When Company Flow ended their venerable five-year run in 1999, El-P sought a new creative direction. He foresaw how the underground rap market was bound to change at the threshold of a new decade while the ingenious New York trio was at the end of their rope. El-P gnawed his foot from his former employer as he detailed on his 2002 debut solo album Fantastic Damage about how he “ducks labels” to not be boxed in (“Sign to Rawkus/I’d rather be mouthfucked by Nazis unconscious” he deplored on the album cut “Deep Space 9MM”), and continued to carve his niche as an “independent as fuck” flag bearer.
RELATED: 31 Run The Jewels Facts Even Diehard Fans Might Not Know
Killer Mike holds the same artistic standard for himself as a woke rhyme vigilante collaborating with El-P. Combining forces, Run The Jewels is an indie concept group like Prophets of Rage, Madvillain, Jaylib, Piñata with Freddie Gibbs and Madlib (or any other collaboration that Madlib does), Gnarls Barkley, The Firm, and Kurupt and DJ Quik together as BlaQKout, and so on. The average shelf life of these groups are one-and-dones for albums, or they return when their fans highly anticipate these concept groups’ new music sold sporadically with new releases dropped every few years. Leave it at a novelty and come back with a vengeance every few years to keep fans vested in the new material. It’s difficult to return year after year with a new album as artists’ creative freight tends to run out of steam.
This latest 14-track LP in RTJ3 could be regarded as RTJ4 if you want to count Killer Mike’s precursor R.A.P. Music, for which El-P helmed the production and burgeoned the Run The Jewels brand. The breakout single on here is with Trina “Panther Like a Panther.” The chorus is arid (“I’m the shit bitch!”), but has the energy for a concert or road trip playlist that makes it worthy of an action film soundtrack that defines the RTJ sound. It’s the same busy 1980s Running Man futuristic wall of sound and Doctor Who-theme song sampling techniques that push the album’s pace, but the lyrics hold up.
RELATED: A Visual Timeline Of How Run The Jewels Came Together
Some other stellar cuts include “Hey Kids (Bumaye)” with Danny Brown, the danceable bounce of “Everybody Stay Calm,” the bass-heavy fuzz of “Oh Mama,” “Thursday in the Danger Room,” “2100” featuring BOOTS, and the two-part final track “A Report To The Shareholders / Kill Your Masters,” where Killer Mike barks his cadence to the six-minute dual record. El-P sticks to his guns looking to impress the Gen X and Y fans who still latch onto his brand of hyperbolic sci-fi inspired lyricism and political commentary.
The last third of the album is when it ascends from slipping into a mixtape category for its first two-third’s lack of cohesion. Their Christmastime Heist theme boasts their signature dissonance with echo-chambered vocals, cacophonous sound clashes and deep synth keyboards. There are some vapid, shallow hooks, including the aptly titled opening track “Down,” which is more downbeat and somber-toned (“I could’ve died y’all, I’m aight y’all/A couple of times I took my eyes off the prize y’all/I know a few people pray for my demise y’all/But like cream I had to rise, I had to rise y’all.”). “Down” is a conscious Run The Jewels filler track at the top of the tracklist and feels preachy and pedestrian from the jump, lacking that one-two punch with the first and second track (“Talk To Me”) that fans swooned over on the previous two albums. That’s what made the previous RTJ albums and R.A.P. Music so explosive out the gate with the tracks “Run The Jewels” and “Jeopardy” so intense and infectiously aggressive. Other forgettable choruses include “Stay Gold” (G-O-L-D-G-O-L-D), “Call Ticketron,” and on the sledgehammering 808 thump of “Legend Has It.”
RTJ3 ultimately mirrors the sentiment of too many movie franchise sequels that make the brand go stale. (Who wants to see Final Destination 6? Answer: No one!). Perhaps El-P should extend his reach back to Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails for a collaboration album since that’s who El-P mirrors in his production style. Killer Mike should join forces with Zack de la Rocha for a ‘Revolution Rock’ political rap EP and get Clash bassist Paul Simonon since that was a song title from his original group.
