Records and worked with a young LL Cool J, Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys. He also produced "99 Problems" for Jay-Z's Black Album.

This is a departure for the Clipse, whose two previous albums have been produced almost entirely by the Neptunes. The group has had success with the We Got It for Cheap mixtape series, which featured beats from other producers, and the duo are hoping to do the same with Till the Casket Drops.

The album's first single, "Kinda Like a Big Deal," is produced by DJ Khalil and features Kanye West. Pusha T was tight-lipped when we asked him about the collaboration earlier this year, but he said it was something to look for: "Hey, man, it's just one of them joints." The duo hope to release Till the Casket Drops late this summer.

• Clipse

Woodie Awards 2009 Performers And Presenters

• 3Oh!3
• Asher Roth
• Cam'ron
• Clipse
• The Dead Weather

Kanye West, Clipse, Cobra Starship Live In New York

• Kanye West
• Clipse
• Cobra Starship
• Lykke Li
• The Roots

Vampire Weekend, Paramore, N.E.R.D., & More Rock SXSW 2008

• Kaki King
• Mike Farris
• R.E.M.
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• The Raveonettes

Kanye, Rihanna, Pete Wentz, More Celebrate Kanye West's 30th Birthday In New York City

• Rihanna
• Kanye West
• Fall Out Boy
• Diddy
• Ashlee Simpson

Fashion Check: Hoodies

• Jay-Z
• Pharrell Williams
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Wu-Tang Clan, Clipse, More At The 2006 CMJ Music Marathon

• Wu-Tang Clan
• Clipse
• Mew
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Mixtape Monday, 11.06.2006

• Game
• Jay-Z
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Sucker Free on MTV: Fall 2006

• 50 Cent
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• Chingy
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Pull Your Weight

• Nick Cannon
• Fat Joe
• Clipse
• Pharrell Williams

Clipse In The Studio

• Clipse