4. "Not hating on RTJ, but I wish we were seeing more El and KM solo stuff" In response to Reply # 0
instead of a 3rd RTJ album. I like it but I liked their solo stuff just as much if not more. I miss El-P's more abstract spacey shit. I get it though, they're gonna ride RTJ's success til the wheels fall off.
6. "I think anyone who was a fan pre-RTJ prefers their solo work " In response to Reply # 4
I don't blame them for going with what's given them unprecedented success in their careers. But at this point, it's sort of uninspiring to hear guys who previously pushed the envelope stick to a signature sound/format.
But again, I get it and will likely still support whatever they do.
28. "I was a bit RTJed out initially but..." In response to Reply # 0
I like it off of one listen. Mike's still writing/spitting at a very high level and El sounds good for the most part. Some of the production can sound a bit too "clean" at times (I'd wish the mix/mastering was rougher overall) but I think this has some of El's best production of the RTJ series overall.
I doubt this'll be in my top 10 but it warms my heart to see these two guys become the rap group of choice for the 30-over set.
40. "Fair point. I was reading you literally." In response to Reply # 39
So since you didn't originally say "three *consecutive*" or "three *in a row*" I was thinking to myself, three total albums isn't very many...haha.
>Three legit good ass albums IN A ROW > >The list is not long. More have three good ass, near >masterpieces, in their whole discography, but few have them >3peats > >It's hard. They are dedicated to their craft. They are good as >fuck >Yes I'm impressed. I really thought this one was going to be >aight. I was wrong.
38. "Given that they tour so often" In response to Reply # 35 Tue Dec-27-16 03:49 PM by Numba_33
it's remarkable El-P is able to crank out beats so quickly in this three year span. I wonder how often he works on the road for future material. Given that they are so amicable with each other, I have to imagine writing for the album comes quickly for both Mike and El.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
41. "Every song on the new LP has the same 2 co-producers" In response to Reply # 38
Now that may be a case of El spreading the wealth/credit with the musicians/co-producers that he's been working with for a minute now.
But in most cases of artists leveling up, and especially in light of the point you make about consistent output and heavy touring, these may be the most "delegated" beats he's done in his career.
I haven't asked about it. To give you a little insight though, he was a core member of the band Chin Chin that was signed to El-P's label. Completely different type of music but very creative.
I mean, all of these albums are dope as hell to me:
Funcrusher Plus Fantastic Damage The Cold Vein I'll Sleep When You're Dead Cancer 4 Cure RAP Music RTJ1, RTJ2, RTJ3
He produced all of those (9) and they show longevity (Co-Flow's first single dropped in 94), range/progression (some of these sound radically different from each other) and uniqueness (no one sounds like him).
>but none of the RTJ releases are better than R.A.P. Music.
I've always felt like these RTJ projects beasts are too busy. RAP music a better balance of high energy and not as frenetic tracks. just better overall beats. I also dig the content more on RAP music.
53. "This release showcases the El-P that kinda took a back seat with RTJ" In response to Reply # 0
In his solo work, his lyrically his topics were becoming a bit more high level (the cop/battered wife scenario in 'My Upstairs Neighbor")/ and more nerdy-insular with the references (his sci-fi shit) along with production that kind of left boom bap hip-hop behind for more weirder proggier places.
You get that here lyrically(particularly in the second half of Thieves where the dead come back to life)...shit like the Berenstain/Berenstein bears alternate universe reference. And the production, as previously noted, is insane.
What's cool though is that his continued use of classic hip-hop samples (showing even cheesy ones still have life) keeps it a much more grounded/focused version of where he was going and stronger because of it.
54. "I like it quite a bit. I appreciated it more when I bumped it in the car" In response to Reply # 0
Few couple times, I dug it, but felt the best part of it was the first five tracks and then it ended well. Driving around listening to it gave me a greater appreciation for the middle portion of the album, especially the beats.
74. "The middle part of the album is so critical to me" In response to Reply # 54
>Few couple times, I dug it, but felt the best part of it was >the first five tracks and then it ended well. Driving around >listening to it gave me a greater appreciation for the middle >portion of the album, especially the beats.
It feels like the album starts out with 4-5 tracks of bangers. Then is goes underground and simmers and smolders, soundtracking anger and frustration, giving you the rationale for why you want to rage and then giving the blueprint for how to do so. It then comes up for air on the Trina cut, and then sprints through the finish line.
-------------------------------------- I ain't NEVER seen a hungry, happy muthaf*cka!
Heavy Ro' Jay Rock - Redemption Roc Marci - RR2 Travis Scott - Astroworld Taz Arnold - rAd americA
56. "This is such a great record" In response to Reply # 0 Thu Dec-29-16 10:34 PM by Kosa12
even with all of the stuff that has come out this year that I've really enjoyed, this still has ended up being one of my favorite of the year (including non-rap releases). "Thieves!" is incredible - El-P's second verse (the narrative one) is definitely one of my favorite verses of the year. I actually probably enjoy this more overall than the second record - and I really, really liked that one too.
57. "El-P really stepped his bars and flows up this time around." In response to Reply # 0
Lyrically I think this is the best of the three albums, but the diversity of beats from RTJ2 and the growth from RTJ1 to RTJ2 makes this album appear to be slightly inferior, which I guess shows just how good RTJ2 was.
