Run the Jewels (2017)

One Liner: Top notch, killer rap
Wikipedia Genre: Hip hop, alternative hip hop, conscious hip hop
Spotify Says Similar To: Injury Reserve and Danger Doom
Home: Brooklyn and Atlanta

Poster Position: 2
Slot: ?

Thoughts:  Honestly, you should just go back to my review of them for the 2015 Festival, because I did a pretty in depth review of them at the time.  Seriously go back to that, read it, and then watch that video for "Close Your Eyes (And Count to F**k)," because it still rules. Since I wrote that post, that song has gone from 6 million streams up to 21.3 million, so they are doing pretty well.


Also since that review, they've released the excellent RTJ3 album in 2016, which continues the same thing: rough and rugged, very bass heavy beats; dense, thick, tricky-to-track-in-real-time lyrics; and a strong desire to push buttons and say what needs to be said.  This first video I want to show you isn't even their song, but they are the vocals for it and the video itself is freaking fantastic.  DJ Shadow's "Nobody Speak."

Laid back ass beat with those two just talking all kinds of shit over the top.  And the video is such a good idea, the visuals of that are fantastic.  So awesome all over again.

As for the new album, you can read my prior review of it here from when it was dropped right around Christmas as a surprise album.  I still love it.  The top song on it now is "Legend Has It," with 9.7 million streams.

So good.  And honestly, the power of that song came home to roost for me once I watched these two dudes kill the NPR Tiny Desk concert.  Hearing them spit this stuff in front of a room full of public radio news nerds is amazing, but it also allows you a little more time and ability to parse and hear their lyrics to understand them.

When they last played the Festival a few years ago, HOLY SHIT they were loud.  I mean, if I thought their bass was up high here in my office today while re-listening to the new album a few times, their bass that day was up to freaking 12.  And on top of that, if you are worried about your kids hearing bad language, you should definitely go hang at the Austin Kiddie Limits tent during this time, because these dudes wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Lady Bird.  I'm on it again.

Recommended?  YES. 

And by the way, to the extent you've never listened, go to their Spotify page and listen to Meow the Jewels, a weird as shit re-interpretation of the RTJ2 album using cat sounds instead of the normal beats.  My favorite thing is the use of purring as bass.  Classic.