Weirdo rap has evolved a lot over the last few decades. Once upon a time it was guys like Freestyle fellowship or latyrx, then it shifted into outsider stuff like Anticon and the later project blowed guys. There was a lull in weirdo rap in the mid-2000’s but with the emergence of groups like Death grips (who I don’t really care for) and shabazz palaces (Who I think are dope) it would seem people are back to wanting to take risks with how the present their rapz. In the case of Clipping, we got some bugged out tracks featuring a guy rapping in a somewhat traditional way (i mean, he’s not using a strange voice or rapping off beat) but what really jumps out to me is how he’s using the visual aspect of music. I can’t even front, the videos are what first got my attention. Just really creative shit. So much so that I’m not 100% sure that I’d be into this had I not seen the videos first. So, I’m curious, what do you think of clipping? Get you vote on below the videos.
Phat Friend
Sweeping generalizations and unicorns
Phat Friend 
bringing noise/drone elements into rap that’s not Ryde screaming unintelligibly at the listener is a great idea.
unfortunately these beats don’t really ‘use’ those elements so much as they just show up as a gimmick. use for emphasis on the hook of ‘inside out’ is a good example. so many other sounds that would have done the job just as well, but because they’re CLIPPING!!! it’s gotta be a noise thing. that does add a nice stylistic touch, but that’s all those elements ever seem to be in their stuff.
or like their first album — after the opening a capella there’s this interlude that’s just non-musical elements. i go fucking crazy over that shit in music for no good reason, but their implementation of it is really clumsy. feels like they’re crushing some clay that’s spinning on a pottery wheel yelling ‘I’M MAKING A ART!! I’M MAKING A ART!!’
cool idea; ham-fisted execution. with this door open, though, i’d love to see someone swoop in and do it better (and maybe even with a more distinctive rapper, although this dude is amazing, if not distinctive).
I think I Agree with your end assement. Totally cool idea but kind of corny in a way.
What ya got Death Grips man?
Too noisy. don’t care for the rapping. I’m not a dude who ever really liked punk/hardcore/rock elements in my rap music. just personal preference really.
I kind of got into them a few years back thru twitter. The sound is there but the lyrics are pretty blah. But the sound could be real cool if the content was better
Peep their video for “Body and Blood”. Super not-safe-for-work, unless you work in a fuck dungeon.
Can I change my vote in the poll? This is ear mutilation, yuck.
clipping. is amazing. While their beats are abstract and definitely abrasive (I would say Get Up is too abrasive),I think Daveed Diggs (the rapper) is really what makes clipping. shine as a rap group. The man has a near perfect flow to where you can hear the beat even on songs where the instrumental may not make the tempo readily apparent. Even more than his flow, Digg’s has a great ability to vividly tell stories, such as Story (1, 2, and 4), Inside Out, and Body and Blood.
It’s got potential but is ‘Eh’ at the same time.
I can’t put my finger on it but something about it is a little too Will.I.Am for me
this is a yay or nay i somehow actually heard of before it was posted on this site. (I don’t stay up to date on all this stuff nowadays really). I saw a drummer for a band list 5 artists that influenced his drumming, 1 album being an old school album of a band I liked back in the day….and there was this guy, who he said “rapped so fast yet you can still understand the words.” Anyway, this stuff is cool and good I like it.
those videos are pretty dope. I had written them off after that first mixtape but this new stuff is better.
First one in a while I just can’t be about.
This is definitely not rap you put on in the background and chill out to. It’s not even rap you put on when friends are over and listen to. In fact, I’m fairly certain this is only rap you listen to when you are completely whacked on medical marijuana.