To pique their devoted fans’ interest and continue their brand, there should be some new range in their production approach. But if El-P and Mike are comfortable with sticking to what their fans want to stand up for, then so be it.
RTJ3 was amazing and this review is complete bullshit.
Fuck this white liberal cuck and the racist black man.
Cool kids listen to real hip hop like Drake, Beyoncé, Young Thug, or Chance the Rapper. #AWARDWINNERS
Good for maybe one listen. Same old stuff. Always talking about politics and how “good” they are.
How “good” they are as a group and how smart they are.
Doesn’t almost every rapper do that?
lmao ikr – just described 90% of rap
Biggie wasn’t hyping himself up during Suicidal Thoughts. We need more music like that.
Fuck Dana Scott and this dogshit review and title.
“4 Your Eyez Only” gets a 3.9 but this gets a 3.8??!
This is the most bullshit HHDX review I’ve read. Don’t let this anomaly of a review put you off the magic that is this album.
I’m in love with Thursday in the danger room and the whole album who came too late to rule on all end-of-the-year-fucking-lists
5/5
perfect
This was one of the most lackluster reviews I’ve ever read. I’m such a big fan of hiphopdx, but it sounds like the reviewer barely even listened to the cd. They gave the cd a 3.8 but the entire review was negative. It makes me wonder if we were listening to the same cd.
exactly – hhdx is my spot for hip hop news – but this review was TERRIBLE
He didnt listen to it. “Kill your rights”? Not the name of the track. Also he describes the 1st track on the album during his review that coversion the the last third of the album.
this review almost completely misses what is great about RTJ and this album. this reviewer has no political consciousness — typical pop consumer idiocracy.
The natural and perfect conclusion to the RTJ trilogy….not that there isnt more to come IMO…..i had HIGH expectations for this and it hasn’t disappointed at all….
Id say tour this year….then a mikey/el-p solo….then converge again after that for RTJ4….or fk it bring on RTJ4
Great album! I skip no tracks. I like seeing a little more vulnerability and sincerity from the duo, especially on songs like 2100 and Thursday In The Danger Room.
bullshit criticisms from the best RTJ album so far, the fans have spoken on this one. go ahead and put it in your “albums that we just didn’t get” year end list
Really A 3.8, I Love Watching Your Breakdown On YouTube. To Me This Is Like Dark Knight Trillogy Of Hip – Hop IMO.
Really Dana?? Smdh
The snarky douche who wrote this review should get fired asap
Best one yet!
This is the best fucking Run The Jewels yet. RTJ 4 will be even better.
Not that a music “critic” should let others decide how to feel about an album, but this review and reviewer are morbidly out of tune with the opinionated fact of the masses of RTJ fans this album is loved by.
Are we listening to the same album?
Dude! Write Something!
This was written by someone who fuckin hates rap
Nice album. Lyrically a little different. Same old El-P keyboard beats.
Website with Hip Hop in its name wouldnt appreciate the dope ish if it it kicked em in the balls. Cant to to read about Lil Yachty’s twitter spelling mistakes on the site tho.
dude! write something!
It was written.
It shouldn’t have been. Jesus Christ man.
2 dope boys stay in their own lane. Great that it goes over some peoples heads – some people used to say PE sound too harsh
I’ve been a fan of El-p since 1999 when I heard funcrusher plus for the first time. RTJ3 was a terrific album, and is leaps and bounds the most differentiating and brilliant production in hip hop right now. Can’t say the same about jcole. I’m convinced that this guy wrote this only because RTJ set the bar so high. How could you give j cole a 3.9??? Man, go fold some clothes and drink almond milk
I dunno, I liked it a lot. The tracks that the author found forgettable were the most infectious for me. I’ve listened to it a dozen times through since it came out. Good stuff.
