2023 marks the tenth anniversary of Killer Mike and El-P’s first album together as Run The Jewels. To celebrate, they announced a 10-year anniversary tour for September and October, where they will perform each Run The Jewels album over the course of four shows in four different cities. This tour announcement also comes on the heels of their new song “Don’t Let The Devil,” from Killer Mike’s new album Michael, his first solo album in 11 years.
The duo first teamed up in 2012 when El-P produced Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music album in its entirety. Then, Mike appeared on El-P’s Cancer 4 Cure before they released Run The Jewels in 2013. The success of the first installment became the launching pad for the three monumental albums that followed to critical acclaim. Run The Jewels 1, 2, 3, and 4 are undoubtedly one of the greatest four-album runs in rap history.
Run The Jewels have never missed on any of their albums, making it difficult to rank one album over the other. The difficulty in making a list like this proves how consistent Killer Mike and El-P have been together and why they are one of hip hop’s most legendary duos. With their fifth album nearly completed, we’ve ranked each of the Run The Jewels albums from worst to best.
This is where it all started. Following R.A.P. Music, Killer Mike and El-P’s self-titled debut album as Run The Jewels was fresh and exciting as the two rappers traded verses over El-P’s cutting-edge production. The Run The Jewels sound was new for both of them and ten years later, it still holds up in terms of quality and replay value.
Run The Jewels is a concise ten songs, leaving their rapidly growing fanbase longing for more music. It originally started as a one-off collaboration between Killer Mike and El-P but their chemistry developed on their later albums and they continued to raise the bar. The only aspects of this album that keep it at the bottom of the list are the hooks on certain songs. Despite being incredibly well-produced, El-P’s production exceeded expectations on their sophomore effort.
Essential Tracks: “Run The Jewels,” “Banana Clipper,” “36” Chain,” “Job Well Done,” “Get It”
The impact of RTJ4 was almost immediate, arriving at the height of Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020. The politically-charged themes were just as prevalent in prior albums. However, the timely messaging regarding police brutality and systemic racism hit differently on RTJ4, at a time when people around the world flooded the streets in protest of these very issues. The lyrical content on this album ties together the past and present, and will almost definitely continue to ring true for many years to come.
Musically, the production on this album is some of the best they have ever rapped over. RTJ4 was among the best albums of 2020 and it only ranks third because the above albums contain the most essential Run The Jewels songs.
Essential Tracks: “Yankee and the Brave,” “Ooh LA LA,” “Out Of Sight,” “Holy Calamafuck,” “A Few Words for the Firing Squad (Radiation)”
Run The Jewels 3 also was very impactful upon release as it came out soon after the 2016 presidential election, adding a sense of urgency to songs like “Talk to Me” and “2100.” Unlike the first two installments albums, Run The Jewels 3 starts on a calmer, more positive note but its toughest tracks pack a very hard punch. Musically, it is their most varied album, as far as tempos and instrumentation go. They have their signature bangers like “Legend Has It” and “Panther Like A Panther,” but the album contains their most vulnerable moments such as “Thursday in the Danger Room,” dedicated to their friends who passed away.
Essential Tracks: “Legend Has It,” “Call Ticketron,” “Stay Gold,” “Panther Like A Panther (Miracle Mix),” “Thursday in the Danger Room”
Run The Jewels 2 is relentless. Its lean 12-song tracklist consists of nothing but bangers as the intensity grows quickly with each song. Across the 42-minute runtime, Killer Mike and El-P do not take their feet off the gas. They showed fans what they can do together on Run The Jewels but they strengthened their chemistry on Run The Jewels 2, resulting in some of their greatest moments together. Most importantly, El-P’s production on this album defined Run The Jewels’ signature sound. Though every song is energetic, the beats rank high among El-P’s best productions. “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry” is already thrilling, but the song’s electrifying beat switch takes things to another level. There are plenty of explosive moments on the album, such as the unpredictable “Lie Cheat Steal.”
