In the lesson, we looked at some new post-2000 experimental genres of music, mostly to do with noise and intense electronic music. I discovered that breakcore is characterised by antifascist politics and learned about Igorrr (whose approach to the use of metal music weirdly reminds me of a half-ironic American band Clown Core). But the artist I decided to research further was clipping. It is a band I discovered at a music festival once and was mesmerised by their unique sound.
Clipping is an experimental hip-hop group that consists of rapper Daveed Diggs and producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes. They incorporate elements of noise and industrial music into their sound, such as unconventional sounds, distorted textures, and harsh tones, which create a dark atmosphere that may not be typical in old-school-style hip-hop.
The band is very devoted to crafting a specific atmosphere, self-declared as “party music for the club you wish you hadn’t gone to, the car you don’t remember getting in, and the streets you don’t feel safe on.” They spend a lot of time on sound design, creating the sounds which would suit their vision the best. When reading their interviews it becomes apparent that their broad taste in music is what helped them achieve their trademark sound which is a fusion of different genres. They have mentioned deriving inspiration from industrial and noise rock bands like Nine Inch Nails and Sonic Youth. You can also hear the elements of power electronics – glitch effects, distortion, specific harsh kick sound, and overall industrial atmosphere in the music. Clipping’s beats can be aggressive and intense on some records and resemble mainstream hip-hop on others.
Some of Clipping’s albums, such as “Splendor & Misery”, are conceptual. The band has mentioned that the storytelling and horror film references come naturally to Daveed Diggs when he works on lyrics, however, the rapper claimed the band to be “the most intentional project [he has] been a part of”. Describing the songwriting process he said:
“As someone who has been in a lot of rooms and worked on a lot of sessions with rap music, it’s a different way of approaching rap songs. Bill and Jonathan are in the room the whole time and constantly nitpicking over the delivery of very small pieces of text, which is great.”
References:
clipping. INTERVIEW (2020). YouTube. 30 October. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RJyG5ByBQw (Accessed: 02 December 2023).
Lester, Paul. “Clipping (No 1,448).” The Guardian, 8 Feb. 2013, www.theguardian.com/music/2013/feb/08/clipping-new-band (Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.)
Nast, Condé. “Clipping.: CLPPNG.” Pitchfork, 13 June 2014, pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19431-clipping-clppng/ (Accessed 2 Dec. 2023)
Records, Sub Pop. “Clipping.” Sub Pop Records, www.subpop.com/artists/clipping. (Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.)
Sherburne, Philip. “Clipping: Los Angeles Noise-Rap Crew Crank out Scientifically Ugly Party Jams.” Spin, 7 Jan. 2014, www.spin.com/2014/01/clipping-interview-noise-rap-sub-pop-midcity/ (Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.)