Ya’ll calling Call Ticketron and Stay Gold forgettable but those hooks have been stuck in my head since the first time I heard em. Especially Ticketron, that shit bangs.
They get better every record imo. 2 of the dopest mc’s if you take the time to listen, same with el-p’s production – youve gotta pay attention – its not background music, he’s been pushing beat making forward since Funcrucher Plus.
Yo this is AOTY!!
Panther like a panther my least favorite, the tracks he said were weak are hard af!!
Always dope.
LAME review for a DOPE record. How is this scribe even employed by HHDX? You guys just lost your credibility. I sure wish Pizzo would bring back Hiphopsite.com for a true hip hop head review.
DX on some fuck shit. RTJ3 is 110%
Did i just read the first 2 thirds of the album lack cohesion. Lmao the first 2 thirds literally flow into the next song every song then they add another dimension with areas theyve not covered before. Dumbass review. This guy should not be reviewing albums. Iv iterally never seen a review get shit so wrong. Album is fire and the fact they gave it to us for free on xmas is why RTJ dont give a shit about clueless critics reviews. They care about their fans and most of all about hip hop and they dont need to change their sound for nobody
I want to start off by saying! Mad respect to both EL-P and Killer Mike! I was not expecting them to release that digital download on Christmas day! It’s truly a fucking christmas miracle. Dope Album!
terrible review…first two thirds lack cohesion? idiots don’t know how to review albums
the middle tracks 7-9 flow perfectly together….the first couple songs flow into each other.
this might be their most cohesive project but it lacks cohesion? lol
I swear your review is a shit/5. I stopped reading when i saw “lack of cohesion” You either don’t know shit about hip hop music or just trying to be original from the other reviews that acclaimed this great album.
shit/5! LMFAO bruh—-awesome!! Run ’em!!!!!
5/5 AOTY from Hip Hop
Three days later you have your review ready? GTOH! This is not a movie, you know. Very lazy of you, kid. Worst review I’ve ever read on this site.
????
This person is crazy
are u crazy? 3,8???
Screw a review. This shit right here in a 3-way tie for AOTY with The Impossible Kid & Atrocity Exhibition.
Totally with you on this one! I’d have to throw Hella Personal Film Festival into the mix of my top 5 too, think it just came out too early and peeps forgot about it. My vote for a slept on: Fuck That Pretty Boy Shit by Words Hurt.. Don’t sleep! Peace……
Whoever gave the green light to post this ignorant review should be fired.
RTJ 3 gets a 3.8, yet Ab-Soul gets a 4.2…. Wow. Talk about favouritism
How is that showing favoritism?
Solid 4.5. Just a tiny tiny step down if you want to really look at it like that or maybe bc we’re used to them now…great album.
This review is a joke
Need an editor?
This album doesn`t need a critics review. All it needs is a listeners ear.
AOTY
Along Kanye’s #Picasso, that would be 2016’s finest 🙂
This review doesn’t make sense. Solid 4.25, at least.
This review does not make sense. Solid 4.25 at least.
u kiddin me?
Hiphopdx please tap some reviewers who actually understand how music is made? it’s another terrible review from hiphopdx that belongs in the same absurd tradition as the review of Drake’s Take Care and countless other embarrassing missteps. To rate Childish Gambino’s wanna-be funk album better is unforgivable when that dude is stealing from a forgotten era whereas RTJ is actually owning and sculpting their own unique sound. do you even know the difference between a artist who invents their own sound and one who copies others? do you idiot critics even understand which is harder to do? And then, you go on to further diss “Legend has it” and a trio of some of the most banging songs on the album. This is why hiphop has lost its lustre…idiots who call this a crappy sequel need to have their head examined. this makes me miss The Source because before Benzino became obsessed with Made Men and destroying Eminem, it actually had some decent accurate reviews. This album maybe wasn’t as mind-blowing as RTJ2 but it still delivered the goods.
