The positive response and ascending popularity of one of hip-hop’s current “it” boys, Run the Jewels, is undeniable. The duo are on top of the hip-hop radar with their gritty attack and unapologetic lyrics.
Although they were already popular as solo artist, their collaboration as Run the Jewels has seen them continue to stay relevant, being praised by critics and buzzed about by hip-hop heads. Already having respective solo careers before joining forces, the collaboration between New York rapper El-P and Atlanta based rapper Killer Mike was an inevitability after the 2 collaborated on each other’s solo material.
The first taste of the duo’s magic came in the form of Killer Mike’s album R.A.P. Music—which was produced by El-P. Killer Mike also worked on a track from El-P’s album Cancer 4 Cure.
After a successful tour together as solo artist, the 2 decided to join forces officially in 2013 with the release of their debut album titled simply, Run the Jewels, as a free digital download. Soon after, Run the Jewels 2 followed in 2014 and yes, also as a free digital download. Run the Jewels 3 is set to be released next year.
El-P has been putting out bangers since the late 90s and has since been consistently delivering the goods. The rapper started out in the late 90s with his group Company Flow releasing the underground classic Funcrusher Plus on Rawkus Records, an album with high praises and positive reviews.
Followed only by an instrumental album after the band had already disbanded, El-P soldiered on right into the new millennium releasing several studio albums—Fantastic Damage (2002), I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (2007) and Cancer 4 Cure (2012). Along with numerous singles, instrumental albums and remixes, El-P also kept busy making guest appearances on music by Handsome Boy Modeling School, Atmosphere, Mr. Lif and Das Racist.
Killer Mike first hit the scene appearing on fellow ATL rappers Outkast’s song “Snappin’ & Trappin’” from their 2000 album Stankonia. After several appearances on other rapper’s tracks (including Jay-Z’s bumpin’ “Poppin’ Tags” off The Blue Print 2), Killer Mike releases his debut album Monster in 2003 followed by I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind (2006), I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind 2 (2008), Pl3dge (2011) and R.A.P. Music (2012). Killer Mike kept busy continuing to make guest appearances on albums for Outkast, Chamillionaire and Bone Crusher, as well as taking a stab at acting appearing in several movies, and also voice acting on Adult Swim’s cartoon Frisky Dingo. Killer Mike is also an avid social activist.
With El-P’s aggressive technical approach and Killer Mike’s in your face social-political views, the lyrical imagery they duo create with Run the Jewels takes you into a crazy fantasy world of weird stories and striking way out there themes.
Keeping the content fresh and the lyrical word play creative, Run the Jewels are set to give an explosive performance at Tricky Falls on September 30 when the duo’s “Jewel Runner” fall tour hits El Paso. Hip-hop is not dead.
