Clipse’s “Chains & Whips” video is a powerful portrait of legacy, faith, and survival

By: Eddy “Precise” Lamarre

Clipse has released the official video for “Chains & Whips,” and it stands as a striking cinematic reflection on family, history, and the Black experience. Directed by Gabriel Moses, the video follows the emotional arc of a Black family as they navigate the generational weight of incarceration, citizenship, and spiritual reckoning. The visual storytelling is rich with symbolism—images of confinement are juxtaposed with scenes of spiritual gathering, showing how resilience is passed down like scripture.

Pusha T delivers his verses with sharp intensity, channeling themes of power, pride, and institutional betrayal. No Malice, more reflective, brings a grounded spiritual voice that deepens the emotional impact of the video. Together, their energy draws a clear connection between legacy and the pursuit of liberation. Kendrick Lamar’s appearance acts as the soul of the piece—his words dissecting faith, trauma, and generational pain with unflinching honesty.

From the courtroom to the church, and from the yard to the dinner table, the video uses everyday spaces to comment on systems that have long defined the Black American journey. “Chains & Whips” isn’t just a music video—it’s a visual sermon, a cultural reckoning, and a bold reminder of hip-hop’s power to tell deeper truths.