Why did Clipse leave Def Jam? Kendrick Lamar’s reported removal from the new album led to the decision

The Virginia hip-hop duo Clipse, made up of brothers Pusha T and No Malice, recently said they were leaving Def Jam. This was because the business reportedly wanted Kendrick Lamar's guest verse on their highly anticipated reunion album, Let God Sort Em Out, to be taken out or changed.

Pusha T said in interviews that came out in June 2025 that Def Jam, and by extension its parent company, Universal Music Group (UMG), were worried about how it would seem to put Lamar on a record with Pusha because he was in a public spat with Drake. When Clipse refused to comply, talks broke out, and the brothers left Def Jam and joined Roc Nation to release their album with Kendrick's verse still on it.

Kendrick Lamar’s reported removal from Clipse's new album led to the duo leaving Def Jam

After a 16-year break, Clipse got back together to create Let God Sort Em Out, their first group album since Hell Hath No Fury in 2006. In early 2024, their reunion was officially announced. Fans were excited since they remembered their groundbreaking work with producer Pharrell Williams. In a GQ article published on June 2, 2025, Pusha T said that the album was supposed to come out on Def Jam, a major label controlled by UMG.

But as production came to a finish in late 2024, Def Jam and UMG were worried about Chains & Whips, one of the album's primary tracks, which included a guest verse from Kendrick Lamar. Lamar was one of the most well-known hip-hop artists at the time, but he was also in a spat with Drake, who had publicly sued UMG for allegedly promoting Lamar's diss tracks. These arguments made UMG more sensitive to anything that may make Drake's spat with Lamar worse.

According to Vulture's version of the GQ interview, Lamar's verse on Chains & Whips didn't directly mention Drake or any difficulties with him, which suggests that the label's demand was more about being careful with the law than with the lyrics.

Because of this, when the duo wouldn't edit Lamar's verse, Def Jam's in-house lawyer, Steve Gawley, reportedly told them that the only thing they could do was let Clipse go from the label. Pusha T revealed that after a month of talks that didn't go anywhere, Def Jam decided to let Clipse go from their contract, formally ending their relationship with the label.

Album Delay and Contract with Roc Nation

After leaving Def Jam, the duo joined Jay-Z's Roc Nation, which both brothers regarded as a way to keep their creative integrity. Clipse said that Let God Sort Em Out would be out on July 11, 2025, under Roc Nation. They also said that Kendrick Lamar's rap on Chains & Whips will stay as scheduled.

By partnering with Roc Nation, Clipse made sure that their high-profile collaboration with Lamar would continue, demonstrating to fans that artistic vision was more important than any business politics.

Trending

Def Jam and UMG wanted to remove or change Kendrick Lamar's guest verse on Chains & Whips off their reunion album, Let God Sort Em Out. Lamar's verse didn't reference Drake at all, but the label was worried about how it would seem for business because of Lamar's spat with Drake and UMG's continuing legal battle with Drake. This episode shows how artist rivalries and labels' fear of risk may directly affect creative work, making artists look for situations that protect their artistic vision.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback