History of Pusha T in Timeline

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Pusha T

Terrence LeVarr Thornton, known as Pusha T, is an American rapper notable for his role in the hip hop duo Clipse, formed with his brother Malice. From 1994 to 2010, Clipse gained recognition after Pharrell Williams signed them to Star Trak Entertainment in 2001. The duo released three studio albums, including 'Lord Willin'' (2002), which featured hit singles like "Grindin'" and "When the Last Time," solidifying their place in hip hop.

4 hours ago : Pusha T Addresses Travis Scott, Clipse Releases New Music, Kanye West Diss?

Pusha T clarifies his issues with Travis Scott. Clipse, featuring Pusha T, drops a video for 'So Be It.' Pusha T seemingly disses Kanye West in the new Clipse song, fueling speculation.

May 13, 1977: Pusha T's Birth

On May 13, 1977, Terrence LeVarr Thornton, known professionally as Pusha T, was born. He is an American rapper who rose to fame as one half of the hip hop duo Clipse.

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1999: Appearance on Kelis's "Good Stuff"

In 1999, Pusha T, then known as Terrar, appeared on Kelis's single "Good Stuff" due to his relationship with The Neptunes, who produced the song.

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2001: Appearance on Nivea's "Run Away (I Wanna Be with U)"

In 2001, Pusha T appeared on Nivea's single "Run Away (I Wanna Be with U)" thanks to his relationship with The Neptunes, who produced the song.

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2001: Clipse signs with Arista Records

In early 2001, Pharrell Williams signed Clipse to Arista Records through his Star Trak imprint.

May 14, 2002: Clipse releases "Grindin'"

On May 14, 2002, Clipse released their debut single, "Grindin'," which became a summer hit.

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July 30, 2002: "Grindin'" Peaks on Billboard Hot 100

On July 30, 2002, Clipse's "Grindin'" peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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August 20, 2002: Clipse Releases Lord Willin'

On August 20, 2002, Clipse released their debut album Lord Willin', which debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-hop Album chart and #4 on the Billboard 200.

October 1, 2002: Lord Willin' Certified Gold

On October 1, 2002, Clipse's album Lord Willin' was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

May 9, 2006: Clipse Reaches Agreement with Jive Records

On May 9, 2006, Clipse reached an agreement with Jive Records to release their album Hell Hath No Fury through both Re-Up and Jive.

November 28, 2006: Release of Hell Hath No Fury

On November 28, 2006, Clipse released their album Hell Hath No Fury, which debuted at #14 on the Billboard 200.

May 19, 2007: Clipse Released from Jive Contract

In a May 19, 2007, interview with Eye Weekly, Clipse revealed that they had been officially released from any contractual obligations with Jive.

October 26, 2007: Clipse Signs with Columbia Records

On October 26, 2007, Clipse signed with Columbia Records after being released from their contract with Jive.

December 8, 2009: Clipse Releases "Til the Casket Drops"

On December 8, 2009, Clipse released their album, Til the Casket Drops, via Columbia Records, featuring production from various producers.

September 12, 2010: Pusha T Performs at the MTV Video Music Awards

On September 12, 2010, Pusha T made his first appearance as a member of GOOD Music roster on Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy", appearing on his hit "Runaway" and premiering the song with him at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

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December 16, 2010: Pusha T Signs Management Deal with NUE Agency

On December 16, 2010, Pusha T signed an exclusive management deal with NUE Agency.

March 21, 2011: Pusha T Releases "Fear of God" Mixtape

On March 21, 2011, Pusha T released his solo debut, a mixtape titled Fear of God, featuring various artists.

July 22, 2011: Consequence releases "The Plagiarist Society"

On July 22, 2011, Consequence released a song titled "The Plagiarist Society" where he takes shots and questions Pusha T's coke-dealing raps. Towards the end of the record, the Queens native promises to take aim at Kanye West next saying "You're nothing but a body shield, for that coward from the mid-west/ so yes you can bet, that your boss is next".

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September 13, 2011: Pusha T Releases "Amen"

On September 13, 2011, Pusha T released "Amen" as the second single from his EP, featuring Kanye West and Young Jeezy.

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September 15, 2011: Consequence declares the feud over

On September 15, 2011, Consequence appeared on MTV's Rap Fix and announced his feud with Kanye West and GOOD Music was over.

