After an ominous lightning storm descended on Run The Jewels‘ headlining set at Omaha, Nebraska’s annual MAHA Music Festival on Saturday (August 19), Killer Mike and El-P were forced to cut their set three songs early.
Although a black Cadillac Escalade was waiting outside their trailer to whisk them away before the rain started, the two outspoken MCs still took some time to discuss the current social and political landscape in America.
Mike, an Atlanta native who just launched a merch line essentially mocking the Confederacy, has been vocal about his political stances. Together, El Producto and the Outkast affiliate offered intelligent solutions to the ever-growing rift in the current political climate.
“As a black person, what I’ve always seen my white friends do is call out the bullshit when we’re not in the room ‘cause that’s when it really counts,” Mike told HipHopDX. “People in this country — whether through good manners or they’re just smart enough — know when not to offend others. But it’s just important to call the bullshit out when they’re not in the room when it’s just you and the people from your group or whatever power group.”
“For men, that’s men, and sometimes for white people, it’s white people,” he continued. “I think that’s important. Most people don’t want to be fucked up. If you take 10 racists in the room, seven of those are just people who have a hard time befriending people.”
Friendship is at the core of what makes Run The Jewels work. After Mike was introduced to the former Definitive Jux head honcho by Adult Swim’s Jason DeMarco in 2011, El-P signed on to produce Mike’s 2012 solo project, R.A.P. Music. They didn’t know it at the time, but that album was the beginning of what would become RTJ, a group that grew out of a genuine affinity between its members.
But what RTJ represents is far more powerful than what they could’ve predicted.
“We aren’t mad about it inspiring people because I would love to see kids in this country overcome … we’re given racism, classism and suspicions of one another,” Mike explains. “We’re kind of given that by our parents, aunts and bigger society. I’m happy to see kids coming up using our friendship and saying, ‘You know what? We cool.’ But that’s not why we’re friends. We’re just fucking friends.”
“We were friends first, but the power of the symbolism doesn’t escape us, especially in these times,” El added. “But it’s a byproduct of a genuine friendship. With all the complications and arguments and all the fucking this and that, and misinformation — you can’t really talk away friendship. You can’t talk away love. There’s no argument that says it’s historically wrong or right, you see two human beings up on stage and I think, yes, we now know that means something to people. Like I said, this is just the reality of our friendship. This is just the truth.”
Now three albums deep into their RTJ catalog (Run The Jewels 3 was released in December 2016), Mike and El are aware the younger generation of rap fans is going to grow up listening to their music. The fact it’s made by a black man and a white man is something they hope will have a positive impact.
“It’s cool to me to think there are kids coming up now that are going to have us as influences,” El said. “It’s not even that you know about it, but there’s a kid that’s simply more likely to get to know somebody that doesn’t look like him because he grew up like I did on music and culture of multiple races.”
Despite the tumultuous times, RTJ is confident there’s something positive bubbling up under the surface as a result of the recent uprisings.
“If you look at the last two years of marches, whether on media or on the ground, what you were seeing were black faces saying we’re being systematically oppressed and you saw a push back,” Mike explained. “What you have seen in the last two weeks [in the aftermath of Charlottesville] is white faces versus white faces. I don’t mean versus in some grand pornographic scale of violence, but I mean in the Civil Rights movement, the shift didn’t happen until whites said, ‘No this is wrong.’ I would say for the first time in my lifetime, I’m seeing white people challenge other white people in the streets.”
“The mass awakening in itself could be considered progress on its own at least on some spiritual basis,” El added.” I’ve always said that I don’t have much faith in the institutions of mankind. I don’t have much hope for the current institutions of mankind, but I do have hope for people. I do have hope for the spiritual institution of humanity.”
I tried calling out Killer Mike’s bulls h i t, but then he blocked me…. Go figure..
He says “when I’m in the room it’s men, when they’re in the room it’s white people.” LOL. Killer Mike, A.K.A. Stuttering blood type bolonhesa sauce, is one of the biggest, fake P.C. racist race baiting pieces of shit on earth. He is actually one of the reasons Trump got elected. What an idiot he is setting back the. Lack race with his ONLYCERTAINBLACKLIVES MATTER shit. Total fucktard. What I see is my white friends calling out the bullshit when we aren’t in the room. You see shit happening in a room you aren’t in, dummy. Jesus. Just make your backpacker music and be quiet. You don’t even speak english correctly. I love the way EL-P just shuts the fuck up and looks stupid while dude goes on his rants.
