With Run The Jewels, El-P and Killer Mike deliver an object lesson in the first principles of hip-hop. The beats are a showcase in minimalist effectiveness – walking the line between sick, infectious loops, and breaks and bridges which mirror and emphasise the stress-points of the lyrical content.
Run The Jewels is no exception to the group's preexisting cannon of groundbreaking releases.
Run the Jewels is remarkably fun.
It's still going to take a much stronger, more original, and more distinctive album than Yeezus to knock this off its perch as rap album of the year so far.
It’s powerful in both delivery and in effect, without being heavy-handed or sacrificing form. Both rappers take the opportunity to show their longtime supporters that they were right all these years, that they bet on the right horses.
It's just a distilled take on everything that made last year's albums such an event, with all the chrome ripped off and upholstery pulled out so it'll run faster, louder, nastier.
This is sound of two dons recognising their rightful place at the top of the summit, surveying their kingdom and proceeding to piss all over it.
They have the dynamic of a vintage rap twosome, complete with the vocal cues and set-up lines that you just don’t get from artists operating out of different studios.
It's a swaggering victory lap for two artists at the peak of their creativity; it's a record that sees their talents fused in the most cohesive way; it's a coming together of immense talents.
It’s a harsh listen that’s likely more obscure to casual, Top-40 listeners than R.A.P. Music. That’s too bad for them, because Mike and El-P seemingly unleash every item in their B-boy tool kit this time around.
Run the Jewels is savage and witty, rich in gritty truths and genuinely affecting wisdom. It may not be the best thing either artist has done, but fans of both will still find plenty to love.
Run the Jewels ... is the very synthesis of El-P and Mike’s shared admiration and cohesive worldviews, an effort of the purest collaboration and mutual understanding.
This quick, free joint project is comparatively frizzy, and doesn't leave a bruising stain of forced mind expansion -- just a pleasant memory of good times had by reclaiming “jewels” from the corporate overlords of mainstream rap
The introductory salvo from rap superduo Run the Jewels is a fine example of a union that is so perfect one might wonder how the universe existed before it.
Run the Jewels not only surmounts Charybdis, but does so head held high, able to be considered – and enjoyed – upon its own merits.
Run The Jewels is no classic, but a ferocious, fun record. You heard the men: up those rings and chains for the dopest villainous duo.
Another recommendation from @ThePurpleIdiot
Short, but swift & full of fire!!
Run The Jewels' self-titled debut album was released in June 2013. It was recorded earlier that year at Sneaky (Gamson, NY) & The Space Pit (Brooklyn, NY).
Well, this went harder than I was prepared for... I've been holding back on Run The Jewels' music for quite a while. I've heard one of El-P's albums a while back (Cancer 4 Cure), which I absolutely loved for how hard it went.
Now I can finally ... read more
Sometimes, you wish it was longer.
This is their debut album made by legendary rapper/producer El-P and Atlanta rapper Killer Mike, released for free on their website in 2013.
The album came out with a lot of critical acclaim, with people calling this album “remarkably fun,” and in all honesty, this album is jam-packed with fun.
El-P is one of my favorite producers of all time. I like the minimalism in this EP, and both rappers in the duo’s rapping style fit everything ... read more
NOTE: I’m going to do re-reviews of the RTJ albums. I believe they deserve better reviews than what I gave them before. So, get ready, hip-hop heads!
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Run the Jewels’s self-titled is one of the best debuts of recent memory. While it doesn’t seem objectively interesting today, back in 2013, it shook up the hip-hop scene by introducing the world to a surprisingly fine rap duo: Killer Mike and El-P. But before they were able to release more well-received projects like ... read more
Run the Jewels Review #1, El-P Review #1 & Killer Mike Review #1 "Run the Jewels" Album
While being the prototype and the worst in the series, Run the Jewels 1 is still really good. I've always loved the self-titled song.
Liked Tracks: Run the Jewels, Banana Clipper, 36" Chain, Sea Legs, No Come Down, Get It, A Christmas Fucking Miracle
Favourite Track: Run the Jewels
Worst Track: Twin Hype Back
Amazing performances over some of the hardest beats of all time, twin hype back is kinda stinky in comparison though.
1 | Run the Jewels 3:30 | 92 |
2 | Banana Clipper 2:51 feat. Big Boi | 87 |
3 | 36" Chain 2:52 | 79 |
4 | DDFH 3:05 | 84 |
5 | Sea Legs 3:40 | 83 |
6 | Job Well Done 2:59 feat. Until The Ribbon Breaks | 79 |
7 | No Come Down 3:28 | 76 |
8 | Get It 3:00 | 81 |
9 | Twin Hype Back 3:12 feat. Prince Paul | 64 |
10 | A Christmas Fucking Miracle 4:21 | 90 |
#2 | / | Variety |
#8 | / | The 405 |
#9 | / | Paste |
#9 | / | Pigeons & Planes |
#12 | / | Stereogum |
#15 | / | Cokemachineglow |
#15 | / | Complex |
#16 | / | Red Bull |
#21 | / | No Ripcord |
#21 | / | Spin |