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17. Run the Jewels 2 - Run the Jewels (2014)

Hip Hop

As far as odd couples go, Run the Jewels pretty much fit the dictionary definition. Comprised of Atlanta hip hop royalty Killer Mike and storied alt-rap producer El-P, the duo took the world by storm in the early half of the decade. After the resounding, if unexpected, success of their self-titled debut a year earlier, the pair followed up in 2014 with Run the Jewels 2, a glorious breath of fresh air absolutely dripping with originality both in sound and substance. 

From the very start, with Killer Mike brashly asserting “I’m finna bang this bitch the fuck out!”, it’s clear that, for the next forty minutes, absolutely no punches will be pulled. The album oozes revolutionary notions, even enlisting the legendary and historically reclusive Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach de la Rocha on “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)”, the music video for which is a stylish depiction of a black man and a white police officer engaging in a self-perpetuating brawl, seemingly reliant on one another despite the obvious animosity. Vehement statements abound, delivered with ultra-clever wordplay from both Killer Mike and El-P, who holds his own throughout, despite trading bars with one of the greats. 

The anarchistic sentiments that are woven deep into each track result in a hip hop album that has the feel of a punk album. Production is heavily electronic, filled with deep dark synths and glitchy accents and largely forgoing traditional hip hop ingredients. RTJ2 was a massive success, overcoming an insane amount of ridiculously high-quality competition to top dozens of 2014 year-end lists. It was a landmark moment for 21st century hip hop, as it managed to effectively bridge the gap between the past and the future of the genre.

*image; cover art for the album Run the Jewels 2 by Run the Jewels