“Run The Jewels”, released for free this summer, is 10 tracks of pure punishing, braggadocios rhymes laced over El-P’s trademark electro-infused beats. Fresh off the release of their critically acclaimed albums in 2012 “Cure 4 Cancer” and “R.A.P. Music” the 2 trade bars like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in their prime yet compliment each other perfectly. RTJ is everything us rap fans honestly expected Jay-Z & Kanye’s lopsided “Watch the Throne” to be. Mike even throws some jabs at those still watching the throne on “Sea Legs“:
“There will be no Mercy me’s
There will be no reprieve for the thieves
There will be no respect for The Thrones
No master mastered these bones
Your idols all are my rivals
I rival all of your idols
I stand on towers like Eiffel, I rifle down all your idols
Niggas will perish in Paris, niggas is nothing but parrots”
Why was RTJ, a universally acclaimed album, overlooked by nearly everybody? Is it because both artists don’t fit into the mainstream? Is it because people have gotten used to the hours of dumbed-down radio/television programming and bullshit kindergarten lyrics? Whatever the reason, “Run The Jewels” deserves the spotlight it hasn’t been receiving. Download RTJ for free below. What was your favorite rap album in 2013?
