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.
4. Run The Jewels (2013)
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”
3. RTJ4 (2020)
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)”
2. Run The Jewels 3 (2016)
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”
1. Run The Jewels 2 (2014)
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”