Hip-Hop is funny isn't it? Honestly, who would've thought that one of the best recent hip-hop groups would be formed from El-P, of abstract hip-hop Def Jux fame and Killer Mike, who earned his stripes working in an Atlanta hip-hop scene that couldn't sound any more different than that? Even more surprising is that the fruits of this combination have given both rappers, who could have definitely been described as veterans before Run The Jewels was even an idea, an unprecedented level of attention. In a way, RTJ operates as a modern day M.O.P. - although they sound radically different and (unlike M.O.P.) get blatantly political, there are two things that you are guaranteed on every RTJ album that you would be guaranteed in M.O.P's hey-day (Firing Squad, First Family For Life, Warriorz): aggressive lyrics filled with braggadocio accompanied by extremely banging beats.
For someone who has been in the game for so long (Company Flow's first single dropped in 94'), El-P doesn't seem to be close to running out of ways to make extremely dope beats. While the relatively slower, ominous synth-filled tracks here, like "Thieves! (Screamed The Ghost)", the first half of "A Report To The Shareholders: Kill Your Masters" and "Thursday In The Danger Room" could clearly be heard as extensions of the style he embraced on Cancer 4 Cure, El-P is definitely pushing the RTJ sound forward here - some of it, aforementioned tracks included, being arguably the best RTJ production yet. Things like the frantic video-game-inspired drum machine and bass heavy attack that is found on "Call Tickertron" or the distorted, staggering piano that forms "Everybody Stay Calm", are impressive, and arguably unlike anything on the past two RTJ records. This shouldn't be surprising, as El-P's production has gone through various different styles throughout the years - an aspect of his career that has probably been a crucial factor in its longevity. That said, be it the lo-fi, grimy abstract hip-hop of Co-Flow or the more streamlined and heavy hitting recent endeavors with RTJ, El-P's production has always been unique - possessing a dark and definitely Sci-Fi influenced aesthetic to it. Every single track on this album could easily serve as the soundtrack to a dystopian film set in the future.
As MCs, El-P and Killer Mike still have that great chemistry and style-juxtaposition that kept fans coming back to the past RTJ records. Although their differences flow-wise are marginally less pronounced now, a natural side-effect of getting to know one another musically over the years, El-P's occasionally off-kilter rhyme patterns still fit nicely next to Killer Mike's more straight ahead, but still layered, delivery. Content wise there is the range one should expect from a RTJ record, the bombastic bragging, clever punchlines ("Legend Has It") and more socio-political ("2100") tracks that made the last record a success are still there.
A song that immediately stands out in regards to it's lyrical content is "Thursday In The Danger Room". For a group that doesn't often get extremely personal, the song is a welcome - and extremely well written, change of pace. Mike and El kick some some of their most moving rhymes ("Life is a journey, to live is to worry to love is to lose your damn mind"), each sharing a story about the death of a friend (in El-P's case, fellow artist Camu Tao). Equally impressive is the foreboding atmosphere of paranoia and shock that the duo create on "Thieves! (Screamed The Ghost)". On "Thieves!", RTJ lyrically paint a vivid picture of the emotions and actions that go into the formation of a riot immediately after a case of the police murdering someone, with El-P's delivering a narrative verse that is among the best lyrical performances of the album ("So many years of this violence/Now we're surrounded by the souls of the dead and defiant/Saying "Look what you've done, you designed it"/When the bough breaks, hear the wraith scream, "Riot!").
As on their past two records with "A Christmas Fucking Miracle" and "Angel Dust", RTJ close out the LP extremely well - "A Report To The Shareholders : Kill Your Masters" is one of the best songs they have ever recorded. In reality, the track is actually two songs, the first half being more somber and observant, while the second half is a shot of pure adrenaline. The track contains some of this record's best lines - El-P ranting about politicians ("You talk clean and bomb hospitals/So I speak with the foulest mouth possible"), Mike ranting about the media misconstruing his speeches ("Ooh, Mike said "uterus", they acting like Mike said "You a bitch"/To every writer who wrote it, misquoted it/Mike says, "You a bitch!") and Zack de la Rocha, in general, rapping like he needs to drop an album ASAP to get 10+ years of rage off of his chest. Zack de la Rocha's passionate guest appearance is a reminder to never ever underestimate the power of an uncredited feature - I just about leapt out of my seat when I heard him join in on the chorus and proceed to destroy his verse.
Despite being the longest entry in the RTJ catalogue (52 minutes), every single one of the tracks - with one exception ("Stay Gold") - range from good to absolutely incredible. Even though it does have some pretty awesome beat shifts during the verses, "Stay Gold" may have the worst lyrical performance of the album - it's a banger that suffers from a lackluster, lengthy hook that needlessly bleeds into the verses of both MCs. Conversely, a good portion of the other more high-octane tracks, which are generally fantastic (and may cause car wrecks), like "Legend Has It", "Everybody Stay Calm", "Call Tricketron", "Panther Like A Panther (Miracle Mix)" and "Hey Kids (Bumaye)" have simple, in some cases chant-able choruses - perhaps their most concert ready yet. Throughout RTJ3, whether RTJ are rapping about things like gentrification ("Don't Get Captured"), their own recent (and to be honest unexpected) success ("Down") or just kicking ass and having a good time (insert track of your choice here) - they deliver. There isn't a huge shift in style here, so I'd be surprised if they win over anyone who has disliked them before, but to these ears, RTJ3 does not stray from the high standard set by the first two records - they are now 3 for 3.
