II had planned to give this album another day to
soak in, but then I realized I was home alone for the evening with nothing to
do. I also had the worst of first world problems; two shows were taping on
cable so I couldn’t even watch TV. Faced with the dreadful prospect of having
to do something important, I donned my headphones, laid down in the dark, and
gave this next album another listen.
Technically I also gave the cat a cuddle, but I
think that activity reasonably adheres to the spirit of Rule #4. Also, it is
important.
Disc 1171 is… Run the Jewels 3
Year of Release: 2016
What’s up with the Cover? It’s the Run the Jewels logo,
featured on every one of their three albums. This time, they have ‘flashed’ it
in gold.
A limited number of these albums came with swag as well, and I managed to get that with mine. This included a medallion with the RTJ logo and a
bunch of stickers:
In the new world of music downloads, a band going
out of their way to provide some real live swag with their album was very cool.
This medallion is as cool as it looks – not real gold but shiny and with plenty
of heft. If you are wondering “Where would you wear this?” I wore it to a dress
up event at an art gallery. Did people give me weird looks? You’re damned right
they did, and I loved it.
Some of the
stickers (band logo, band members brandishing firearms) now grace my metal lunch
bucket. Yes, I have a metal lunch bucket, festooned with band stickers. It goes
well with my suit.
How I Came To Know It: I first discovered Run the Jewels
(RTJ) through their 2014 album, “Run the Jewels 2” and loved it so much I
bought RTJ 3 the week it was released, before I heard a single song.
In case
you haven’t noticed, Run the Jewels aren’t terribly creative with their album
names. Hey – it worked for Led Zeppelin.
How It Stacks Up: I have three Run the Jewels albums and RTJ3
comes in second. I absolutely love it, but it still falls just short of the
masterpiece that is RTJ2.
Ratings: 4 stars
If you only listened to radio friendly hip hop you
might despair for the state of modern rap, but a few songs from rap duo Run the
Jewels would quickly cure what ails you.
Composed of two rappers – El-P and Killer Mike – who
are already established underground rap legends in their own right, Run the
Jewels is a revelation, a visceral blend of old school flow and ultra-modern
beats, fused to make something timeless and powerful.
Run the Jewels came into their own on their second
album, and on their third album they demonstrate it was no fluke. Their rhymes
are intricate, thought-provoking and filled with swagger. Both El-P and Killer
Mike have been at their craft for years, honing their skill. They’re good, and
they know it.
This frequently leads them to that age old school
topic – that they rap better than you. It’s only fun in rap when it is true,
and on “RTJ 3” it is true and then some. This album has bold song titles like “Panther Like a Panther” and a lot of
hefty bragging, every beat of which both rappers back up and then some. Most of
the best stuff is laden with many swear words. Since I don’t want you to blush,
dear reader, I won’t quote them. Suffice it to say that every swear is right
where it needs to be to make the point more…er…pointed.
Musically, the album is a dense mix of old school
drum, techno beats and sparingly used but well-timed samples. On “Call Ticketron” they marry frenetic synthesizer
beats with their flow and a clever sample of some announcer saying “live at the Garden” has to be heard to
be appreciated.
While most of these songs are rap battle
masterpieces, Run the Jewels also throws in a good mix of social commentary.
When they mention violence and drugs it isn’t in the vacuous way so many modern
rap acts do – it is rare and purposeful, and designed to underscore a point,
rather than be the point. “Thursday in
the Danger Room” is a heartbreaking song about bad choices and the friends
no longer with them as a result and it works better knowing Run The Jewels have
had their own bumps in the road.
Another nice touch was the CD booklet came with a
complete set of lyrics, which is pretty rare for a rap album. You don’t need
this extra; El-P and Killer Mike are both so on point you don’t miss a word,
but it is a nice addition.
I was tempted to give “RTJ 3” an extra star just for
giving me a medallion and some stickers, but there was no need. This record
stands on its own merits, swag or no swag.
Best
tracks: Talk to
Me, Legend Has It, Call Ticketron, Don’t Get Captured, Panther Like a Panther
(Miracle Mix), Oh Mama, Thursday in the Danger Room
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