Great Music While High: Run the Jewels

“We run the jewels in your town/a quarter pound on my person

I’m known for pounding the stage/I’m talking burning and cursing

Producer gave me a beat/said it’s the beat of the year

I said El-P didn’t do it/ so get the fuck outta here!”

El P and Killer Mike are two well known MCs that have collective solo outputs that are most definitely worth a listen for any fan of hip-hop. However, their collaborative effort last year proved to be the perfect synthesis of everything that’s great about both producers/performers, who are at the top of their game right now.

Run the Jewels is a record that is both smooth and edgy, often within the same verse. With production that is dense without being cluttered and lyrical flow that matches perfectly throughout, any track on their first release is perfect for smoking a fat blunt with friends.

El-P and Killer Mike, Run the Jewels

Featuring a guest verse from Outkast’s Big Boi on early album highlight “Banana Clip” and De La Soul’s Prince Paul toward the end on “Twin Hype Back”, most of the album serves as a showcase for El-P’s skills as a beat maker and Killer Mike’s smooth flow, both always seeming to compliment the other on standouts like “Sea Legs” and lead off track/mission statement “Run the Jewels”.

At a time where the bar for hip hop releases is as high as it has ever been, Run the Jewels is a great addition that can be used as both a party record and something worth exploring closer in headphones. The follow up second album has been announced for release this October, so be on the lookout for the next installment in this killer hip hop duo’s discography.

Check out other posts from Weedist’s Great Music While High series!