The Virginia Beach rap duo, Clipse, made up of Pusha T and No Malice, stepped into history on September 13, 2025, when they became the first hip-hop act ever to perform at the Vatican. The duo wasn’t alone, they were joined by John Legend and the Voices of Fire choir for a live orchestral version of their song “The Birds Don’t Sing” from the album Let God Sort Em Out.

The performance took place in St. Peter’s Square during the Grace for the World concert, part of the World Meeting on Human Fraternity. The event, co-directed by Pharrell Williams and Andrea Bocelli, aimed to promote unity, peace and spiritual reflection through music.

Dressed in matching black suits, Clipse delivered their verses with gravity, paying tribute to their parents. “The Birds Don’t Sing” is heavy with themes of loss, remorse, memory, and redemption. John Legend’s soulful vocals and the choir’s voice lifted the performance into what many are calling a spiritual and artistic high point.

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Fans on social media flooded them with praise, calling it one of the most moving performances of 2025. For many, witnessing the rap genre born out of struggle and often confrontation in one of the world’s most sacred religious sites was a powerful moment of resonance and healing.

Clipse has been having a monumental year. Let God Sort Em Out is their first album in decades, and this performance places their growth, their pain, and their artistry on a global stage in a way few could have imagined. John Legend’s collaboration adds both weight and contrast, bridging gospel, soul, and rap in a way that underscores the power of music as a unifier.

In a packed square beneath the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, Clipse, John Legend, Pharrell Williams, the choir, and thousands of livestream viewers witnessed something rare: not just a performance, but a moment where art, faith and memory met.

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