Consistency is important. Many artists will tell you that a stellar discography is among the highest creative achievements, especially for those concerned with legacy. For Run The Jewels, the brainchild of kindred spirits El-P and Killer Mike, the batting average is an impressive three for three. Each of their self-titled albums have been met with acclaim from fan and critic alike, and while they may come from disparate stylistic backgrounds, they share a penchant for bombastic raps, ripe with vivid and imaginative imagery.
Now, with their upcoming fourth album still being concocted, the duo have hit up Zane Lowe's Beats 1 to detail what's next in store. "I've been collecting beats and we're just going to kind of try and make the grimiest, rawest record we possibly can," reveals El. Mike lists off a few artists he's been listening to, including early works from Eazy E, Uncle Luke, Ice Cube, and the Geto Boys. Yet don't expect the duo to fully immerse themselves into the political sphere; they prefer to let their music speak volumes.
"We always really were just about making nasty rap records, man," says El. "At the end of the day, I think that one of the purest political statements to make is being honest and being raw and being genuine." Mike concurs, adding "tried to [make him] into a political figure, and I'm not. I'm a raw-ass rapper who, when asked my opinion, will give it."
"What we're trying to do is be two guys in a friendship from different places having the time of their lives and making something that everybody can make the scrunchy face to when they hear," says El. From the sound of their brand new single "Let's Go," it would appear that they're delivering on that front.