There is also “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck),” which is arguably the group’s best song, containing a show-stealing appearance from Zack De La Rocha who went on to appear on their following albums. The first Run The Jewels was a very loose and exhilarating album that highlighted Killer Mike and El-P’s humorous lyrics. Still, Run The Jewels 2 built upon that excitement and moved into uncharted territory to establish their legacy.
Essential Tracks: “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry,” “Blockbuster Part 1,” “Close Your Eyes (And Count To F**k),” “Early,” “All Due Respect”
Black Thought is fresh off the release of Glorious Game, his latest collaborative album with American soul band El Michels Affair. The album is yet another quality release in his prolific career, which includes eleven studio albums with The Roots and his Streams of Thought series. He also has arguably the greatest freestyles in hip hop history and also released an album with Danger Mouse in 2022. With all the music he has shared throughout the years, Black Thought is also known for delivering some incredible guest verses. He is widely considered one of the best rappers, and his features are legendary. Black Thought’s best guest verses are known for their show-stealing bars, no matter who is on the track.
This list looks at the best Black Thought features he has contributed throughout his career. Each verse is selected considering the quality of bars, flows, and delivery in comparison to the other rappers on the song. The songs are listed in chronological order.
Black Thought is known for always having the best verse when he gets on a song. On Big Pun’s “Super Lyrical,” the debate on who has the best verse is closer than one might think. Throughout the song, Big Pun and Black Thought continue to out rap each other, much like “Brooklyn’s Finest,” where they continue to raise the bar throughout the song. Big Pun’s verse impresses with complex rhyme schemes, while Black Thought’s flow is more simplistic yet equally effective. The contrast between rhyme styles on this song makes for one of hip hop’s greatest collaborations. This song was also one of the early examples of when Black Thought’s guest verses would encourage other rappers to step their game up.
Ghostface Killah’s 2010 song “In Tha Park” is a nostalgic song about what made the origins of hip hop in New York so special. Ghostface kicks off the track by rapping about when he started falling in love with hip hop. He cites his first time seeing a DJ scratching with the MC rocking the crowd, along with the fashion. Black Thought continues with this concept, but his verse centers around the early days of hip hop’s scene in Philadelphia. His verse is also noticeably more energetic, with a flow that matches the ruggedness of the beat’s distorted guitar loop. He makes specific references to different parts of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, putting his unique spin on the song, matching Ghostface’s verse.
The best Black Thought guest verses usually start at the end of a song, saving the best verse for last. However, he starts things off on “Art Imitates Life,” setting the bar extremely high for the verses from Talib Kweli and Rah Digga. What makes this song so unique is how unorthodox the beat is. Despite how off-kilter the instrumental may be, all three rappers deliver incredible verses. His flow and ability to cut through the beat effortlessly set Black Thought’s verse apart from the rest.
“Bird’s Eye View” is one of Black Thought’s most legendary guest verses. Raekwon and Joey Bada$$ set the bar high with phenomenal verses over a soulful beat produced by Statik Selektah. Even with those great verses, Black Thought completely eclipses them by rapping for two minutes straight. His rhyming on the song is incredible, and he spits quotable bars, such as when he raps, “My sonogram was an image of a gun in the womb / That was soon to be doper than heroin in a spoon.” The verse is even more impressive when you learn that he did it in one take.
Much like “Bird’s Eye View,” Statik Selektah allows Black Thought the majority of the song to showcase his lyrical skills on “The Imperial.” Action Bronson and Royce Da 5’9” deliver fantastic verses, lending their unique styles to the song. Much like Raekwon and Joey Bada$$ on “Bird’s Eye View,” it is very difficult to out-rap Action and Royce on a song. However, it is not for Black Thought as he raps for nearly three minutes, resulting in an earth-shattering verse that came close to the same acclaim as his Funk Flex freestyle. He raps at the highest level on this song with complex rhyme schemes and killer one-liners.
