In a year already marked by emotional milestones and creative resurgence, the hip-hop duo Clipse—comprised of brothers Pusha T and Malice—have offered fans a deeply personal glimpse into their past with the release of the music video for "The Birds Don’t Sing." Dropped on September 30, 2025, and directed by Brendan O’Connor, the video serves as both a tribute to their late parents and a celebration of the journey that’s brought them from their Virginia roots to the global stage.
The song, which features lush production from longtime collaborator Pharrell Williams and additional vocals from John Legend, stands as the opener to Clipse’s much-heralded comeback album, Let God Sort 'Em Out. According to HotNewHipHop, the album, released earlier this year, marks the duo’s first project together in over a decade and is entirely produced by Pharrell—a fact that has only heightened anticipation and critical acclaim.
The video itself is a tapestry of memory and homage. It opens with a poignant scene: Pusha T lifting his young son, Nigel, to place flowers at the gravesite of his grandparents, Mildred and Gene Thornton, Sr. The moment is more than just symbolic; it’s a passing of legacy, a gentle reminder of the ties that bind generations. As reported by iHeartRadio, the Thornton brothers are seen guiding Nigel in this act of remembrance, underscoring the importance of family and continuity even amid loss.
Throughout the video, viewers are treated to a collage of old family photographs—snapshots from childhood, candid moments with their parents, and glimpses into the brothers’ formative years in Virginia Beach. These images, interspersed with scenes of Clipse rapping in the living room of their childhood home, ground the song’s themes of grief, gratitude, and growth in lived experience. The setting is not just a backdrop; it’s a character in its own right, evoking the warmth and complexity of home.
Church imagery plays a significant role in the video’s visual language. The inclusion of the Voices of Fire choir singing in a local church connects the narrative to the brothers’ spiritual upbringing and the solace they’ve found in faith. According to iHeartRadio, this motif is further deepened by shots of a pregnant woman—a subtle but powerful ode to their late mother, Mildred, and the nurturing presence she represented in their lives.
The closing moments of the video are particularly moving: archival footage of Clipse fishing with their father, Gene, captures a rare sense of peace and togetherness. It’s a quiet, reflective counterpoint to the high-energy bravado that often defines the duo’s music, revealing a vulnerability that’s both unexpected and profoundly relatable.
For Clipse, the process of mourning and memorialization has been ongoing. Their parents, Gene Thornton, Sr. and Mildred Thornton, died within four months of each other, a loss that occurred more than three years prior to the release of Let God Sort 'Em Out. The impact of their passing is felt throughout the album and the video, which, as HotNewHipHop notes, doubles as a loving tribute to the people who shaped the brothers’ lives and careers.
Malice, in particular, has spoken candidly about the pain and peace that accompanied his parents’ deaths. In an interview with Brian "B.Dot" Miller on Cover Lines, he revealed, "I found both of my parents yeah. I discovered both of my parents going and checking on them... My faith and everything that I have read from the word of God took over. There was a supernatural sense of peace. There was no time to break down, start crying, getting out of my mind, what's going on, what's happening, you know, screaming and kicking. Nah, I had a complete sense of peace and I had to have that peace not only for myself but to deliver the news to my family. God has never let me down no matter what I faced or seen in this life."
This sense of faith and fortitude permeates both the music and the visuals. The church scenes, the family home, and the moments of quiet reflection all speak to a spiritual resilience that has carried the Thornton brothers through hardship and into a new phase of artistic maturity.
The release of "The Birds Don’t Sing" video comes on the heels of several high-profile moments for Clipse in 2025. Earlier in the year, the duo made headlines with a historic performance at the Vatican, a testament to their global reach and the universality of their message. Their reunion tour, aptly named after the new album, has also seen them pay tribute to their parents on stage and during late-night television appearances, further cementing their commitment to honoring their family's legacy in both word and deed.
Pharrell Williams’ role in shaping the sound of Let God Sort 'Em Out cannot be overstated. His signature production style—at once soulful and innovative—provides the perfect canvas for Clipse’s introspective lyrics and John Legend’s soaring vocals. The collaboration is a reminder of the creative alchemy that defined the duo’s earlier work and a signal that, even after years apart, their chemistry remains undiminished.
For fans and newcomers alike, the "The Birds Don’t Sing" video offers more than just nostalgia. It’s an invitation to reflect on the power of family, the inevitability of loss, and the possibility of healing. In revisiting their childhood home, sharing private moments of grief, and celebrating the lives of their parents, Pusha T and Malice have crafted a narrative that’s as universal as it is specific—a story of love, loss, and the enduring bonds that shape who we become.
As HotNewHipHop and iHeartRadio have both observed, the video stands as a testament to how far the Thornton brothers have come, not just in their careers but in their personal journeys. It’s a reminder that even in the face of heartbreak, there is room for gratitude, growth, and, above all, hope.
With "The Birds Don’t Sing," Clipse have turned their private pain into public art, ensuring that the memories of Gene and Mildred Thornton will resonate far beyond the walls of their Virginia home—and perhaps inspire others to honor the people who’ve shaped their own lives.
