As many Virginians wrapped up their Christmas (and/or) holiday celebrations, Pusha T and Malice were the gift that kept on giving, thanks to their Home For the Holidays shows at The Dome in Virginia Beach on Dec. 26 and 27.

The five-time Grammy-nominated duo has quite literally revived the rap genre in a way that hasn’t been done before, continuing to be the trailblazers they were when this all started in the 1990s.

Now, this isn’t my first time seeing them perform, but there was something so magical about seeing brothers Gene and Terrence Thornton at night two of their show in our home state of Virginia.

What was even more remarkable was their opening with a performance of “Chains & Whips.”

Not to take it there, but our people were quite literally brought over to this land in chains and whips. If you know anything about Virginia’s history, you know just why this was a moment that took my breath away as a concertgoer.

Moreover, them bringing out their longtime collaborator and brother from another mother Pharrell Williams was just one of those moments that I wish I could bottle up, the energy was out of the this world, but what really struck me was Pharrell taking a moment to remind all fans that no matter where fame and success take them, home is always where their heart is.

“I haven’t performed that song in like twenty years,” said Williams as he concluded a live rendition of “That Girl,” featuring Snoop Dogg, from his debut album, In My Mind, which was released on July 25, 2006, joking that he was grateful for the crowd participation because he had forgotten some of the words.

“So just want to thank ya’ll,” he continued, pausing to respond to a few “I love yous” from the crowd. “No, I love you guys, man. Actually, I remember some of it, but not enough of it. But look, what I am remembering is how much this state and this city, all these seven cities, mean to me and mean to Clipse. You guys have no idea. Whether it’s Chad [Hugo], myself, Pusha, and Malice. We had dreams. We never, ever, ever dreamt that we would make it here, and you’re in our facility tonight. It’s literally our house.”

Williams is referring to The Dome, renovated and reimagined inside of his new Atlantic Park year-round district that, along with its “state-of-the-art live entertainment and events venue, includes creative office space, urban-style residences, and a curated mix of unique shopping and dining.”

At the heart of the new, large-scale mixed-use development in Virginia Beach is the world’s first oceanfront Wavegarden surf park, claiming its title as the birthplace of East Coast surfing.

As a major investor and one of the key visionaries behind the development, Williams made it clear that none of this would be possible without the community’s support.

“We wouldn’t have none of this if it weren’t for you,” said Williams. “We love LA. We love Texas, but I’m just tryna tell you that VA made Chris Brown. Made D’Angelo. Made Missy [Elliott], Timbaland. Made Fam-Lay. It’s just different.”

“Every time you see me,” he concluded. “It’s okay if you forget my name, just see VA everywhere I go. From Paris to Tokyo. VA.”

Immediately after, Clipse official DJ, Yoo Q! posed the question – “You know what else was made in VA?” before dropping the beat to “Grindin,’” the Neptunes-produced track that served as the massive breakthrough single from Clipse’s 2002 debut album, Lord Willin’, putting the rap duo on the map and establishing Virginia as significant source in hip-hop, forever changing lunch tables across the country (you know the beat).

Last night was filled with many heartwarming moments, but this one takes the cake because it’s a reminder that no dream is too big, and there’s nothing like experiencing it with people who have been there from the very beginning.

I, too, was once a little Virginian like Pusha, Malice, Pharrell, Chad, and so forth, with a dream, and just like them, I’m living in it.

Being able to attend last night’s show as a guest, alongside my best friend Ebony (who has quite literally been here with me through all phases of my life thus far), thanks to my career as a journalist, is proof of that very matter. Though I feel like I am just beginning to hit the tip of the iceberg, I understand entirely how awestruck Pharrell, who has achieved the unthinkable, felt in that moment.

It’s one thing to imagine a world where your dreams come true, and another thing to live in it.

Another heartfelt moment was watching Malice and Pusha T pay homage to their parents, Mildred Thornton and Gene Thornton, Sr., who passed away within four months of each other.

At the conclusion of “The Birds Don’t Sing,” which featured a montage of memories shared with their parents on the screen behind them, the brothers turned to face images of their loved ones, which left quite the impact on me from the crowd, leaving me to think that they may have felt the energy too, performing that track at home, during the holidays, when we often miss our ancestors who have transitioned from the earthly realm the most.

 

I can only imagine how proud they must be watching their boys back together, dominating the music scene, yet again, and with such an otherworldly force.

After remaining inactive for over a decade, following a hiatus after their 2009 Til the Casket Drops album, fans rejoiced when the pair, now 48 (Pusha T) and 53 (Malice), reunited to release Let God Sort Em Out, with Pharrell as the executive and sole producer, on July 11, 2025.

I have a strong inkling that even more dreams will come true during the 2026 GRAMMY Awards where Clipse have been nominated five times, including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance (“Chains & Whips”), Best Rap Song (“The Birds Don’t Sing”), and Best Music Video (“So Be It”).

My career has taken me many places this year, and I’ve seen many of my favorite artists. Still, there’s something about my final concert of 2025 in Virginia, with hometown artists like Pusha T, Malice, and Pharrell, that serves as a beautiful reminder that there is truly no place like home (word to Dorothy).