While it was supposed to arrive this Friday, June 5th, Killer Mike and El-P have decided to gift us the anticipated Run The Jewels 4 ahead of schedule. And what a gift it is -- going all the way back to the album's formative stages, which basically originated from El-P's promise for some "filthy, dirty, and dusty" new music. Today, in the midst of what feels like a revolution, the stage feels set for the latest musings and wisdom from our heroes Jamie and Mike.
With both parties operating at a typically high level, RTJ4 provides glimpses at the duo's varied skillset. There are many moments of impeccable lyricism, such as the back-to-back tandem of "out of sight" and "holy calamfuck." There are moments in which the aforementioned filth, dirt, and dust manifest on "yankee & the brave" and "the ground below." Melodists like Pharrel Williams and Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age also join the fun on "JU$T" and "pulling the pin" respectively.
Sonically, the project continues to push boundaries both sonically and thematically, arriving at a time where the more Killer Mike wisdom we can receive, the better. And with El-P keeping stride along the way, matching Mike's charismatic intensity with his own dystopian charm, RJT4 feels like another strong release from the ever-reliable pair. Much love to Run The Jewels!