Credit: Delarge

Malice of Clipse changed his stage name to No Malice in 2012, but has since returned to his original name. The Virginia rapper explained the reason for the change in a new interview.

Clipse parted ways in 2010, with Malice converting to Christianity and releasing solo albums Hear Ye Him and Let the Dead Bury the Dead.

Since reuniting with his brother, Pusha T, Malice has used his old name again. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he explained the difference between the two names.

“Since inception, it was Malice, and the theme behind it was I was just attacking these verses maliciously,” he said. “That’s what the whole name was about. With my convictions and with my heart change over time, I just wanted to show that there was nothing malicious about me as far as bringing harm or ill will about anything.”

He continued, “But when my brother and I decided to come back together into the group, I felt like we owed it to ourselves and to the fans to stick with the initial branding. I never wanted to try to do Clipse with a little tweak or a little change. Clipse will always remain Clipse. It’s who we are when we come together and it’s who the fans know it to be, and I wouldn’t want to have that any other way.”

Malice previously stated he was dealing with “regrets” and “remorse” around the time of 2006’s Hell Hath No Fury.

Clipse reunited for their new album Let God Sort Em Out, which was released in July. The project was their first since 2009’s Til the Casket Drops, and included features from Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Tyler, The Creator, and others. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart.