In a time of great political unrest, with protests in the streets and anger in our veins, Run The Jewels are back to provide the soundtrack to a long-overdue revolution.
There are many lessons to be learned from Run The Jewels‘ success, and the biggest is the importance of chasing your passions. Though they are recognized as hip-hop’s most exciting and thought-provoking duo, the project started as a single release between two incredibly talented friends. Like so much great art, the goal was never to make a massive impact on culture. El-P and Killer Mike made music together simply because they wanted to, and that pure desire to create came across in their artistic output. The people they reached took notice of their motivations, and the connection forged through that understanding built the successful career the duo now leads today.
But make no mistake. As much as Run The Jewels work hard to inject a sense of fun into modern hip-hop, the duo also has a message to share. While other musicians get lost in fantasies of how life could or should be, Run The Jewels write songs that speak to right now. They refuse to distract from how the powerful do wrong or how those with influence often refuse to help others. El-P and Killer Mike shine a light on the injustices of the world and, rather than pretend they may be magically resolved through good intentions and prayer, call people to action.
Run The Jewels could not have anticipated how much the world would need RTJ4 when they set its June 5 release date. Fan demand was already high, but after the last two weeks in America, the music of El-P and Killer Mike has a new sense of urgency. The booming beats and tongue-in-cheek lyrics on life and death in a broken system seep through your ear canal and take residence in your cerebellum. It’s a soundtrack to survival for a generation raised to believe that living under the surveillance of other people is normal that demands we strategize ways to create lasting change that benefits all people. It’s going to get worse before it gets better, but that’s okay because the outcome will be worth the struggle.
Some may say RTJ4 is more of the same, but that is an oversimplification of Run The Jewels’ latest offering. The elements that fans have come to expect are present, yes, but they are more refined. The beats are funkier, and there is more precision in the lyrics. The message of RTJ4 is never up for debate. Run The Jewels make groove-heavy rap for a working-class population that is more aware than ever of the oppression that they face and the need for immediate change. Though the duo cannot facilitate systemic upheaval on their own, they are doing their part and ask that we do the same.
Haulix Recommends is a recurring feature where the Haulix staff chooses one or more recent releases from their clients. Click here to discover more great music being promoted through Haulix.