October 6, 2011: Pusha T Announces Release Date for Fear of God II: Let Us Pray

On October 6, 2011, Pusha T announced the release date for his EP, Fear of God II: Let Us Pray, to be November 8, 2011.

October 2011: Pusha T confirms end of "beef"

In October 2011, Pusha T appeared on WGCI radio and confirmed that the "beef" with Consequence was over, that it had died out and they have moved on.

October 19, 2011: Kanye West Announces GOOD Music Album

On October 19, 2011, Kanye West announced plans for a Spring 2012 GOOD Music album via Twitter, featuring all artists from the label.

November 8, 2011: Release of Fear of God II: Let Us Pray

On November 8, 2011, Pusha T released his EP, Fear of God II: Let Us Pray, which was well-received by critics.

April 6, 2012: GOOD Music Releases "Mercy"

On April 6, 2012, "Mercy", the lead single from the GOOD Music compilation album Cruel Summer was released. The song featured Pusha T along with Kanye West, Big Sean and 2 Chainz.

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May 24, 2012: Pusha T Releases "Exodus 23:1"

On May 24, 2012, Pusha T released "Exodus 23:1" featuring The-Dream, speculated to be a diss track aimed at Drake and Lil Wayne.

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October 8, 2012: Pusha T Releases "Pain"

On October 8, 2012, Pusha T released "Pain" featuring Future, the first single from his debut album.

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October 2012: Pusha T Featured on "Tick Tock"

In October 2012, Pusha T appeared on the soundtrack to the film The Man with the Iron Fists on the track "Tick Tock" alongside Raekwon, Joell Ortiz and Danny Brown.

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December 5, 2012: Pusha T Releases "Blocka"

On December 5, 2012, Pusha T released "Blocka" featuring Travis Scott and Popcaan, the first single from his Wrath of Caine mixtape.

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December 11, 2012: Release of "Blocka" Music Video

On December 11, 2012, the music video for Pusha T's song "Blocka" was released.

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January 28, 2013: Pusha T Releases Wrath of Caine Mixtape

On January 28, 2013, Pusha T released his Wrath of Caine mixtape and announced his album would be released at the end of the first quarter of 2013.

April 2013: King Push album announcement

In April 2013, Pusha T revealed in an interview with AskMen that he would begin working on his second album, titled King Push, shortly after his debut album was released.

July 16, 2013: My Name Is My Name album release delayed

On July 16, 2013, Pusha T's album, My Name Is My Name, was initially scheduled for release but was later pushed back to October.

October 8, 2013: My Name Is My Name album released

On October 8, 2013, Pusha T's debut studio album, My Name Is My Name, was released featuring guest appearances from various artists and production from Kanye West and others. The album debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200, selling 74,000 copies in its first week.

November 19, 2014: "Lunch Money" single release

On November 19, 2014, Pusha T released a standalone single titled "Lunch Money," which was produced by Kanye West.

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December 2014: King Push album release planned

In December 2014, Pusha T planned to release King Push in the Spring of 2015.

May 2015: King Push album release delayed

In May 2015, Pusha T announced that the release of his album King Push would be pushed back to June.

November 9, 2015: Pusha T appointed president of GOOD Music

On November 9, 2015, Pusha T was appointed the new president of GOOD Music.

November 12, 2015: "Untouchable" single release

On November 12, 2015, Pusha T released the single "Untouchable", produced by Timbaland.

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November 23, 2015: King Push-Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude album annoucement

On November 23, 2015, Pusha T announced the release of a new album titled King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude, serving as a prelude to his King Push album.

December 18, 2015: King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude album released

On December 18, 2015, King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude, executive produced by Puff Daddy and Steven Victor, was released and received favorable reception from critics, reaching number 20 on the Billboard 200.

May 31, 2016: "Drug Dealers Anonymous" single released

On May 31, 2016, Pusha T released "Drug Dealers Anonymous" featuring Jay-Z, as the lead single from his upcoming King Push album, initially exclusively through Jay-Z's streaming service Tidal.

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June 2016: Claim that Pusha T wrote McDonald's "I'm lovin' it" jingle

In June 2016, Steve Stoute claimed Pusha T wrote the McDonald's "I'm lovin' it" jingle, which Pusha T confirmed on Twitter. However, advertising and McDonald's executives disputed this claim. Neither Stoute nor Pusha T commented on the dispute.

