Clipse’s “Chains & Whips” video is a visual journey through Black legacy, struggle, and power
Clipse has released the official video for “Chains & Whips,” and it’s a visual work of art. Directed by Gabriel Moses, the video unfolds like a poetic meditation on Black identity, incarceration, and generational power. Set against Pharrell’s haunting production and featuring a searing guest verse from Kendrick Lamar, the video weaves its way through striking imagery that captures the layered reality of Black life in America.
The visual narrative follows the journey of a Black family, with scenes framed within the cold geometry of prison walls, courtrooms, and church pews. Children stare through steel bars. Fathers walk tight lines between dignity and despair. And through it all, Clipse delivers blistering verses, Pusha T with sharp precision and Malice with measured reflection speaking to the tension between survival and salvation.
Themes of citizenship, legacy, and faith echo throughout the video. Kendrick’s verse lands in near-silence, wrapped in spiritual unease, bringing the track to a chilling close. Rather than glorify violence or materialism, “Chains & Whips” reframes it questioning the cost of success and the weight of history.