Your last sentence echoes what I said in the review. Where did I call this sequel “crappy?” You did. Thanks for reading the review.
when you compared it to final dest 6
Not sure if this reviewer understands real Hip Hop tbh.
Another banger. Hip Hop to get excited about.
44 Gave it a 5/5
Wow
What u give it?
Did hiphopdx got hacked? I can´t belive this.
I wanted to believe this review until I saw it said “Call Tickerton” aka “Live From The Garden” was “forgettable”…that’s probably the best song on the whole album. I thought they ran their course the first time I listened too, but I think they may have one more in them. But I do hope both of them pay attention to what fans outside of RTJ have been asking them for, which is more solo work, especially Mike.
Thank you for reading the review. With all due respect, if you find yourself singing the hook and cite “Call Ticketron” as the album’s best moment, that’s cool. We all have favorites songs that we feel are the defining moments of this album. I just wonder if I’ll be or many of their other fans will be singing “Live From The Garden” in the coming years when I replay this album.
microwave jurnalism at its best….
Epic
a 3.8? you’ve got to be shittin’ me, this album was a motherfucking masterpiece from top to bottom.
Even More Quality from RTJ
appreciate the honest review dx. People need to stop dick riding and realize there’s sum duds. Great project non the less.
Hi Dana Scott,
I think there is a misunderstanding. Here what people say is not that your review is totally off the hook. It is more that it seems inaccurate. Between 3.5 and 3.9 is considered as “the album is between so so and good” and at 4 it is considered as “the album is clearly good” by the DXers (the people following the site). Just for your information, after an evaluation by 15 people (among them 5 did not listen hip hop) the rating was at 4.05 counting non hip hop listeners and 4.35 counting only heavy hip hop listeners. Your review is not bad. It seems just clearly over-negative, thus it appears like a underrating. We can debate about the ratings but if I remember well The life of Pablo from Kanye was at 4. It was clearly too much, it should have been at 3.8 or 3.6 ( I had asked to 15 people as for RTJ3 following the same approach (yes i like to see how the albums are reviewed and compare it to DX ratings)).
Well all this is to say that yes this album is less an UFO than RTJ2 (which was already underrated by DX if I remember well), BUT, the point is that it remains a clearly good album, a very good album, with some lows but a lot of highs so desserving a rating at 4.
However, your review makes a lot of sense, I agree with some parts not with the others. The problem is that like it is the second time RTJ is underrated by DX, people might start to believe that you have some veiled beef with the group. I don’t think so but it might appear like that for a lot of people.
Well, you got the answers on that point.
DX gave the 1st run the jewels album of the year and the last one was rated 4.5/5….can’t say there’s any beef. They just didn’t loved the album like everyone else…
Rey, thanks for your analysis of my review and the album. I’m a fan of RTJ and so are we at DX, like everyone else in these comments. I have a beef with the group, or personal vendetta to publicly bash them? Not at all. I’ve followed their music for a longtime before RTJ, enjoy both artists for a very long time before and after their initial 2012 collaboration on R.A.P. Music. Some parts of the RTJ3 album seem better than others, and that’s my unapologetic take. But that’s what we do as reviewers, doesn’t mean I slammed the entire record. If I did, it wouldn’t be hovering around a 4. What I do apologize to anyone, including El-P, who was offended for the perception that I was callous to El-P’s friend dying for my analysis of the opening track “Down.” I could never negate the loss of someone’s friend, but I just spoke about the energy of the opening cut. I measure this album for where it matches up within their discography overall and the interval from the previous album releases. Granted there are some growers on this album, but I probably would have been panned for saying that. And why is 3.8 considered bad? It’s not like it’s a 2-point or low 3-pointer for a rating.
