Clipse Makes History as First Hip Hop Artists to Perform at The Vatican
Virginia rap duo Clipse made history by becoming the first Hip Hop artists to perform a rap concert at The Vatican. They joined John Legend for the historic event, Grace for the World, in St. Peter’s Square. The concert was co-directed by Pharrell Williams and featured performances from Andrea Bocelli, Jennifer Hudson, and country artist Jelly Roll.
During John Legend’s set, Clipse performed their collaboration, “The Birds Don’t Sing.” The track’s spiritual themes aligned with No Malice’s public embrace of religion in recent years, making the performance especially significant.
Clipse’s influence on Hip Hop remains strong. Freddie Gibbs recently praised the duo on The Joe Budden Podcast, revealing how their work continues to inspire him. Gibbs shared his excitement after hearing Clipse’s latest album, saying, “I hit Pusha T like ‘That shit hard my n-gga.’” He singled out “F.I.C.O.” as his favorite track, calling it his favorite song at the moment. Gibbs also praised No Malice, agreeing with Budden’s comment that he is his “rapper of the year.”
Tyler, The Creator also highlighted the impact of Clipse. He recorded his verse for their album multiple times to ensure perfection. Speaking on Hot 97, Tyler explained that he recorded the verse between 79 and 100 times to meet the high standards set by Pusha T, No Malice, and Pharrell Williams. He admitted the process was nerve-wracking and delayed delivering his verse from April until late May or early June.
Clipse’s performance at The Vatican and the respect they continue to receive from fellow artists reinforce their enduring influence in Hip Hop. Their ability to bridge culture, spirituality, and music marks a milestone not just for the duo, but for the genre as a whole.