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July 8, 2017: My Name Is My Name sales update

As of July 8, 2017, Pusha T's album My Name Is My Name had sold 182,000 copies in the United States.

2017: Collaborations with Linkin Park and Gorillaz

In 2017, Pusha T collaborated with Linkin Park on the song "Good Goodbye" from their album One More Light, and with Gorillaz on the song "Let Me Out" from their album Humanz.

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April 19, 2018: King Push album release date announced

On April 19, 2018, Kanye West announced via Twitter that Pusha T's King Push album would be released on May 25, 2018.

May 23, 2018: Album title changed to Daytona

On May 23, 2018, Pusha T announced on his Twitter that he had changed the album title from King Push to Daytona.

May 25, 2018: Daytona album released

On May 25, 2018, Daytona was released to critical acclaim, receiving an 86 on Metacritic and leading to Pusha T being named "Best Rapper Alive" by Complex. Nas and P. Diddy praised the album.

May 29, 2018: "The Story of Adidon" released

On May 29, 2018, Pusha T responded to Drake with the track "The Story of Adidon," which featured Pusha responding to Drake over the instrumental of Jay-Z's 2017 single "The Story of O.J." The song debuted on Hot 97 and has lines directed towards rumors Drake has an illegitimate child and his producer's multiple sclerosis.

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February 2020: Heir Wave Media Group Launched

In February 2020, Pusha T started a new record label, Heir Wave Media Group, to sign and develop artists from the Virginia area. He remained the president of GOOD Music. In the label's first year, Heir Wave Music signed Kahri 1k, Shaolinn, Leeto, and WhyNotDuce.

June 11, 2020: Pusha T and wife welcome first child

On June 11, 2020, Pusha T and his wife Virginia Williams welcomed their first child, Nigel Brixx Thornton. The name "Brixx" was noted online for being a possible slang term for cocaine.

November 2021: Death of Pusha T's mother

In November 2021, Pusha T's mother passed away.

February 7, 2022: "Diet Coke" released as lead single

On February 7, 2022, Pusha T released "Diet Coke," produced by Kanye West and 88-Keys, as the lead single from his fourth studio album It's Almost Dry.

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March 21, 2022: Pusha T releases "Spicy Fish Diss" commercial for Arby's

On March 21, 2022, Pusha T released "Spicy Fish Diss", a commercial for Arby's, targeting McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich, claiming it was "disgusting". This was reportedly in response to McDonald's not crediting him for popularizing the "I'm lovin' it" campaign.

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May 7, 2022: It's Almost Dry Debuts at Number One

On the week dated May 7, 2022, Pusha T's album It's Almost Dry debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 55,000 album equivalent units, becoming his first number-one album on the chart.

December 2022: Pusha T leaves GOOD Music

In December 2022, Pusha T announced his departure from GOOD Music following Kanye West's antisemitic and pro-race remarks. His departure also ended his tenure as the label's president, and he focused on his own label, Heir Wave Music Group.

February 24, 2023: Pusha T releases "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)"

To promote the film, Cocaine Bear, which was released on February 24, 2023, Pusha T remade the Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel 1983 classic, "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)", keeping the original chorus, but replacing the original verses with his own.

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April 2023: Coachella performance

In April 2023, Pusha T performed at the 22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

May 2023: Dispute with Jim Jones begins

In May 2023, a dispute began between Pusha T and Jim Jones after Jones dismissed Pusha T on the Breakfast Club, stating he "couldn't name any top five Pusha T songs".

November 13, 2024: Grindin Coffee Announcement

On November 13, 2024, Thornton announced Grindin Coffee, which takes its name from the 2002 Clipse hit "Grindin'", which will launch nationwide in 2025.

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2024: Daytona named one of the 'Most Scathing Hip-Hop Diss of All Time'

In 2024, Billboard named Daytona as the 2nd 'Most Scathing Hip-Hop Diss of All Time'.

2024: Pusha T Discusses Kanye West's Controversial Statements

In 2024, Pusha T spoke out on Kanye West's support for "White Lives Matter", his 2024 presidential campaign and other public outbursts, stating that they were nothing to "tap dance around".