On 'RTJ4,' Run The Jewels Is A Speaker Box For Society
El-P and Killer Mike have always had their fingers on the pulse, and their fourth album once again captures the mood of a country on edge after George Floyd's death sparked national protests.
The hip-hop duo Run the Jewels is keenly aware of what's going on in the world around them. And though the group has never consciously planned it, its previous album releases have seemed to capture the mood during times of upheaval, from the acquittal of George Zimmerman to the 2016 election. Run the Jewels' fourth album, RTJ4, was released a couple of days ahead of schedule on June 3; even though it was written and recorded well before police killed George on May 25, they once again meet the moment.
