Number 69: RTJ4 by Run the Jewels
Release: June 3rd, 2020
Genre: Hip-Hop
Favorite Tracks: walking in the snow, JU$T, holy calamafuck
Where I heard it:
Anybody remember 2020? What a time to be alive: a global pandemic, mass social unrest, all within a crucial election cycle. The fact we've made it out on the other side mostly in one piece is miraculous, to say the least. Like plenty of others, I had a lot of time to reflect on my surroundings and grow as a person. I don't like using the term 'woke' these days, but there were many examples to choose from in 2020 that heightened my awareness of systemic oppression and began my advocacy towards enacting policy changes. It seemed every other day was a new story on government ineptitude or police brutality, and the feelings of anger and sorrow were too much for me to stand back and be complacent. Right around this time of political activism, one of my friends was buzzing about how the new release from a group called Run the Jewels was released two days earlier than announced. Normally these two events would have been mutually exclusive, but after taking the recommendation of my friend to listen to RTJ4, it seemed like fate for me to hear it during this period of my life.
Pseudo-Christians, y'all indifferent
Kids in prisons ain't a sin?
Shit, if even one scrap of what Jesus taught connected, you'd feel different
What a disingenuous way to piss away existence, I don't get it
I'd say you lost your goddamn minds if y'all possessed one to begin with
~ walking in the snow
What to expect:
An unlikely pairing in the world of hip-hop, El-P and Killer Mike individually led successful solo careers more than a decade before the inception of Run the Jewels. The two were introduced by Jason DeMarco, head of Cartoon Network's late-night program block Adult Swim, who frequently featured the duo's content during signature bumps between shows. Run the Jewels quickly amassed a following among the underground rap scene, combining a blunt lyrical delivery with in-your-face beats and aggressive bass lines. The contrast between Killer Mike's hyper-syllabic southern rap and El-P's sophisticated east coast flow is stark, but maintains balance by clearly separating both artists' verses in order to preserve each unique flavor. Run the Jewels were never ones to turn away from controversial subjects over three numerical releases, but controversy became the primary focus by RTJ4's 2020 release. Both MCs are completely uncensored in their thoughts on immigration, excessive force, slavery, and government oppression, undaunted by the potential consequences their opinions may carry. The intensity of Run the Jewels' production perfectly compliments the imperforate lyricism of RTJ4, switching up beats between verses to better suit the rap style of each artist. Although some bars require outside context to fully extract their meaning, the verbiage translates plain and clear for listeners to easier understand each song's message. It's difficult to make an album like RTJ4 without coming off as preachy, but the impact made from some of these lines by both Killer Mike and El-P establish a rational case for their outrage towards social injustices. RTJ4 is a rap album that will have you simultaneously grooving along to the beat while contemplating the bizarre ideology of this country throughout its history.
You believe corporations runnin' marijuana
And your country gettin' ran by a casino owner
Pedophiles sponsor all these fuckin' racist bastards
And I told you once before that you should kill your masters
Now that's the line that's probably gon' get my ass assassinated
~ JU$T
Why it's my favorite:
There's no shortage of songs throughout history with a politically inspired message weaved into its songwriting. In fact, one could reasonably argue that rap and hip-hop as genres are deeply rooted within anti-authoritarianism. RTJ4 integrates the bold stances of Killer Mike and El-P with tact, continuing and even improving upon the expectations Run the Jewels set the precedent for since their formation. My listening experience of Run the Jewels' discography wasn't chronological in the slightest, but I've since gained a strong appreciation for the duo's impressive execution in blending hard bars with fat beats. Both MCs of Run the Jewels bring their A-game to every verse, most of which inflict blow after blow of crazy rap flow. The symbiotic relationship of El-P and Killer Mike succeeds through embracing its differences, rather than forcefully creating chemistry through shared lines. This separation, paired with the variance in production style, allows each artist's vision to be fully realized without interruption. Even though some of my favorite songs by the group aren't on RTJ4, the pertinence of this album's lyrics at the time of its release is too much for me to ignore their genius in retrospect. While its contents (thankfully) may not be as relevant as they once were, RTJ4 persists as a well-aged time capsule that will unfortunately remain timeless, as long as society continues to turn a blind eye to the true issues that Americans face on a daily basis.
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