Watch: Grown Men, Grown Bars: Clipse Returns with Grief, Gospel and God at Tiny Desk

In one of the most potent live moments hip-hop has seen in years, Clipse returned to the stage for their NPR Tiny Desk debut—a stripped-down yet searing performance that doubled as a celebration, a eulogy, and a cultural reckoning. Backed by a hard-hitting band and driven by the same raw precision that made them legendary, Pusha T and Malice brought decades of pain, reflection, and bravado into one of the most unforgettable Tiny Desk sets in recent memory.

It had been 16 years since Clipse last stood as a duo in front of a live audience. Since 2009’s Til the Casket Drops, the brothers—born Terrence and Gene Thornton—had gone their separate ways: Pusha ascended the solo ladder as a top-tier lyricist and G.O.O.D. Music president, while Malice found spiritual clarity and changed his name to No Malice, stepping back from the limelight entirely.

But for this moment—on a modest stage that’s become a proving ground for real artists—they stood shoulder to shoulder once again. The performance opened with an audible gasp from the crowd as the eerie first notes of “Virginia” set the tone. “I’m from Virginia, where ain't [expletive] to do but cook,” Pusha rapped, his cadence as cold as ever, while Malice stood stoic, surveying the room like a preacher searching for truth.

There was no band full of jazzy reinterpretations here, as NPR’s Bobby Carter revealed. The group insisted on keeping their sound uncut, unfiltered—heavy drums, haunting synths, no smoothing out the edges. Daru Jones, a hybrid drummer known for blending acoustic and electronic elements, was brought in to match their aesthetic. It worked. So did the chemistry.

The duo slid into “Keys Open Doors” and “Momma I’m So Sorry” with surgical timing, revisiting tracks from their 2006 masterwork Hell Hath No Fury. Then came “Chains and Whips,” a fierce new track from their 2025 album Let God Sort Them Out—their first full-length together in over a decade.

But the most human moment came with “Birds Don’t Sing,” a tear-stained tribute to their late parents, who died just four months apart. Malice described it as a “documented conversation”—their final words with their mother and father woven into the verses. It was less a performance than a confessional, with the band pulling back to let every syllable breathe. Pusha’s voice cracked; Malice stared straight ahead, as if speaking to ghosts.

Then came the gut punch. The unmistakable Neptunes beat for “Grindin’”—their breakout 2002 anthem—sent the room into controlled chaos. Fans shouted every bar. And for a moment, it felt like time folded in on itself: the Coke rap kings of the Clipse era reborn in front of NPR bookshelves.

The performance wasn’t just nostalgia—it was statement. Clipse didn’t just return to the stage; they reclaimed a place in hip-hop's living history. “Let God Sort Them Out,” released earlier this summer, dives deeper into mortality, legacy, and survival than anything they’ve recorded before. And the Tiny Desk concert made it clear—they’re not here to fade into the culture’s rearview.

They’re here to burn it into your memory, again.


Watch the entire performance below.

Tupac, Lenny Kravitz and A$AP Rocky Shine in Harper’s Hottest Men of All Time List

Tupac Shakur was ranked No. 2 on Harper’s Bazaar’s list of the “50 Hottest Men of All Time,” noted for his mix of poetic brilliance, political fire, and undeniable presence.

In a list stacked with silver screen legends, red carpet royalty, and pop culture crushes from every decade, it was a poet from the streets of Baltimore who stood out loudest. Harper’s Bazaar dropped its “50 Hottest Men of All Time” feature this week, and there — sandwiched between Hollywood heartthrobs and blockbuster superheroes — sat Tupac Shakur, shirtless and defiant.

Placed second only to James Dean, Tupac’s inclusion wasn’t just a nod to aesthetics. It was a reminder: style can’t be separated from substance. The magazine praised his duality, noting his ability to quote Baldwin one moment and deliver a blistering diss track the next. It was more than thirstbait — it was rare recognition from a mainstream outlet that Tupac’s magnetism wasn’t manufactured. It was revolutionary.

 

His “peak hot” moment, according to the write-up, came in the “Hit ’Em Up” video. That pick said everything. Not a red carpet photo or sanitized press image, but raw fury on tape — Tupac in full attack mode, shirt off, energy high, making sure nobody mistook him for anything less than a threat.

That kind of placement carries weight. Harper’s list reached from the golden era of Brando and Paul Newman to TikTok-era poster boys like Jacob Elordi and Charles Melton. A few names earned their spots with high cheekbones and prestige scripts. Others, like Lenny Kravitz, Bad Bunny, and Dev Patel, brought a mix of edge and cultural resonance. But for fans of true legacy, the list had some glaring omissions and unexpected wins.

