History was made at the Vatican this weekend as Clipse performed at St. Peter’s Square, marking the first time a rap act has ever hit the stage at the sacred site.
Pusha T and No Malice, suited up for the occasion, joined forces with John Legend for a powerful performance of their introspective track “The Birds Don’t Sing” from Let God Sort Em Out.
The moment was part of the Grace for the World concert on Sept. 13, a global event co-directed by Pharrell Williams that carried a message of unity and peace. Not only was it the first rap performance at the Vatican, it was also the first concert ever staged there, held in conjunction with the World Meeting on Human Fraternity.
Clipse’s set begins at the 37:10 mark in the official concert video.
Pharrell, who has been close with the Thornton brothers for decades, helped orchestrate the milestone moment as co-director and executive producer of the show through his company, Something in the Water.
The Grace for the World concert boasted a stacked lineup, with performances from Jennifer Hudson, BamBam, Jelly Roll, Karol G, Teddy Swims, John Legend, and Maestro Andrea Bocelli.
Beyond the music, fans in the crowd and those tuning in worldwide were treated to a breathtaking aerial drone and light show by Nova Sky Stories, which projected Sistine Chapel–inspired imagery across Vatican City.
“This is a rare cultural moment where the world stops and collectively tunes in,” Pharrell said ahead of the event. “It is a message of unity and grace for all of humanity.”
Bocelli echoed the sentiment, adding: “Let us shine a spotlight on humanity with music from the very heart of Christianity and the most important spiritual square, reaching the entire world with a single message of brotherhood and peace.”
The free concert was livestreamed across ABC News Live, Hulu, and Disney+, while thousands gathered in person—granted they made it before the 8 p.m. local cutoff.
