Warning: Some links and embedded videos in this article may feature strong language.

This is easily the most anticipated album I knew of this year. Run The Jewels are a group I’ve been talking about ever since I played Watch_Dogs 2 and first heard their music. A duo that some may call unlikely friends, El-P would produce Killer Mike’s 2012 piece of brilliance R.A.P. Music. The year following, the two released another album, the first of the group Run The Jewels with their first eponymous album. It could be said that it is the start of something special, though personally, I can only listen to a handful of tracks from the entire album.

It was 2014’s Run The Jewels 2 that stood out, filled wall-to-wall with hard rap and beats telling the grim truth along with some fun tracks. What really sells the second album over the first to me is the flow. From track to track, there is a flow unlike a majority of albums making the entire album worth listening to, rather than one or two notable tracks. I previously spoke about this in the METAL GALAXY review, but this flow brings energy to the album unlike many others, either abruptly cutting into a hard beat or swelling into it. It is easily one of the best albums of the last decade.

This was followed up two years later with Run The Jewels 3, a mountain top of continuing to talk about issues the two face and beats to back it up. It brought more energy, harder beats, and a stronger voice, everything the previous had done and more. Between albums by Kesha, Childish Gambino, Dave, Kacey Musgraves, Paramore, The Pretty Reckless, Robbie Williams, BabyMetal, Foo Fighters, and more, this was easily my album of the decade for me. So, about two and a half years ago; When RTJ4 was announced, and from the moment I knew about it, I’ve understandably been excited for its release.

That is why I’m confused about my own feelings for the album. It is not bad, it is in the safest hands you could want with an album about major issues faced in America today. This is where I’ll say, if you don’t like talking about those, it is time to get out while you can. Recently Dmitry and I spoke about Black Lives Matter and gaming, in my article, I used Mike as an example of a strong voice on these recent issues. That is what this album is in the best possible way, a collection of protest anthems breaking through meek and silent voices on something that matters. Run The Jewels 4 is another strong showing by the duo.

The first track, “Yankee and The Brave,” opens hard on the issue of police killing and shown force for anyone Black. The last line in the last verse “Plus we heard he murdered a Black child so none of us cry” speaks volumes for what the album is about. The title of the song itself references, one would assume, sports teams of each member’s home town. Two cities with a strong Black identity and each are just as deadly to those people. Bringing a beat loud and strong enough that you have no choice but to listen, followed by lyricism that puts every writer to shame, It once again brings that Run The Jewels energy to a fourth album opener.

“Ooh LA LA” brings the first feature of the album, directly talking about corruption and the influence of money. While it is another strong track, there is something about it I can’t quite put my finger on, but I don’t love it. I think it is the flow. With a repeated line which the title is derived from, sung (?) by Greg Nice of Nice & Smooth, my focus gets pulled from the main talking point, the lyricism for this backing vocal outside of verses. Mike’s second verse is the only memorable section. Without something to sink your teeth into, it feels lost in the shuffle of what I’ve come to know from Run The Jewels.

“Out of Sight” brings a strong conversation of drugs, prison, and dealing within itself. Both Mike and featured artist 2 Chainz have previously dealt drugs. The conversation itself is strong and what I’d expect from Run The Jewels. Being particular when it comes to the rap that I listen to, it is the first time I’ve heard 2 Chainz and it is another feature that brings something different, as was the case with Travis Barker and Lady Boo in RTJ2. It is harder hitting, though not the strongest track on show yet, it does its job.

“Holy Calamaf*ck” is a rap of two parts, the first part doing as “Talk To Me” did in RTJ3, saying no matter if you don’t like their message, them, or anything about El or Mike, they are back once again. The second takes large swipes at authoritarianism, with El using the U.S drone policy as a strong example, and embedded lies by those who should be trusted. Along with that are lyrics about using the common U.S exclusive argument, of anything disrespecting over-paid/over provided men with guns and taking it for themselves, referencing themselves as ‘the real troop,’ of sorts. The second half does bring a strong and in your face conversation that needs to be had.

