Run the Jewels (album)

Untitled

Run the Jewels is the debut collaborative mixtape by American rappers Killer Mike and El-P (collectively known as Run the Jewels), released on June 26, 2013 through Fool's Gold Records.

Background

On April 9, 2013, Killer Mike and El-P announced they would be releasing a collaborative album under the name Run the Jewels. On April 29, 2013, the first song from the album "Get It" was released. On May 15, 2013, El-P announced on his Twitter account they they had finished the album. On May 31, 2013, the second song from the album "Banana Clipper" featuring Big Boi. On June 7, 2013, the third song from the album "36" Chain" was released. On June 12, 2013, it was announced that the album would be released on June 29, 2013. On June 25, 2013, Killer Mike announced on his Twitter account that the album would be released two days earlier on June 29, 2013.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	88/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
Consequence of Sound
Fact
Paste	(8.6/10)
Pitchfork Media	(8.5/10)
RapReviews	(8/10)
Sputnikmusic

Upon its release, Run the Jewels was met with universal acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 88 out of 100, based on 10 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim". Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound gave the album four out of five stars, saying "Sure, Jay and Ye are probably friends, maybe even with secret, $100,000 matching bracelets that say “Besties 4 Life”. But, on record, their relationship felt mostly lopsided and uneven. Run the Jewels, on the other hand, is the very synthesis of El-P and Mike’s shared admiration and cohesive worldviews, an effort of the purest collaboration and mutual understanding. Now, let your heart fill with love and bang your damn head up and down." Maya Kalev of Fact gave the album four out of five stars, saying "The debut album from a new pairing of rap luminaries, Run The Jewels is bound to invite comparison to Watch The Throne, something ‘Sea Legs’ was no doubt intended to promote (“Niggas will perish in Paris / Niggas is nothing but parrots”). But rather than a marriage of convenience between two rappers divorced from reality, Run The Jewels seems like a vital destructive force, El-P and Killer Mike bound by mutual respect, phenomenal talent and a shared villainous streak. Run the Jewels is savage and witty, rich in gritty truths and genuinely affecting wisdom. It may not be the best thing either artist has done, but fans of both will still find plenty to love."

Philip Cosores of Paste gave the album an 8.6 out of 10, saying "It’s powerful in both delivery and in effect, without being heavy-handed or sacrificing form. Both rappers take the opportunity to show their longtime supporters that they were right all these years, that they bet on the right horses. And to those bandwagoners jumping on just now, pretty sure you are welcome, too." Nate Patrin of Pitchfork Media gave the album a 8.5 out of 10, saying "The beats fit the blueprint of R.A.P. Music's tendency to let the voices supply most of the brute force; it still bumps like a bastard, but not in the kind of way that had Yeezus casualties scrambling for punk rock namedrops. It's just a distilled take on everything that made last year's albums such an event, with all the chrome ripped off and upholstery pulled out so it'll run faster, louder, nastier. Yeah, it's a fun album, and it's probably the most affable thing they've done so far together. But don't take that for a weakness. They don't yank chains-- they snatch them." Sobhi Youssef of Sputnikmusic gave the album five stars, saying "It's almost tragic that El-P can produce a handful of the world's best and most innovative records of all time, regardless of genre, yet still barely be lucky enough to make Pitchfork's illustrious best new music footnote. When Kanye West decides it's fucking brilliant to combine industrial and electronic influences with hip-hop, suddenly the music we've already been hearing since 1997's Funcrusher Plus is bukkake-worthy. But instead of crying about it on twitter, Killer Mike and El-P (fuck boys, think about it) release a short, 33-minute record absolutely brimming with ten of the hardest bangers known to man. After blasting this shit on eleven in both my daily morning and evening jewel-runs, I've got sea legs."

Track listing

• All songs produced by El-P.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Run the Jewels"	3:30
2.	"Banana Clipper" (featuring Big Boi)	2:51
3.	"36" Chain"	2:52
4.	"DDFH"	3:05
5.	"Sea Legs"	3:40
6.	"Job Well Done" (featuring Until the Ribbon Breaks)	2:59
7.	"No Come Down"	3:28
8.	"Get It"	3:00
9.	"Twin Hype Back" (featuring Prince Paul)	3:12
10.	"A Christmas Fucking Miracle"	4:21
Total length:		32:58