1. Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels 2
Released: October 24, 2014 ~ Reviewed: November 10, 2014 (Rated 4 out of 5 Stars)
It’s a really good thing for rap music that El-P and Killer Mike have joined forces again to create a piece of music that is so uniquely disturbing. You’ll be nodding your head in approval while these two rap about some of the most heinous topics ever…and that’s a good thing. Run The Jewels 2 makes rap music that much more dangerous again. While it’s cooler to rap about the softer things in life now, RTJ roll that concept up in a carpet and throw it over the bridge. While it’s clear that Killer Mike gets the better of his partner in crime lyrically, El-P still holds his own by creating some killer beats and flowing like a champ. Make no mistake though, he is not rhyming in a simple pattern. Everything about this album is cocky, even the production. The beats are so boastful they scream “fuck you pay me!” before you even get the chance to digest the lyrics.
The best part of this album is that the sounds are so unique. The only artists they bite off are themselves as this sequel does feature some of the same elements we got on the first album but as they say, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The sound of this album can only be made by these two artists and other MCs can only hope to jump aboard as a feature to come close to it. Though this group is in a league of their own they could be likened to a version of Watch The Throne that’s less focused on making hits and more inclined to creating music that will have Hip-Hop heads nodding with praise and middle-class parents fearing rap music once again. – Calvin 2.0