I almost want these dudes to take some time off before releasing RTJ4 just to mix things up a bit and/or to work on releasing solo albums, but if they do release the next album in 2017, I can't get too mad since they appear to have mastered their formula for creating music together.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
65. "I do want another solo El album badly" In response to Reply # 63 Tue Jan-03-17 08:54 PM by Kosa12
but I'm cool with this because I'm a huge fan of all the RTJ records and I'm super happy for his/Mike's recent success - they deserve everything that is coming their way
75. "RE: Look through this post my G" In response to Reply # 73
I don't know that wanting them them turn more attention back to their solo careers is "waiting for their downfall". I mean, I get being glad an artist I like is winning...but it's starting to be at the expense on the art, in my opinion. Next time you hear that RtJ dropped a new joint, imagine the beat, flow, and subject matter in your head before you click. I bet you'll be right.
79. "RE: I re-listened to his entire discography last week" In response to Reply # 78 Tue Jan-10-17 09:25 AM by Kosa12
Personally I'd say he made his delivery more traditional so as to not be so jarring next to Killer Mike's flow. His flow on things like ISWYD (occasionally) and especially FanDam (even though I prefer ISWYD to FanDam) and CoFlow was more rhythmically off-kilter and chaotic - which I know is not everyone's thing, but it's part of what makes his style unique IMO and I loved it. I loved the way he did his rhyme schemes. That said, El-P is STILL one of my favorite rappers in the game right now though and he has the best verse on RTJ3 IMO - that Thieves verse (the one in which he describes the rise of a riot) is in my top of last year
81. "RE: I re-listened to his entire discography last week" In response to Reply # 79
I'll admit his rhyme scheme is not as complicasted as it was on FanDam (Deep Space 9MM is still one of the best thing's El-Producto has done so far), but seriously IMO he sounds better and much more confidents on these last two RTJ albums.
67. "diminishing returns." In response to Reply # 0 Wed Jan-04-17 10:05 PM by Nodima
as weird as it is to say since at many points this is their noisiest, most dissonant album yet, it's also their pop album. this is RTJ by the numbers, continuing to refine the marriage of EDM and street rap the way a lot of other rappers (*cough* A$AP Rocky *cough*) wish they were.
but there was a special thing about Run the Jewels - partially narratively, partially musically - that made it immediately a classic. RTJ3 is like a reimagining of their greatest hits from the past two. this group isn't building on their success, they're just satisfying their fans.
and I think that's COMPLETELY fine - both artists toiled underground for long enough, and the sound they have is quite singular.
I just wish Run the Jewels represented the same level of danger it did in 2013. This is a very unsurprising record, even formulaic.
69. "I will say pop record is more dismissive than I meant it." In response to Reply # 67
there is more personal content on this album, and more direct political protest, than the previous two. it's just the overall sound - how they rap, what they rap over, how that what is put together - that feels a little stereotypical after a week with it.
it's awesome that El-P uses Run the Jewels as a vehicle for reminiscing about Camu Tao, someone most of their audience likely has no awareness of, or for Killer Mike to call out the Atlanta journalist that drug his name in the mud for erroneous reasons, but the group's sound is so specific and the way they rap in this group so sort of drag-and-drop that this album just feels like a rehash.
I'm not even sure it's not a very good album, it's growing on me each time I listen to it. but by their standards I can't help but find it a bit generic (I also found RTJ2 a bit of a drop from the first, which wasn't a wildly popular opinion then or now it seems).
71. "This ain't a pop album" In response to Reply # 67
RTJ2 had far more catchier pop songs.
On RTJ2, tracks 2-4 were all individual bangers, easily differentiated from each other.
Then 'Lie, cheat steal', 'Love again', 'Crown' - I can sings the hooks to these in my head, all catchy songs.
RTJ3, well, I like it, but honestly, the beats start to blur into one, particularly in the middle section where it gets a bit muddy/samey for me.
I can't name one really standout 'song' unlike RTJ2, there's plenty of interesting stuff going on but the production is more about a shifting mood then distinct sections.
Again, I like it, but I kinda feel it needs a shot in arm halfway through.
I weirdly get a spaceghost purp influence from some of the earlier tracks (live at the tickertron).
80. "just came around to listen to it recently" In response to Reply # 0
i have to say on two listens I'm not feeling it that much. no disrespect to these guys, but there's too much singing on the hooks and a lot of the songs sound alike
82. "if el-p was raekwon" In response to Reply # 0
This is his only built......dope solo with massive assist from a menacing partner. I see your diminishing returns. Do you see the progression? They almost cancel each other.
Taking shots in the dark/that's a bad call Going straight for your head/ gotta saw it off
High Society Member since Oct 13th 2003 7375 posts
Thu Jan-12-17 03:45 PM
84. "I'd love to see EL-P do a R.A.P. Music album with Freeway." In response to Reply # 0
R.A.P. Music was tailor made beats for Killer Mike. Run the Jewels has been a different story. The beats also compliment EL-P A LOT and just proves that Killer Mike can rap on anything.
El-P can listen to old Rocafella shit and craft an LP for Freeway in same vain that he did with Mike for his solo.
86. "Weird experience listening to this right after Funcrusher Plus" In response to Reply # 0
You see a lot of the for better/for worse trade offs in El-P's sound. He's definitely progressed and is one of my favorite artists of all time, but there's also a part of me that still thinks 8 Steps is the best song he's ever done. Every year, there's a bit less of the b-boy aesthetic, even though his musicality is growing.
---- I check for: Serengeti, Zeroh, Open Mike Eagle, Jeremiah Jae, Moka Only.
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