Rappers have struggled to keep up with one Black Thought verse, but Freddie Gibbs does a pretty good job keeping up on “Extradite.” It takes from “Nautilus,” Bob James’s 1974 song, one of the most sampled tracks in hip hop history. Freddie Gibbs is on point the entire time and can keep up with Black Thought most of the song. The amazing thing about the collaboration is that the beat goes through many different phases throughout. Black Thought spits two killer verses and can match Freddie’s tough rapping style with his clean, concise delivery.
Much like “Extradite,” the beat on PRhyme’s “Wishin” changes throughout the song, forcing the rappers to keep up with the instrumental. The original version featured Common and was already impressive enough. “Wishin’ II” takes things to another level as Black Thought kicks one of his best verses. He starts over the slower portion of the beat with the same conviction as when it speeds up. He gets into his groove when the production speeds up. As mentioned, it is tough to out-rap Royce Da 5’9”, but Black Thought set the bar too high on this song.
During this later part of his career, Black Thought rapped over more experimental beats. These new and refreshing stylistic choices have helped him push musical boundaries. His appearance on Roc Marciano’s “Diamond Cutters” is a prime example of how unique production choices helped Black Thought approach songs differently. His sharp delivery and impressive rhyme schemes cut through the eerie flute sound in the beat. It contrasts well with Roc’s off-kilter flow.
“Crowns For Kings” starts with one of Benny The Butcher’s best verses ever. He raps about his humble beginnings over the triumphant horns in the beat. It was a magnificent way to start a song and an EP. Black Thought’s verse, on the other hand, is last for a good reason. Not only is it one of his best guest verses, but it’s the best verse on Benny’s EP. Black Thought matches Benny’s content in his bars as he paints a picture of being a kid surrounded by poverty and turning it into a success story. He raps, “We was crooks, tryna cop more rides than Great Adventure / Any image we took, not a father was in the picture.” It is easily one of the best Black Thought verses.
Like “In Tha Park,” Eminem’s “Yah Yah” is a song that pays homage to the earlier eras of hip hop. The song is chaotic, consisting of a bombastic instrumental with energetic verses from Eminem, Royce Da 5’9”, and Black Thought. Black Thought sticks to the topics, referencing Slick Rick and J Dilla. He keeps listeners on their toes, constantly switching his rhyme schemes and keeping up with the rapid tempo of the beat.
Overall, Black Thought tends to have the best guest verse when he hops on a track. He has spit so many legendary guest verses that it is difficult to narrow the list down to ten. In addition to his latest release, Black Thought also recently announced two new albums.
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Melle Mel says that Kendrick Lamar, Nas, and many other of today’s biggest artists aren’t truly great because they “talk a lot of shit.” The iconic Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five rapper explained his reasoning during his viral interview with The Art Of Dialogue. Speaking with the outlet, Melle Mel criticized numerous other artists in response to Billboard‘s recent Top 50 Rappers of All Time list. He landed at No. 48.
“What did JAY-Z say that you could consider truly great? You just like the song,” Melle said. “As far as how I felt about hip-hop, I’ve never liked what nobody was doing. I don’t even like the shit that I did after I did it. I’m trying to do some other shit. It tarnishes the game and then it tarnishes society as well. Don’t take hip-hop all that serious. The bottom line to all of this, whether you believe there’s one great MC or whether you believe that there’s 500 great MC’s, this is just some n***a talking shit.”
From there, he explained he explained that JAY-Z can get away with “talking shit.” “This is just some n***a talking shit and everybody is caught up in all that shit. JAY-Z, that n***a can talk shit. Who’s the number two guy on that list? [Kendrick Lamar] is just another n***a talking shit. I’m not gonna put him number two. [Nas] another n***a talking shit… How you gonna take a n***a talking shit that serious? Who is this n***a and what has this n***a done for you to take whatever has come out his mouth serious? That’s why the streets is fucked up.”
