Ever since Pusha T and No Malice reunited to appear on Kanye West’s 2019 album Jesus Is King, the legendary Virginia rap duo have slowly been playing shows again and they came to NYC for the first time in over a decade to play The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Friday (7/28) with Rick Ross. Part of Amazon Music’s ’50 & Forever’ series in celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop, the show cost just $10 and was sold out and packed. It also streamed live on Amazon Music’s Twitch channel.
The outdoor, waterfront, rooftop venue was a beautiful setting for Clipse’s return, and even on one of the hottest days of the year, it never felt too hot, especially after the sun went down. Rick Ross kicked things off around 8:30 PM with a hits-filled set that had lots of crowd members excitedly singing along. He probably could’ve headlined the show himself, but Clipse felt like the true headliners as they came out to an even more packed crowd. The coke-rap legends’ DJ booth was padded with piled-high packages of white powder, and Pusha T and No Malice immediately raised the energy level by coming out to the appropriately-themed “Popular Demand,” and then continued to command the crowd with a no-frills set that was heavy on their two most classic albums, 2002’s Lord Willin’ and 2006’s Hell Hath No Fury. In the years since Clipse last played together, Pusha T has been very active with his great second act as a solo artist (and headlined that same NYC venue on his own last year), but it felt like that old Clipse chemistry came right back to Push and No Malice as they fed off of each other at this triumphant comeback show.
Clipse will play NYC again on August 19 at Knockdown Center, and Amazon Music is throwing another ’50 & Forever’ show at Pier 17 on August 10 (lineup TBA).
More photos of Clipse and Rick Ross’ Pier 17 show by James Farrell and Amazon Music, Clipse’s setlist, and a video of them playing “Grindin’” below…
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
photo by James Farrell & Amazon Music
Clipse @ Pier 17 – 7/28/13 Setlist (via)
Popular Demand (Popeye’s)
What Happened to That Boy
When the Last Time
Virginia
Momma I’m So Sorry
Keys Open Doors
Ride Around Shining
Wamp Wamp (What It Do)
Ain’t Cha
Chinese New Year
Cot Damn
Mr. Me Too
Grindin’
I’m Good
