Let's go back in time for a minute. To summer of last year. When word got out that Killer Mike (one of the most respected veteran southern rappers) and producer El-P (who's been madly underrated in the production world) would be releasing a project together, underground rap fans were over-joyed with excitement. Once it released, it received an outpouring of positive feed back. It was one of my personal favorite albums of 2013. But I'm sure a lot of people, including Killer Mike and El-P themselves, probably didn't see that kind of reaction and responses coming for that album. Despite the heavy anticipation. So because of that, they pretty much knew they had to do it again...and thankfully they did. Here is the follow up. Run The Jewels 2. I myself had high expectations for this album because of how great the first album was. I thought to myself that it could only get better. Not worse. Thankfully, it got better. This was certainly a huge upgrade from what was also a dope album. The two pretty much stick to the same script as the last album. Gritty, hard core, in your face, punch-you-in-the-mouth lyrics over a variety of great experimental production. It seems like this time around though their chemistry is much more better. The last album felt experimental. Like they ere just testing the waters on how they would sound together. This time they're more used to each other and they feed off of each others energy much better this time around. So let's begin on that note. Here's the breka down:
1. Jeopardy
They start right off the back with some seriously dope hardcore lyrics. Mike does what he does best. Unleashing an all out verbal assault on the dumbed down masses and wack rappers. With lines like "you know you're favorite rapper ain't shit and me I might be". At times he reminds me of that one schoolyard bully just picking with everybody because he can. El-P's verse was dope but I think Mike may have got him on this one. It sounds like they have fed off the attention and the rise in popularity they've gotten since last year and ragged it onto this album. "Top tag team for two summers" as Mike said. I don't know how you can argue that.
2. Oh My Darling Don't Cry
Here we have the first dope production of the album. I love the deep and heavy distorted bass on here. Sounds awesome in the car. That's truly the only thing that makes this a cool listen. Although some of the lyrics were pretty comical. Like El-P's line about "running backwards naked through a field of dicks". Dope song. Love the beat.
3. Blockbuster Night Pt. 1
From one dope beat to another. I love the hard guitar and drum sounds on here. It sounds somewhat death metal influenced. Not the type of sound you would typically hear in hip hop. El-P does such a good job experimenting with all these different sounds. I also like how on this song, as well as some others, they do that what I call back and forth rapping. Finishing each other's lines. Only true dope duo's in rap can do that and do it to perfection. Great song.
4. Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck) (featuring Zack De La Rocha)
This one has got to be my favorite on the album. It's more uptempo and faster. The speed of the beat plus the energy they bring lyrically makes this feel like one huge adrenaline rush. Like that rush you get after robbing a bank or something and your being chased by the cops. I love the sample on the hook and how well it blends in with the beats tempo. Zach De La Rocha ending verse was cool. Although there are some other rappers I would have liked to have heard featured on this explosive tack. Nonetheless, this was a stand out for me. Absolutely love it.
5. All My Life
This was just...okay. Not saying it was bad because this album has nothing bad on it, just wasn't as exciting as the previous tracks. I think coming off the previous song that was filled with so much energy to a much calmer track like this is somewhat of a buzz kill. But again, the lyrics are dope as hell. I just think it may have to grow on me a bit more.
6. Lie, Cheat, Steal
This is such a perfect song title because that is pretty all they rapping about. Well...Killer Mike does anyway. El-P just goofs with it. Anyway this song was pretty cool. Again nothing too special here. Another dope production from El-P and dope lyrics with them feeding off each others energy. They do that so well. Cool song.
7. Early (featuring Boots)
If you're a video game geek then you will definitely appreciate this beat. It has an old school video game like sound. Specifically Pac Man. It's incredibly dope. The hook by Boots however fell kinda short for me. I'm not sure if this was supposed to be some kind of trippy/psychedelic influenced sound on the hook but it kinda just sounded half assed to me. Like there wasn't much thought involved. Still though, this beat makes this a near perfect listen.
8. All Due Respect (featuring Travis Barker)
Here's another one of those dope adrenaline rush songs. This one has somewhat of a marching band sound with all the drums and what sounds like cheerleaders on the hook. But of course no mater how fast or slow the beat, Mike and El-P lyrically delivers and this song is nothing different. Cool song.
9. Love Again (Akinyele Back) (featuring Gangsta Boo)
Ready for some sexual humor? Well you get plenty of it here. Normally when rappers take on this topic they just blab about the usual x-rated stuff. But not these two. Their lyrics always have humor even when talking about this. The hook especially is funny as it repeats "dick in her mouth all day" over and over. I normally hate repetitive hooks but this one I found humerous. The beat, while it wasn't wack, I thought could have been a bit better and more...animated I guess. To match the songs tone. But it's a cool and funny track in all.
10. Crown (featuring Diane Coffee)
After so much fast paced adrenaline throughout this album, here they slow it down a bit. While it wouldn't be considered a slow song on most other albums, it certainly is here in comparison to the rest of these songs. On the hook Mike says "can't pick up no crown holding what's holding you down". I thought about this. It could mean a lot of things. To me it means you can't achieve greatness or become the best at something if you don't fight the through the tough obstacles to achieve it. Or whatever it is that's "holding you down". That's a message I'm sure would fly right over the heads of younger listeners. All in all this was a pretty cool change of pace track.
11. Angel Duster
Well as expected, they close the album out with some more fast pace material. This one unlike the others though has kind of a trap beat influence as far as the drum pattern in the beat. Judging by the words, specifically from Mike, there's a lot of religous talk and evils of the world. I tried listening to see where he's going with it but it's kinda hard to make out. I'll probably catch it down the road when I listen to it more. Cool song for now but I may grow to like it more once I grasp the concept.
In closing, as I stated in the introductory, this was a big time upgrade from the first album. Both were great but this was much better. This is not an album for those of you who like to listen to street songs that chant the same line over and over while you throw punches in the air. This is an album for those who are in the streets and like to throw punches to the face. I give this a final grade of a B+. At the pace they are going now, Killer Mike & El-P are becoming a modern day version of EPMD. A MC and a MC/producer both with menacing lyricism over damn near perfect production. While it seems like the rap group trend (or rap duos especially) maybe dying, these two are the life support that's keeping it alive in hoping for more to emerge and follow their tactics. But honestly, these guys can't be duplicated. They are simply a step ahead of the competion. If you don't like that, you can't get knocked the fuck out and get your jewels snatched too. End.
Final Grade: B+
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CREDITS
Executive Producer
Jaime Meline
Lead Artists
Michael Render
Jaime Meline
Production
Jaime Meline
Collaboration
Zacharias De La Rocha
Jordan Asher
Travis Barker
Lola Mitchell
Shaun Fleming
Label
Mass Appeal/Sony RED
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