Tyler, the Creator has won Grammys, sold out tours, and built one of the most unique careers in modern hip-hop — but according to him, few things compare to hearing his voice on a Clipse record.
In a new interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Tyler opened up about his emotional and creative journey to landing his guest verse on “P.O.V.”, a standout track from Clipse’s acclaimed reunion album, Let God Sort ’Em Out.
“One of the Top Eight Moments of My Life”
For Tyler, this wasn’t just another feature — it was a full-circle dream come true.
“Just pressing play and hearing your voice on a Clipse album. I don’t think folks know the weight that sh*t really got,” he told Lowe. “I got Grammys, I got whips, I done did it all. That might be top eight moments of my life. So thank you to Pusha, Malice, [Pharrell]. For real, love y’all down.”
Tyler’s deep respect for the Virginia rap duo is no secret — he’s long credited Pusha T, No Malice, and Pharrell Williams as key creative inspirations.
The Pressure Was Real
In a separate chat with Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning, Tyler admitted that the verse didn’t come easy.
“It’s been a few times I’ve gotten nervous and trying to nail that verse with two of my Mount Rushmores, produced by Mount Rushmore, was like I can’t f*ck this up for me,” he confessed.
Tyler revealed he struggled to get the verse exactly right — to the point where he almost asked Pusha T to cut it from the album.
“It took me so long to write that and just trying to perfect it… Was really in that btch sweating. That n**a Pusha sent me that before I went on tour, probably in April, and I ain’t get him that sh*t until end of May, early June.”
How the Collab Happened
Speaking to Ebro Darden in July, Pusha T broke down how Tyler ended up on the track.
“Tyler was in and out through the process of creating the album,” Pusha said. “He was always calling me, asking to hear certain records or ‘man did y’all finish this?’ or ‘let me hear it.’”
When Tyler finally asked about getting on the album, Pusha knew exactly where to put him:
“‘P.O.V.’ was a particular record that was new, and he hadn’t heard it. I said, ‘oh man, we got a good record for you to get on.’ He was on the road and had a setup on the road, so I said, ‘alright, I’m gonna shoot it to you man, just shoot it back though.’”
Why It Matters for Hip-Hop
For fans, “P.O.V.” isn’t just another song — it’s a rare moment in hip-hop where three generations of artistry collide:
- Clipse representing the early 2000s coke-rap golden era.
- Pharrell bringing his timeless Neptunes production magic.
- Tyler, the Creator embodying the genre-bending creativity of modern rap.
The result is a track that bridges eras, reminding listeners of Clipse’s legacy while showing Tyler’s continued growth as a lyricist.
A Legacy Moment
Tyler’s inclusion on Let God Sort ’Em Out feels symbolic — a passing of the torch from one set of innovators to another. While he’s already a certified rap heavyweight in his own right, moments like this prove that even the greats still have bucket-list dreams to chase.
What do you think — is “P.O.V.” already a hip-hop classic? Drop your thoughts in the comments and keep it locked on TPR for more behind-the-scenes stories from your favorite artists.