Melle Mel touched on a number of other topics during the interview as well. At one point, he attributed Eminem’s legendary status to being white, argued that DMX & Tupac were better actors than rappers, and much more.
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Creating a list of the 50 greatest rappers of all time is certainly no easy feat. There are so many artists who deserve a mention for their contributions to the genre and the culture. However, with only 50 spots, there will evidently have to be some notable exclusions.
In a new partnership between Billboard and Vibe, the duo of magazines are sharing their collaborative list of the 50 best rappers ever. On Wednesday (January 11), they shared the first 10, #50-41.
The #50 spot goes to Rick Ross, with Rev Run and Melle Mel above him at #49 and #48 respectively. MC Lyte comes in at #47, Jadakiss at #46 and the 45th spot belongs to Ice-T. Queen Latifah, Bun B and Redman follow, as they take the 44th-42nd spots in order. E-40 is the last rapper to make the first instalment of the list, coming in at #41.
Furthermore, the Bay Area legend is one rapper who took to his Twitter account to express his gratitude for his inclusion on the list. “Appreciate the recognition from @billboard & @VibeMagazine for their 50 Greatest Rappers of All-Time list[.] Still feel underrated nationally but nobody can deny my longevity, independent hustle, my unorthodox style and creative slang in this rap game!!” writes the 55-year-old.
Appreciate the recognition from @billboard & @VibeMagazine for their 50 Greatest Rappers of All-Time list
Still feel underrated nationally but nobody can deny my longevity, independent hustle, my unorthodox style and creative slang in this rap game!!
pic.twitter.com/6U6uQdFuLR
— E40 Mogul Entrepreneur (@E40) January 12, 2023
However, it’s certainly inspiring some interesting reactions and responses on social media. Specifically, some fans seemingly disagree with Jadakiss being in the bottom 10. “E-40 ranked higher over Jadakiss on this 50 greatest rappers list,” writes one fan on Twitter.
“How you got a top 50 rappers list and Jadakiss is at the bottom of the list?” questions brokencool in his own response.
The list serves as a celebration of hip-hop correspondingly turning 50 years old this year. Each week, they’ll be further announcing the list’s next 10 rappers. The final top 10 will eventually be unveiled during the week of February 6. It will certainly be interesting to see who they rank where.
What do you think of #50-41? Do you agree or disagree with any of the placements? Comment your thoughts down below. Finally, make sure you stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest updates.
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Math Hoffa has responded to Jim Jones‘ list of the “Best Podcasts of 2022.” The Harlem rapper placed his show last on the list, offending the host of My Expert Opinion.
“I mean this is the only independent podcast in the top ten,” Hoffa said during an episode with Troy Ave. “Jim you was wylin’. It’s okay, I got a little petty, you know I love ya, but yeah you just gotta give it up for the people who choose to take control of their own destiny and run their own business.”
Over My Expert Opinion, Jones ranked Drink Champs, Million Dollaz Worth of Game, No Jumper, The Joe Budden Podcast, and more.
Jones originally shared his list back in December, posting a notes app screenshot on Instagram.
“After considerable deliberation and numerous talks wit th top 10 committee we have finally decided on our top 10 pod casters of 2022,” he captioned the list. “If u feel u should have made the list hold tht thought till next year.”
Jones also defended his inclusion of Kai Cenat, admitting that he may not technically be a podcaster.
“Some might argue @kaicenat is not a pod caster but he interviews people so there for he has a component of pod casting goin in durin his show so yeah and he super Poppin to th young generation,” he said, defending his selection.
Another notable decision is the exclusion of Elliott Wilson and Brian “B. Dot” Miller’s popular Rap Radar podcast. The show also has caught heat from Griselda in recent days.
Check out Hoffa’s response to Jones below, as caught by HipHopDX.
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