The Clipse Album That Wasn’t: The Lost Story of Exclusive Audio Footage
A Hidden Chapter Resurfaces
With Let God Sort Em Out arriving on July 11, 2025, Clipse is officially back. Produced entirely by Pharrell and packed with high-profile collaborations, the new album marks their first full-length project since 2009. Now is the perfect time to rewind the tape and revisit the album that almost never was. Exclusive Audio Footage, their shelved debut from the late 1990s, offers a glimpse of Clipse before they sharpened their now-iconic sound.
This lost album, leaked online years after its recording, remains an essential listen for fans and newcomers alike. It is raw, unfiltered, and packed with the early DNA of what would become a signature voice in hip-hop.
Virginia Dreams, Industry Schemes (1996–1999)
Clipse, formed by brothers Malice (now No Malice) and Pusha T, came out of Virginia Beach at a time when the area was just beginning to leave its mark on the national scene. The duo’s longtime friend Pharrell Williams, alongside Chad Hugo, was building momentum as part of the Neptunes production team. Pharrell helped Clipse land a deal with Elektra Records.
From 1996 to 1999, the group recorded Exclusive Audio Footage. It was supposed to introduce them to the world, with Pharrell handling the bulk of the production. But Elektra couldn’t find a marketing lane for the duo’s street-centric sound and ultimately shelved the project. And label drama continued to plague them, as referenced in Hell Hath No Fury:
These are the days of our lives and I’m sorry to the fans
But them crackers weren’t playin’ fair at Jive – Pusha T on Mr. Me Too. He may as well refernce Elekra.
The Album That Became Truly Exclusive Audio Footage
“The Funeral” was released as the lead single, complete with a high-concept music video directed by Hype Williams. Despite its high production value, the track failed to achieve commercial success. Elektra decided to cut ties with Clipse and shelved the album indefinitely. Only promotional copies and later bootlegs kept the music alive. Eventually, the album leaked online and started circulating among blogs, forums, and YouTube uploads.
The Sound: Neptunes Before the Supernova
The Neptunes were still refining their sound at the time. On Exclusive Audio Footage, the production is spare and murky, built on gritty drum loops, skeletal keys, and eerie melodies. It’s far less polished than the slick, syncopated hits that would later define the 2000s but it carries early traces of their rhythmic precision.
Tracks like “Hear Me Out” and “The Funeral” reveal the kind of empty space the Neptunes would later master. This was their laboratory period. The beats are simple but effective, often cold and minimal in a way that mirrors Clipse’s lyrical tone.
Clipse’s Lyrical Roots: Before Coke-Rap Codified
Before they mastered the art of luxury drug metaphors, Clipse was making straightforward East Coast street rap. The hunger is apparent. Malice leans introspective, while Pusha T delivers sharp, focused bars. Neither had yet assumed the fully formed personas they would adopt on Hell Hath No Fury or Lord Willin’, but their chemistry was undeniable.
There’s less flamboyance here and more grit. These are street tales with a local flavor, shaped by their Virginia upbringing and a clear need to prove themselves.
What If It Dropped?
Had Exclusive Audio Footage been released in 1999, Clipse might have been lost in the noise of a saturated hip-hop market. Instead, they waited. By the time Lord Willin’ arrived in 2002, the Neptunes were established hitmakers. The duo returned with a clearer identity and a receptive audience.
The delay may have been a blessing. It allowed Clipse to enter a landscape that was finally ready for their voice and vision. The missed debut gave them time to become something sharper.
Key Exclusive Audio Footage Tracks
“The Funeral”
Released as the album’s only official single, this track is cinematic and bleak in tone. The production is sparse and drum-heavy, while Clipse reflects on violence and mortality with a haunting calm. The Hype Williams video gave it a visual impact, but it wasn’t enough to spark success.
“Hear Me Out”
One of the album’s most focused tracks. Pharrell’s production is skeletal but has a hypnotic pulse. Pusha and Malice deliver verses demanding respect and recognition from a skeptical industry.
“Watch Over Me”
A reflective moment in the album, touching on themes of protection and survival. It’s one of the more personal tracks in the lineup.
Rediscovery and Reassessment
Years after being shelved, Exclusive Audio Footage reemerged as a cult favorite. It finally became widely available in 2022, helping solidify its place in Clipse’s legacy. Fans recognized it as more than a curiosity. It’s now seen as a crucial document of Clipse’s development and the Neptunes’ early sound.
The album is frequently referenced in interviews and fan discussions. It is both an origin story and a creative false start that ultimately helped shape everything that came next. For more context, revisit how Clipse escaped label hell—again.
The Blueprint Beneath the Blueprint
With Let God Sort Em Out arriving this July, Exclusive Audio Footage deserves another listen. It’s not just a lost album. It’s the framework for one of hip-hop’s sharpest duos. The hunger, the stripped-down beats, the early Neptunes magic, all of it points forward to what Clipse would become.
Revisiting this lost gem now adds depth to their comeback story. Before they defined a genre, they made an album that didn’t make it to shelves but helped build their sound. As Clipse returns with new music and renewed purpose, this buried debut reminds us how far they’ve come and how close they were to never making it at all. And if you’re looking to revisit the group’s essential works, don’t miss these Clipse classics that still bang in 2025 or their influential We Got It 4 Cheap mixtapes.
By Talmage Garn