You’re an idiot. Did what he said make too much sense for you? Killer Mikes speaks English just fine and is an educated emcee…something you’re probably not used to. Next time you comment, try actually making some sense and having a solid argument.
Their argument is stronger than yours. What type of valuable insight does your comment have to offer?
It’s clear they are too intelligent for you to grasp the concepts they’re talking about. You’re talking shit about “rants” but then go on one of your own. Grow up.
Anyone who doesn’t enjoy RTJ as much as me needs to grow up and agree with Killer Mike because he is a genius and his rhymes are incredibly complex. You just cant possibly understand what’s really good in the hood.
dont even start with that he was part of the reason trump was elected nonsense. Mike was out there doing what MORE people shoulda been doing, campaigning for the RIGHT candidate in the primaries that EASILY woulda beaten Trump in a landslide. Its the DNC’s and Hillary’s OWN fault she lost to that buffoon,
The KKK LOVES Killer Mike. LOL. He is doing their work for them. Run The Fried Foods is my favorite band and Waffle House.
Even god is sick of their PC, race baiting bullshit. He threw lightning down on their ass mid set to shut them up. LOL.
THIS is your contribution? Shameful. You’ll get yours.
One of the best groups out! Keep making dope music!
People like Killer Mike are part of the problem, not the solution. I wish that more rappers would focus on bringing people together instead of tearing them apart.
thanks for elaborating on that
My comment seemed pretty straightforward. Would you like me to write an essay just for you?
stop voting for your own stupid comment
You seem upset (or dare I say “triggered”). How could I upvote my own comment 30 times and why do you think unity is stupid?
Killer Mike Is My Idol
can’t believe how many ignorant, simple minded republicans use this site these days. these comment sections are so predicable. it’s fucked up how much hate emcees like Killer Mike get; they stand up for justice and get chastised for being “politically correct,” whatever the fuck that even means in the context of articles like this.
Do identity politics equate to justice in your simple mind?
Look. I would weather have never had my ancestors be slaves, and still live in Africa, free. With HIV and a warlord chopping off my limbs if I look at him wrong. Funny thing is, I could buy a hut in the village my ancestors where taken from (easy to trace), and a plane ticket back to Nigeria, for the price of the rims on my car. But nah, I’d weather sit in my air conditioned home in a city where an ambulance will show in less than 5 minutes if you call 911. My life matters… white people suck by the way. And thanks white people. I use memories I don’t have as an excuse to be an idiot. I am black and live in Inglewood, CA. Real talk
So when people are treated unjustly due to the color of their skin or their chosen religion, thats fine. But when people address those injustices, suddenly its “identity politics?” Since you seem to know all the answers, please tell us all what would be a better way to address these things? Considering peaceful protest is frowned upon, even kneeling is frowned upon. What exactly would be a better way to address these injustices? Oh right, maybe if we stopped TALKING about inequality, then it would magically vanish right? Consider this, some of us do not have the luxury to simply look the other way. If you do not provide strong alternatives, sit down. Stay silent.
El-p beats are the best. Co flow on u hoes!!!
EVERY ARTIST WHO HAS YET TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT FLAT EARTH – IS A PART OF THE MATRIX – EARTH IS FLAT. GOOD LUCK TO ALL DURING THESE REVELATIONS
Your moms titties are part of that conspiracy… Flies circling around them shits…
I can’t enjoy a lactose free chai latte without listening to RTJ.
You know, my black friends are now stopping each other from talking shit about white people when no whiteys are around. Thanks to Trup. GTfOH with that bullshit. Stupid race baiter! Couldn’t make it with the dirty south and trap shit, so dude needs El-P to break out the Glo Sticks.
Remember, don’t feed the trolls! Twitter recently deleted 400,000 pro trump bot accounts. That shows you how many are out there!
Hip hop free hate speech? Kill all white people? Why communists fail at everything and end up being the fascists? Losing every election? Death of hip hop talkin about guns money sex all day ang judging others?