Album Review: Run The Jewels - RTJ4

Long dismissed as rap music for people who don't like rap music, Run The Jewels never quite cracked it with many of us. There was a feeling of anti-synergy. El-P is a genuine underground rap legend. Killer Mike was forged in fire, and has the intelligence and nous to channel his rage. Somehow – though – put the two together and the total was less than the sum of its parts.

With this record: no more.

Ooh, Lala is exquisite. It captures El-P's inherent gloom with a sombre melody, but progresses over beastly drums - dark and grimy, but also bright and shiny. Yankee And The Brave (Ep 4) is a call to arms, and action. The record leaves us with a searing verse from Killer Mike closing with, "last words to the firing squad was, 'Fuck you too'."

It's striking to think this record – released free for those who need it – was completed before the death of George Floyd. RTJ4 is truly a record for its time and of its time. Pressing and urgent, broad and beautiful – it is music to march to, sure, but it's also much more than that.