Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone
Pusha T has become synonymous for cocaine-laced poetry over luxurious instrumentals — a lane fans have witnessed the former member of Clipse carve for himself over the course of nearly two decades.
Speaking with Rolling Stone for an all-encompassing profile, Push reveals that he started honing his craft at an early age, transitioning to the money-making schemes of his music later on. Self-admittedly, his entrepreneurial spirit came from a place of greed rather than necessity. Growing up, his family managed to live a decent, lower middle class life.
“We all had a decent upbringing. Some better than others. But it wasn’t a rough-and-tumble thing. Everything that was done was out of greed and mischief.”
Pusha T to Rolling Stone
Friendships with Pharrell and Chad Hugo of the Neptunes led to a jumpstart early on in his career. As thet grew collectively, Push and his brother, No Malice, would rise alongside them as Clipse, a duo that would introduce a young Pusha T to the perils of the music industry.
Despite their undeniably high-quality music, issues with their former label Jive Records would slow their sales down to a stop — leading to No Malice’s departure from the group and the beginning of King Push’s solo career.
“My brother told me that he didn’t want to be in the group no more. He was like, ‘You’d be better off solo you should do your thing.’”
Pusha T to Rolling Stone
A few days after that conversation, Ye and Push would link up for the first time. Leading to a long and fruitful friendship that withstood controversy after controversy (usually courtesy of Ye), they found fortune in multiple successful business ventures; the last of which being Pusha T’s positioning as GOOD Music’s president.
Nowadays, he still sounds as hungry as he did a part of Clipse, already working on his next drop coming off the release of his critically-acclaimed LP, It’s Almost Dry. Exclusively featuring production from Ye and Pharrell, it’s full circle moments like these that have fans craving for a reunion with his brother — something Push says is up to No Malice.
With a “new marathon” in sight, Push’s stubbornness to quit and desire for longevity are ultimately what’s keeping him at the top. “The fact that the music is coming out like it is — that’s my new marathon,” he said. “[I want] to show how long I can keep going at this level.”
Read Pusha T’s full conversation with Rolling Stone below!
