Synopsis

Clipse turn a funeral procession into a flamboyant street celebration in their first music video. The Virginia duo perform amid mourners, vintage cars, black clothing, and a lively parade atmosphere that deliberately contrasts the song's grim subject matter. The procession has the feel of a Southern second-line celebration, with the rappers and their guests presenting death as both spectacle and legacy. Pharrell Williams appears alongside the group, reinforcing the close connection between Clipse and The Neptunes during this early stage of their career.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed in Virginia, where Clipse grew up and established its identity. Some viewers initially assumed the setting was New Orleans because of the funeral procession's celebratory, second-line-inspired style.

• Pusha T was still performing under the name Terrar when the single and video appeared in 1999. His brother was already known as Malice.

• Pharrell Williams makes an appearance in the video. He and Chad Hugo produced the track as The Neptunes.

• "The Funeral" was the first and only single from Exclusive Audio Footage, Clipse's planned Elektra debut. The album was shelved after the single failed to make a significant commercial impact.

• The song and video nevertheless became an important early document of the duo's career. Pusha T later recalled that the video debuted on HBO and that shooting it in Virginia felt like a career high point.

• The single was released in June 1999 and was recorded at Mastersound Recording Studios in Virginia Beach.