Album Review: Run the Jewels-Run the Jewels 2

Veteran hip-hop artists Killer Mike and El-P first collaboration under the moniker Run the Jewels made serious waves in the summer of 2013. Their combination of energy, relentlessly intense production and clever lyrics made their self-titled debut the most celebrated hip-hop release of the year amongst critics and audiences alike. Approximately 16 months after the release of their lauded debut, Run the Jewels has returned with their second album and the fiery pair has once again struck hip-hop gold.

Run the Jewels 2 sees the duo taking a darker approach with the tone and production than on their previous effort. The more psychedelic, low-key production choices allow Killer Mike and El-P's skills on the mic to be at the forefront of the music. Their consistently fantastic lyrics were often buried under the in-your-face production on the first installment, so it's great to see their unheralded lyrical skills be more prominently featured on this record. "Jeopardy", "Lie, Cheat, Steal", "Crown" and "Angel Duster" feature the most impressive verses the duo has ever put out from a pure skill standpoint. These tracks prove exactly why Mike and El-P have become known as two of the top lyricists to emerge out of the underground hip-hop scene over the past two decades. They drop consistently witty lines on a variety of subject matters both serious and asinine and rap with a swagger that just can't be topped by a vast majority of MC's that are currently in the game. The production is still a standout element of Run the Jewels 2, it just doesn't completely overshadow the sheer brilliance of the rapping this time around.

While this isn't quite as relentless as its predecessor, there is no shortage of the group's trademark bangers here. Previously released tracks "Blockbuster Night Part 1" and "Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck")- which features a pretty solid guest verse from Rage Against the Machine frontman Zak De la Roacha- are filled with the same relentless intensity that made the first Run the Jewels album so memorable. While "Blockbuster Night Part 1" and "Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)" are impressive, they pale in comparison to album standouts "Oh My Darling Don't Cry" and "All Due Respect". "Oh My Darling Don't Cry" makes use of an industrial beat that is strongly reminiscent of the best production on Death Grips' 2012 masterpiece The Money Store while "All Due Respect" boasts a level of raw aggression that makes most of Run the Jewels' other material sound downright cheery in comparison. Run the Jewels spend a good portion of their second LP showing off their versatility and dense lyrical skills, but there's no denying that they are most at home when they are churning out ferocious hardcore hip-hop that goes straight for the jugular.

Run the Jewels 2 is another grand success for these hip-hop heavyweights. They're able to explore new musical and lyrical territory this time around without sacrificing any of the fire or excellent production that made the first one such a fantastic release.The fact that Run the Jewels has released two of the best hip-hop records of the past decade in just over a year is completely absurd and speaks volumes of how skilled Killer Mike and El-P are as musicians. Run the Jewels has a stranglehold on the modern hip-hop scene and unless something heinous happens to them, I don't see that changing anytime in the near future.
4/5 Stars 
Standout Tracks
1.Lie, Cheat, Steal
2.Oh My Darling Don't Cry
3.All Due Respect