Run the Jewels

Run the Jewels
Raph_PH · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Run the Jewels
Origin	New York City, United States
Genres	Hip hop, Alternative hip hop
Years active	2013–present
Members	El-P; Killer Mike
Label	Mass Appeal, Publisher: Self-released

Run the Jewels Run the Jewels is an American hip hop superduo composed of rappers El-P (Jaime Meline) and Killer Mike (Michael Render). Formed in 2013 after a collaborative tour, the duo are known for politically charged lyrics, dense production and high-energy performances that draw from a lineage including Public Enemy, N.W.A, A Tribe Called Quest, OutKast and Beastie Boys. They have released a series of critically acclaimed albums and participated in festivals such as Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Glastonbury Festival, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo Music Festival.

History

El-P and Killer Mike first connected while working on tracks for projects by El-P and R.A.P. Music, leading to a formal partnership after touring with artists like Dillinger Escape Plan and appearances on programs including Late Show with David Letterman and The Colbert Report. Their first self-titled release followed a strategy of free digital distribution similar to campaigns used by Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, which helped them cultivate audiences across scenes anchored by labels such as Def Jam Recordings and Warp Records. Subsequent albums were produced amid broader contexts involving tours with Madvillain-era artists and collaborations with figures including Travis Barker, Pharrell Williams, Zack de la Rocha and Danny Brown. The duo navigated industry shifts exemplified by disputes involving Tidal, streaming platforms like Spotify, and the resurgence of vinyl championed by Nonesuch Records and independent retailers.

Musical style and influences

The duo’s sound fuses dense, abrasive production reminiscent of Death Grips and Mobb Deep with Southern rap cadences associated with OutKast and Goodie Mob, while lyrical confrontations echo traditions from KRS-One and Rakim. El-P’s production shows affinities with the experimental textures of Trent Reznor and J Dilla, employing industrial timbres similar to Ministry and layered sampling techniques used by DJ Premier and Pete Rock. Killer Mike’s delivery channels rhetorics of activism akin to Tupac Shakur and Mos Def and draws on storytelling linked to Scarface and UGK. The duo also references punk and metal aesthetics via collaborations with artists from Rage Against the Machine and System of a Down, reflecting a hybridized approach comparable to crossover acts like Linkin Park.

Discography

Their studio albums include the debut (2013), follow-up (2014), and later releases that charted on lists curated by Billboard (magazine), NME, Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. Notable guest appearances on these albums feature artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Santigold, Danny Brown, Mavis Staples, Pharrell Williams and 2 Chainz. The duo issued singles and deluxe editions promoted through outlets like BBC Radio 1, Hot 97 and KEXP, and collaborated on soundtracks alongside composers from Marvel Studios and HBO series.

Live performances and tours

Run the Jewels have headlined tours across North America, Europe, Australia and Japan, and performed at flagship events including SXSW, Reading and Leeds Festivals and Pitchfork Music Festival. Their stagecraft incorporates visual designers and lighting teams who have worked with U2, Radiohead and Daft Punk, and they have appeared on television programs including Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The duo have also curated billings with artists such as A$AP Rocky, Brockhampton, Vic Mensa and Elvis Costello, and participated in benefit concerts alongside activists and musicians affiliated with Amnesty International and Musicians On Call.

Critical reception and awards

Critics from outlets including The Guardian, New York Times and Los Angeles Times have praised their albums for incisive lyricism and inventive production, with end-of-year lists from Rolling Stone, Spin and The Village Voice featuring their work. The duo earned nominations and awards from institutions like Grammy Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards, and individual recognition for production and songwriting from trade groups such as ASCAP and BMI. Publications including Complex, Stereogum and Consequence have repeatedly cited their albums in retrospectives on influential 2010s hip hop.

Cultural impact and activism

Beyond music, El-P and Killer Mike have engaged in public discourse on issues involving figures and institutions such as Bernie Sanders, Barack Obama, George Floyd, Black Lives Matter and NAACP. They released benefit tracks and participated in fundraising initiatives with organizations like Southern Poverty Law Center and RAINN, and donated proceeds to causes tied to Prison Reform advocates and campaigns endorsed by The Innocence Project. Their visual iconography—most notably the hand gesture associated with their brand—has been referenced in pop culture by artists such as Lady Gaga, Kanye West and Taylor Swift and has appeared in video games published by Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard. Through interviews with outlets like The Intercept and Democracy Now!, they have contributed to debates on policing, voting rights and cultural representation alongside commentators from The Atlantic and The New Yorker.

Category:American hip hop duos Category:Musical groups established in 2013