The long-awaited music video for Clipse’s “The Birds Don’t Sing” has now been released. On September 30, Pusha T and his brother Malice, a brother duo, visited their family home in Virginia Beach as a tribute to their deceased parents.

The moving visual, directed by Brendan O’Connor, commences with Pusha T assisting his son, Nigel (also referred to as “Nige” in the song), in placing flowers at his grandparents’ gravesite. The It’s Almost Dry artist shortly afterwards reflected on losing his mother, Mildred Thornton, in a powerful opening verse: “Lost in emotion, mama’s youngest / Trying to navigate life without my compass.”

Throughout the visual, the camera pans across family photographs and images of the couple’s parents. Malice then takes over on the second verse, which he had dedicated to their father, Gene Elliott Thornton Sr.

“When you missed Mama so much, I should have known that chivalry isn’t dead, you didn’t let her go alone,” Malice says, referring to their father passing away just months after their mother. Later, he raps, “I can hear your voice now, I can feel your presence / Askin’ ‘Should I rap again?, you gave me your blessing.”

Malice reflected on that bar, explaining to Vulture that it held significant meaning for him, particularly given the turmoil the Clipse had faced throughout their career. To get his approval, given his role as a church deacon and his devotion to God, I needed to reassess my own perspective.

“This is one of Clipse’s most personal songs to date, with its impact greatly increased by John Legend’s contribution to the chorus and Stevie Wonder’s vocals in the outro.”