There was no Biggie. No Snoop. No Rakim. No Nas. No Prince, even — an icon whose look and aura redefined masculinity in the ’80s. But Denzel made it in, honored for the abs he flexed in "The Hurricane." Michael B. Jordan got his nod for "Creed." Idris Elba and Mahershala Ali were rightfully present. Tyson Beckford — one of the original Black male supermodels — showed up near the end, low ranking considering his impact.

The biggest eyebrow-raiser? The lack of deeper hip-hop representation. If Tupac was worthy of slot No. 2, what did it say about the culture that helped shape him? If Bad Bunny’s Calvin Klein campaign made him a contender, what about LL Cool J’s shirtless “Mama Said Knock You Out” era? If Elvis could make the cut for shaking his hips in “Jailhouse Rock,” where was Bobby Brown?

Seeing Tupac listed alongside James Dean and Paul Newman signaled that hip-hop’s style icons can’t be boxed out of “sex symbol” conversations anymore. But the gaps — the glaring absence of other pioneers who made millions scream with a single look — were impossible to ignore.

Still, Tupac at No. 2 means something. It means the culture cracked through again. With the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame already behind him, holograms on festival stages, and lectures at Harvard dissecting his lyrics, this latest nod was less about heat and more about presence. Tupac stays on the list because Tupac never left.

Harper’s Bazaar: 50 Hottest Men of All Time

1. James Dean
2. Tupac Shakur
3. Charles Melton
4. Lenny Kravitz
5. Paul Mescal
6. Pedro Pascal
7. Hayden Christensen
8. Marlon Brando
9. Bad Bunny
10. Aaron Taylor-Johnson
11. Dev Patel
12. Harrison Ford
13. Jason Momoa
14. Robert Pattinson
15. Paul Newman
16. Jacob Elordi
17. Elvis Presley
18. Damson Idris
19. Keanu Reeves
20. Robert Redford
21. Jesse Williams
22. Bill Skarsgård
23. Rick Yune
24. Matthew McConaughey
25. Theo James
26. Denzel Washington
27. Heath Ledger
28. Jake Gyllenhaal
29. Henry Golding
30. George Clooney
31. Shemar Moore
32. Brad Pitt
33. Leonardo DiCaprio
34. Rami Malek
35. Clint Eastwood
36. Oscar Isaac
37. Chris Evans
38. Idris Elba
39. Ryan Gosling
40. Tyson Beckford
41. Channing Tatum
42. Michael B. Jordan
43. David Beckham
44. Mahershala Ali
45. Maluma
46. Henry Cavill
47. Zayn Malik
48. Gong Yoo
49. Chris Hemsworth
50. A$AP Rocky

Diddy’s Twin Daughters Step Into Fashion Spotlight With '12TWINTY1'

D’Lila and Jessie Combs announced their debut fashion line, “12TWINTY1,” just days after their father Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bail on federal charges.

D’Lila and Jessie Combs have officially stepped out of their father’s shadow — and into the spotlight as fashion entrepreneurs.

The 18-year-old twin daughters of Sean “Diddy” Combs and the late Kim Porter announced this week they’re launching their first clothing brand, “12TWINTY1,” a project they say has been in the works their entire lives.

“We are launching our very own clothing line,” the twins said in a recently posted TikTok video. “This isn’t just a brand. It’s our story. Our bond. Our roots.”

Named after their shared birthday — December 21 — the brand blends numerology with personal identity. “One is bold, fearless, and marks the beginning of something powerful,” they said in the caption. “Two speaks to love, connection, and harmony — the essence of our twinhood.”

Their official Instagram account echoed the message: “12TWINTY1 was created with purpose, built from who we are, not just what we wear.”

While no pieces from the line have been revealed yet, the twins emphasized that the project is about more than aesthetics. “This brand is for everyone,” D’Lila said in another clip. “It’s comfort, confidence, and meaning.”

Jessie added, “People always ask if we think alike — and the answer is definitely. That connection is the heart of our brand.”

Their announcement comes at a complicated time for the Combs family. Just days earlier, their father, Sean “Diddy” Combs, was denied bail after a federal jury acquitted him of several top charges — including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking — but found him guilty on two counts of transporting women across state lines for the purpose of prostitution. He now awaits sentencing on October 3, with federal prosecutors recommending a prison term of up to 63 months.

Throughout the trial, D’Lila and Jessie were seen supporting their father in court, sometimes exiting the room during emotionally charged testimony. They also recently celebrated their high school graduation — a personal milestone largely overshadowed by their father’s legal saga and the surrounding media scrutiny.

Now, with “12TWINTY1,” they appear to be carving out their own narrative — one rooted in legacy, but reaching for something all their own.