Swizz Beatz Helps the Clipse Clear Saudi Sample for “So Be It” Amid Travis Scott Diss

The Clipse’s latest album Let God Sort Em Out has sparked conversation for both its bold lyricism and its rich production, but one of its standout tracks, “So Be It,” almost didn’t make it in its full form due to a last-minute sample clearance issue. Thankfully, super-producer Swizz Beatz stepped in to save the day, helping the duo navigate a tricky rights situation surrounding a rare Middle Eastern sample.

“So Be It” features a haunting sample from Saudi Arabian legend Talal Maddah’s 1976 song “Maza Akoulou.” The track, which also takes direct aim at Travis Scott, had trouble securing the sample rights in time for the album’s digital launch. But according to Pusha T’s longtime manager Steven Victor, Swizz Beatz took it upon himself to fix the situation personally.

“Swizz asked, ‘Why didn’t you call me about [‘So Be It’]?’” Victor recounted in an interview with Brian Zisook. “I told him, ‘I did—I sent it to you.’ He said, ‘I didn’t realize it was that record. Let me handle it.’”

As fate would have it, Swizz was headed to Saudi Arabia and used his connections to help broker a deal. “I’ll connect with the right people and get it resolved,” he told Victor—and true to his word, he did.

While the sample clearance came too late for the album’s initial release, the original version of “So Be It” was updated on streaming platforms as soon as approval was granted. However, physical copies of Let God Sort Em Out still include a sample-free version of the track, a detail that makes those early pressings a bit of a collector’s item. Future runs will reportedly feature the fully restored version.

Aside from the sample itself, “So Be It” made headlines for its sharp bars aimed at Travis Scott. On the track, Pusha T raps:

“You cried in front of me, you died in front of me / Calabasas took your bitch and your pride in front of me / Her utopia had moved right up the street / And her lip gloss was poppin’, she ain’t need you to eat.”

The diss stems from tension over Travis Scott and Drake’s 2023 track “Meltdown,” which took subliminal shots at Pharrell Williams, a longtime mentor and collaborator of Pusha T. In a GQ interview, Pusha explained his motivation, framing his lyrics as a response to what he viewed as disrespect toward Pharrell.

With Let God Sort Em Out continuing to make waves and “So Be It” restored in its full sonic glory, the Clipse’s return is proving to be just as provocative and impactful as fans had hoped. And thanks to Swizz Beatz, one of the album’s most compelling moments was preserved exactly how it was intended.