After the success of their debut release in 2013, boom rap heavyweight Killer Mike and underground rap producer El-P reunite for Run The Jewels 2, yet another gripping hip hop release with grimy, thumping production and an interplay between the two rappers that ranges from cheeky to savage. Combined with a smorgasbord of outside talent such as Rage Against The Machine’s Zach De La Rocha and Blink 182’s Travis Barker, Run The Jewels 2 does well to both sound impressive on paper and live up to expectations.
The heavily electronic production on the album does well to complement the rapping with dark, bass heavy hits constantly chopping and changing behind the vocals to create a wide array of moods. Coupling this production with a biting delivery, the rapping skirts surprisingly close to punk ideals as the pair take stabs at the ideas of war and religion along with the standard rap tracks about sex, drugs and dissing other rappers in the scene.
Although thematically Run The Jewels 2 does well to keep itself interesting, what really shines on the album is how well Killer Mike and El-P work as rappers. The pair bounce off one another by following up on themes or shouting at certain parts for emphasis, mimicking the unity shown in the glory days of Wu-Tang. The clever use of vocal techniques continues on in places, as the vocals sometimes rise from spoken word to a barking yell, or are shot out rapidly with chain-gun emphasis for devastating effect.
If there’s one minor failing of Run The Jewels 2, it would be that the album opens so strongly the second half feels overshadowed in comparison. However, no part of the album feels flawed as even the weaker tracks will either be backed up by a clever rap hook or a production technique enthralling in its unique intricacies. As Killer Mike and El-P complement each other perfectly, so do the production and the rapping, leaving Run The Jewels 2 as one of the standout albums of 2014.
BY THOMAS BRAND
