Run The Jewels – RTJ2
Late last night, El-P surprised everyone and dropped the new Run The Jewels album – entitled “RTJ2“– ahead of its originally scheduled October 27th release date and made it available as a free download.
RUN THE JEWELS 2 DROPS NOW!!!! #runthejewels killermikegto http://t.co/8u29pLI11O http://t.co/O1iAr7mUR4
— el-p (@therealelp) October 24, 2014
Let’s back things up for a second for the uninitiated; Run The Jewels is a duo comprised of hip hop heavyweights, Killer Mike and El-P.
Killer Mike is an Atlanta MC who came onto the scene in the early 2000s as part of the Dungeon Family crew (which includes Outkast and Goodie Mob).
His 2003 album, “Monster” featured a jam you should be familiar with called “A.D.I.D.A.S.“, but he’s probably best known to most people as the rapper who stole the track with his appearance on Outkast’s 2001 hit, “Whole World“. He’s known as one of the fiercest MCs in hip hop.
El-P is the producer/MC behind one of the toughest acts of the late 90s underground – Company Flow. He later went on to start the Definitive Jux label in the early aughts which launched the careers of Aesop Rock, Cannibal Ox, RJD2, among others. After the dissolution of Company Flow, El-P released three 3 solo records that sound like nothing else before or since.
Whew! Okay, now that we’re caught up on the bona fides, you should really check out this RTJ2 album.
As the title indicates, this is their second album together. It’s grimy, claustrophobic, hard-hitting beats and first-rate lyricism across 11 tracks, plus guest appearances from Zach De La Rocha, Travis Barker, and Gangsta Boo.
And now that RTJ2 is out, El-P and Killer Mike can devote their full energy to that Meow The Jewels album that has had the internet abuzz for the past month 🙂
Run The Jewels will perform at the Glass House in Pomona on November 12th and the Echo on November 13th.
Denitia and Sene – “side fx.”
I’ve been bumping “side fx.” on my show a lot this week because it’s awesome and I am loving the blend of R&B and electro pop on it.
“Side fx.” is the title cut from Denitia and Sene’s forthcoming EP, due out November 11.
The track is available as a free download via Radio Milwaukee until October 28th. Get to it!
Denitia and Sene will be performing on Saturday, November 29th at Mack Sennett studios with Chet Faker and James Supercave as part of the Red Bull Sound Select Presents: 30 Days In LA series.