Editing Clipse (section)

===2001–2002: Breakthrough and ''Lord Willin'''===
In early 2001, Williams signed the duo to [[Arista Records]] through his recently established [[Star Trak Entertainment|Star Trak]] imprint. With the backing of the record label and the Neptunes, Clipse proceeded to record material for their debut album. The lead single "[[Grindin']]" was released on May 14, 2002, and was an instant hit. It peaked at number 30 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. The song would go on to become Clipse's most famous song, and many publications ranked the single highly on their year-end lists. The second single, "[[When the Last Time]]", was dropped on July 30. It would become the group's highest-charting song, peaking at number 19 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and staying on the chart for 21 weeks.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/clipse/chart-history/hsi/|title=Clipse |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Clipse then released its commercial debut ''[[Lord Willin']]'' on August 20, 2002. The album opened at Number 1 on ''Billboard'''s [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart and Number 4 on the [[Billboard 200]], selling 122,000 in its first week.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/74394/eminem-gets-on-with-the-show-at-no-1 |title=Eminem Gets On With The 'Show' At No. 1 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> On October 1, 2002—a month after its release—''[[Lord Willin']]'' was certified Gold by the [[RIAA]].<ref name="Reference 1">{{cite web|url=http://allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=1239 |title=Clipse Strike Gold, Neptunes Want To Go Country |last=Kalev |first=Dorit |date=October 9, 2002 |format=Online news article |work=AllHipHop.com |access-date=June 11, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506010520/http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=1239 |archive-date=May 6, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A third single, "[[Ma, I Don't Love Her]]" featuring [[Faith Evans]] was released on December 3, 2002. It was a modest hit, peaking at number 86 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]], and staying on the chart for six weeks.

Also in 2002, Clipse were guest artists on [[Justin Timberlake]]'s first solo single, "[[Like I Love You]]", another Neptunes-produced crossover radio hit. It peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Clipse also featured on the song "What Happened to That Boy" with [[Birdman (rapper)|Birdman]]. Pusha T featured in singer [[Nivea (singer)|Nivea's]] second single "[[Run Away (I Wanna Be with U)]]", which peaked at number 47 in Australia. In 2003, Clipse went on tour with rapper [[50 Cent]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20030313005395/en/Clipse-WILLIN-Tour-50-Cent-%21%21|title=News &#124; Business Wire|website=Businesswire.com|access-date=November 28, 2024}}</ref>