Pusha T, the name used by Terrence LeVarr Thornton, was born in the Bronx in 1977. His family moved to Norfolk, Virginia, before he started making music. In 1992, along with his brother Gene, he formed the duo Clipse. They were part of the hip-hop scene in the 2000s, working with producers like The Neptunes. Their sound was distinguished by the combination of aggressive lyrics and catchy rhythms.