Pusha T and Malice pay seven figures to exit Def Jam and sign with Roc Nation
Pusha T and Malice, known collectively as Clipse, have exited their deal with Def Jam Records after paying a substantial seven-figure buyout, according to manager Steven Victor in an interview with Billboard published on June 3, 2025.
Victor explained that the departure followed creative tensions between Clipse and Def Jam's parent company, UMG, particularly over an upcoming track with Kendrick Lamar. 'They didn't drop us,' Victor said. 'They were like, 'Pay us this money'—an exorbitant amount—and we'll let you out of the deal.' He emphasized that it was a large sum for any artist to afford, but said, 'Insane… but doable… so it got done.'
The conflict traces back to Pusha T's high-profile feud with Drake in 2018. Since then, Victor claims, the label has tried to censor Push's verses, including removing lyrics from collaborations with Rick Ross and Pop Smoke. The label reportedly repeated that approach with Clipse's upcoming Lamar collaboration, "Chains & Whips," objecting to a line they deemed controversial. Victor said, 'We're not going to ask [Kendrick] to change the verse. You guys are wrong.'
Following the standoff, Victor quickly reached out to JAY-Z, who responded within hours. 'You just made my day,' JAY-Z reportedly told Victor, before offering a new artist-friendly deal through Roc Nation that included ownership of their masters. The entire agreement was finalized within 24 hours.
Pusha T now owns his previously released music under Mass Appeal and G.O.O.D. Music. Despite personal tensions, he recently thanked Kanye West for returning his masters. Under Roc Nation Distribution, Clipse's new album Let God Sort Em Out is set to release on July 11.
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a day ago
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Pusha T and Malice pay seven figures to exit Def Jam and sign with Roc Nation
Pusha T and Malice, known collectively as Clipse, have exited their deal with Def Jam Records after paying a substantial seven-figure buyout, according to manager Steven Victor in an interview with Billboard published on June 3, 2025. Victor explained that the departure followed creative tensions between Clipse and Def Jam's parent company, UMG, particularly over an upcoming track with Kendrick Lamar. 'They didn't drop us,' Victor said. 'They were like, 'Pay us this money'—an exorbitant amount—and we'll let you out of the deal.' He emphasized that it was a large sum for any artist to afford, but said, 'Insane… but doable… so it got done.' The conflict traces back to Pusha T's high-profile feud with Drake in 2018. Since then, Victor claims, the label has tried to censor Push's verses, including removing lyrics from collaborations with Rick Ross and Pop Smoke. The label reportedly repeated that approach with Clipse's upcoming Lamar collaboration, "Chains & Whips," objecting to a line they deemed controversial. Victor said, 'We're not going to ask [Kendrick] to change the verse. You guys are wrong.' Following the standoff, Victor quickly reached out to JAY-Z, who responded within hours. 'You just made my day,' JAY-Z reportedly told Victor, before offering a new artist-friendly deal through Roc Nation that included ownership of their masters. The entire agreement was finalized within 24 hours. Pusha T now owns his previously released music under Mass Appeal and G.O.O.D. Music. Despite personal tensions, he recently thanked Kanye West for returning his masters. Under Roc Nation Distribution, Clipse's new album Let God Sort Em Out is set to release on July 11.
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