It also bleeds and flows into “Goonies Vs. ET,” the fifth track on the album. Layered with references to possible racially charged murder, Gil Scott Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” and impending trouble the planet is facing with endless pollution, it once again brings to light things we should be talking about. Unlike these last couple, “Ooh LA LA” just missed something these do have in spades. Up to this point “Yankee and The Brave” stand out as the most interesting.

That is until “Walking in The Snow,” a track that, like many others on the album, touches on several issues, this is about police brutality, kids in cages, and disparity in education. The hardest part is listening to what Mike and El-P changed on the 26th of May, in the week leading up to the release of the album. The revised lyrics reference George Floyd’s words “I Can’t Breathe.” This is what I meant by a protest anthem, something that will unapologetically highlight and showcase issues not just with police, but the response we would normally have without a pandemic and with sports to delude ourselves with.

“Ju$t” brings another double feature like “Ooh LA LA” did, this time referencing, to quote the rap itself, “slavemasters posing on your dollar.” Another track that rings true to the Run The Jewels of the second and third album. It brings back Zack De La Rocha of Rage Against The Machine and  Pharrell Williams, known for that one song white people really liked in 2013, for his first collaboration with the group. Again, it is an unashamed track willing to say nothing but the truth.

“Never Look Back” is much like “Thursday in the Danger Room” from RTJ3, with personal stories by Mike and El. As self-explanatory as it is, the title is all about never looking back on where you’ve come from, look to your own future. It isn’t a bad track, but not one I think many will be returning to on the album over other tracks.

“The Ground Below,” continues this in a small way, though with a beat that has you moving and listening for what is about to be said. Metaphorically in the terms of the album, the two are fighting for their lives and seemingly those of others, sex workers in this case. Even if you prefer the tracks with references to politics, social, and other issues; this one brings enough of that to satisfy, as was the case with “Talk To Me” in RTJ3. This song is strong enough to hold attention on it alone, but also has a strong enough message under it.

“Pulling The Pin” brings the final double-feature to talk about the evils of money, using biblical metaphors to say we could do better because we have it in ourselves to do so. Mavis Staples, R&B Gospel singer and activist, provides a Bond-like chorus, particularly with the final fade-out and reverb on the vocals. Josh Homme provides some guitar to the backing track. this one is different, much like “Thursday in the Danger Room” or “Crown,” it isn’t as brash and in your face, but still holds a strong meaning.

“A Few Words For The Firing Squad (Radiation)” is the longest and final track of the album, hiding within it a closing theme of the album. Its purpose is bringing closure to what was started by “Yankee And The Brave.” Almost playing out like a TV show or radio play with that closing moment, it tells a story within itself. The main part of the song is about reflecting on how Mike and El got to this point. They are almost like robbers about to career off a cliff edge, remembering those they’ve left behind and dedicating their work to those who are without such a high platform for their own voices to be heard.

I said it when I reviewed METAL GALAXY in December, I love compilation albums, which is something Run The Jewels have done with their last three albums. Run The Jewels 4 continued this with a fantastic collection of anthems echoing the voices of protests happening as I write this and as the album was released. However, there is an important question to be posed: Is it better? For me, no. As a collection it hasn’t hooked me, drawn me in, and kept me wanting more. I still love the duo for their work, I agree with the points in the conversations raised, and I believe it is solid work.

I just think, as a collection, there are weak links in the chain. Despite that, picking out a couple of lines or just a couple of tracks, this is some of the best work the two have created. “Walking In The Snow” needs to be blasted aloud into everyone’s face to be heard with its unmerciful harshness on the issues Americans are facing. It is an album I think everyone needs to hear at least once before protests truly fade-out and we end up ignoring these issues once again, as we have done so many times before.

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Run The Jewels 4

$0 - $9.49+

9

Score

9.0/10

Pros

• Hard raps and beats.
• "Walking In The Slow" alone is worth listening to the album for.
• Fresher and more "mainstream" featured artists.

Cons

• Lacks proper flow between tracks.
• "Ohh LA LA" feels weak in places.