Killer Mike and El-P found each other late in their careers and created something neither could have alone. El-P's production. dense, abrasive, and constructed with a precision that owes as much to industrial music as to hip hop. is the perfect vehicle for both his own rapid fire delivery and Mike's commanding baritone. Together they sound like a two man wrecking crew aimed at every corrupt institution in America.\n\nTheir albums, all released for free, are some of the most critically acclaimed hip hop records of the 2010s and 2020s. RTJ4, released during the George Floyd protests, felt like it had been written specifically for that moment. Their inclusion on a rock site isn't a stretch. El-P's production draws heavily from punk and industrial, and they've collaborated with everyone from Zack de la Rocha to DJ Shadow.
Key Albums
The breakthrough. "Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)" featuring Zack de la Rocha is the hardest track of the decade.
Released during the George Floyd protests. "Walking in the Snow" felt prophetic.
Their most musically diverse. "Legend Has It" and "Call Ticketron."
Why They Matter
Run the Jewels proved that hip hop and rock's aggressive, antiestablishment energy were interchangeable, and that two veteran artists past their supposed prime could create the most vital music of their careers.