Killer Mike and El-P’s sophomore album “Run the Jewels 2” contains a fistful of tasty authentic rhythms combined with clever lyrics on crucial social problems. The colloquial saying to ‘run the jewels’ means to rob.
This hip-hop duo stole the title “best album of 2014,” deemed by Rolling Stone, because they have found a way to discuss afflictive social justice issues while they captivate their audience with enchanting flow. The artists use pop culture references to articulate challenges of self empowerment and systemic corruption struggles. Catchy one-liners such as, “I don’t flirt with greatness, I wifed it in Vegas“ (in “All Due Respect”) and “Putting pistols in faces at random places like / Bitch give it up or stand adjacent to Satan“ (in “Jeopardy“) keep listeners raptured.
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This album does not allow listeners to escape its contagious energy. As El-P eloquently told a quiet audience in Paris, “we didn’t come to play in a library.” The artists’ music creates boisterous performances and calls for the crowd’s behavior to reciprocate. Since the release of the album on Oct. 27, 2014, Run the Jewels’ confidence, unique sound and skill have been getting positive feedback and recognition from a variety of music critics including Pitchfork, Metacritic, Stereogum and Spin magazine.
When EL-P and Killer Mike first formed the group in 2013, they aimed to take a authentic spin on hip hop. EL-P (Jaime Meline) a label producer for Fools Gold, promoted his and Killer Mike’s music. Mike, having rapped with Outkast, Yelawolf and Young Jeezy, had his own style and vision when starting the group, they told Grind Time.
“Run the Jewels” frowns upon modern hip hop trends, such as songs about opulent lifestyles. Instead the artists value rapping about relatable subject matter, important issues and other staples of hip-hop’s original 1989 connoisseurs, they reported in an interview with NPR.
When they’re not rapping about racism, poverty and religion, the songs tell an honest narrative about the life of the artists.
Mike and Jaime are down to earth men who are active members of their communities, both local and national. They both made an “Ask a grown man” video, a part of the series of YouTube blogs in which famous men answer life questions sent in by teenage girls. “Run the Jewels” is clearly about aiding all people with their talent, time and energy.
Killer Mike (Michael Render) is 39 years old, a father of four and the owner of an Atlanta, Georgia black-empowerment-themed barber shop. He has got his hands full. Past struggles like cocaine dealing and becoming a young father give him subject matter to rap about, along with angering experiences of discrimination others can relate to. “Rap gives me a voice,” Killer Mike told NPR.
Killer Mike found inspiration in a quote from the late rapper Tupac Shakur, “an educated gangster is Amerikkka’s nightmare.” Educate yourself while hearing these men spit fire — give Run the Jewels a listen.
Olivia Schiaffo can be contacted at oschiaffo@keene-equinox.com
