Why Killer Mike and El-P’s Run The Jewels is the year’s best hip-hop collaboration (playing Union Transfer on 8/12)

Run The Jewels is the year’s best hip-hop collaboration between two artists who, on their own, have made excellent contributions to the genre. Brooklyn rapper and producer El-P has been a leading force in the alternative hip-hop world, and founded the Definitive Jux record label. He’s released a number of important records including 2002’s Fantastic Damage and 2007’s I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead. Atlanta rapper Killer Mike, as associate of Outkast, debuted in 2003 with the excellent Monster and released one of 2012’s best hip-hop albums, R.A.P. Music, which was produced by El-P.

The collaboration between Killer Mike and El-P has continued with their new project, Run The Jewels which was released as a free download by Fool’s Gold Records in June (download it below). The ten song collection features contributions from Prince Paul and Big Boi but throughout the album Mike and El-P rule the rap roost with it’s breathless, intense and fiery rap flows, non-stop hard grooves, and an array of sonic creativity. Run The Jewels is “all killer, no filler.” There’s no skits, no instrumental interludes, just excellent songs like “Sea Legs,” “DDFH,” “No Come Down,” and “Get It,” one of the year’s best hip-hop songs. Killer Mike and El-P perform at Union Transfer on Monday, August 12. Go here for tickets and more information. Despot and Kool A.D. (formerly Das Racsist) open.