Clipse Break Silence on The Neptunes Breakup
After years of silence, Clipse break silence on The Neptunes breakup, addressing the tensions that have made it impossible to work with longtime collaborator Chad Hugo.
The duo’s upcoming reunion album, Let God Sort Em Out, is entirely produced by Pharrell Williams. The reason? Pharrell is currently locked in a legal battle with Hugo, which has effectively sidelined the possibility of The Neptunes producing together again.
No Malice, speaking on Popcast, shared that despite the complications, there’s no bad blood with Hugo on a personal level. “Absolutely miss Chad. As far as, you know, being on the album. But I’ll see Chad in the airport, in the street, at Buffalo Wild Wings, you know, in VA. Whatever they got going on, just hope for the best for that […] Whenever we see each other, it’s always still love. Always.”
Pusha T echoed that sentiment but emphasized that their sound remains unaffected. “For me, no, you know, no. Everybody knows my favorite album is Hell Hath No Fury. Pharrell did that alone. That’s it […] Chad’s my guy. I love Chad. Pharrell’s my guy, love Chad, too. We’re brothers, we came up together. But, you know, when you say missing in the music, there is no missing in the music when it comes to the Clipse. And if it’s just P, it don’t matter—we find what we find.”
The Neptunes Breakup: What Went Wrong?
The drama behind The Neptunes breakup stems from a bitter legal dispute over trademark ownership. Pharrell Williams previously disclosed that he and Chad Hugo were no longer speaking due to their fallout over The Neptunes’ intellectual property.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Pharrell said, “No. But I love him, and I always wish him the absolute best, and I’m very grateful for our time together,” when asked if he and Hugo still communicate.
The legal conflict began when Chad Hugo sued Pharrell, accusing him of attempting to gain sole control over The Neptunes’ name. According to the suit, Pharrell and his company, PW IP Holdings LLC, tried to register trademarks for “The Neptunes” without Hugo’s consent—allegedly breaching their long-standing agreement to share rights equally.
The lawsuit points to three separate trademark applications filed in 2022, which cover the use of “The Neptunes” for streaming, music videos, and live performances.
As Clipse break silence on The Neptunes breakup, it’s clear that while personal bonds may remain intact, the professional fallout has changed the dynamics of one of hip-hop’s most iconic creative teams.