As Clipse released “Ace Trumpets,” their first official single in more than 15 years, the reaction from fans was overwhelmingly positive. Yet, Pusha T’s own response was far from celebratory. On Instagram, he posted a stark message: “I hate every last one of you bitches.” The Thornton brothers are making their ambitions clear with an album titled “Let God Sort Em Out,” as they vie for the coveted Rap Album of the Year.
Set for release on July 11, this project sees Pusha T channeling his inner Michael Corleone, intent on addressing unfinished business. During a recent interview with GQ Hype, where I brought up some of the unexpected digs in his latest music, Pusha’s confrontational spirit came to the forefront.
On the track “Chains & Whips,” Pusha takes aim at Jim Jones, who has publicly criticized Pusha’s legacy in a series of interviews. However, Pusha is dismissive of Drake’s attempts to lure him back into a feud. He stated, “I can’t pay attention to none of that. I did the dance for real, not to come back and tip-toe around anything.” Yet, Pusha does turn his sights on another artist linked to Drake: Travis Scott.
The song “So Be It” showcases Pusha and Malice over a menacing Pharrell beat. The tension escalates as Pusha delivers a final verse that leaves listeners intrigued. He refrains from naming Travis directly, yet his references to a “utopia” and an ex with “lipgloss is poppin'” unmistakably point in his direction. Though brief, the verse reveals Pusha’s discontent with Travis, alluding to Travis’s perceived loss of dignity and mentioning Alexander “A.E.” Edwards, who is closely associated with Kylie’s ex, Tyga.
With the song now available to the public, I recalled a part of my conversation with Pusha where he shared his reasoning behind targeting Travis. When questioned about the motivation for his lyrics, Pusha pointed to Travis’s 2023 track “Meltdown,” which features Drake. In that song, Drake boasts about melting down jewelry he’s acquired, stating he “give a fuck about all of that heritage shit,” referencing the luxurious pieces he bought from Pharrell’s Joopiter auction site.