Dana Scott, as I told you I don’t think your review is bad. My point is just that for a good album the rating should be at 4. It is like a psychological threshold. If you rate it less than 4 it is considered by viewers as between mediocre and decent. However your critics are fully relevant. I feel like we are arguing about details. For 0.2 points this is not something big. I just wanted to say that the album is good, really good.
@Vada you are right RTJ1 was album of the year even though it was “only” rated at 4. RTJ2 was their second album of the year behind Prhyme (even though it could have been first too). Yes I guess they did not appreciate the album as much as most of the people.
Awesome again.
Fair review. I would have rated it even lower though. Huge fan of the first two records and especially RAP Music. I think that ‘Down’ is actually the best song on this album.
Awesome album.
Dope.
Poor review. I actually listened to this album a few times today after reading this review and the comments, and I can honestly say this is a great album. The hooks aren’t as bad as this review mentions, and the rapping is dope.
Agreed. The problem is this reviewer skipped songs when he didn’t hear what he wanted and than wrote a review after only one partial listen of the album. It took me a month to finally like some songs on rtj 1 and 2, not bc they were bad, but because they needed time to be fully heard and respected. Now I listen from start to finish, and I usually am used to skipping songs. These guys have done what hasn’t happened in a longtime in rap, they made skip proof music. No dumb skits, no watered down filler, no slow, uneccesary shit songs to round out enough tracks for an lp.
I think rtj is one of the most important hip hop groups of today because they don’t SOUND LIKE EVERY OTHER GROUP OR SOLOISTS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
ASIDE FROM A FEW (J. COLE, Kendrick, action Bronson, logic, theres a few more and if u know, u know) almost every other rapper sounds like every other rapper!! Is it just me or if u put a blindfold on and had 16 of the top rated 20 hip hop artists rap the same verse from a song in front of u, dime to dollar u wouldn’t be able to figure out who is who. Because all of them would be doing some stupid weird off key singy songy Bullshit while they rhyme. And they never change their flow bc they don’t have one.
Alright I’ve said to much happy new year and reviewer, 2017 calls for a career change, time for u to move on.
You made assumptions about how I heard the album (5X, mind you) in its entirety. Thank you for reading the review and deeming album reviews are a cornerstone for a journalism career based on one album, being that you claim to have read so many since 1994. Great group that I guess moves you so much that much to dictate someone’s livelihood? Yours maybe, and that’s fine. But not mine. I enjoy RTJ but I’m not an RTJ “Stan” like yourself. Have a blessed 2017. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.
Dana it is so tacky when a journalist replies to a bad comment. Take the L.
Sorry, I was just…. you know how period drives us women crazy.
Oh Dana such poor form from a sore man
But that’s OK you can call me Stan.
And if I’m Stan you must be Matthew Mitchell,
Cause bitch, you even have my backwards initials!
Peace out DS FROM SD!!
When was rap music all about fucking hooks. This shit ain’t pop. There is so much lyrical dexterity on display here and the production is damn near masterful in its craft and execution. With each album they have just gotten better and better at what they do. This review is dog shit.
next album should just be a threesome with danny brown now that would be crazy. this review is a little harsh but RTJ2 is clearly better.
Threesome with Danny Brown? hell na if they gonna do a trio album gotta do it with Killer Mike, El-P, and Zack de la Rocha.
Beats and lyrics yall.
second last paragraph.. where you comparing RTJ1 to Final Destination 1? because that movie was not one of the greatest movies ever. Id love to watch sequel after sequel of one of the best movies ever.
3.8? GTFO
this review is blasphemous,i can stand giving barter 6 a 4 but this is where you cross the line smh
Incredible album
This album seems uninspired and rushed. It’s not an awful album, it’s just boring. Similar rhythms and rhyme schemes. The first 5 or so songs sound like it could just be one long song. Killer Mike raps exactly the same as rtj2 and el-p makes beats the same as the last half of rtj2. It’s like they know their diehard fans will eat it up no matter what and attack anyone who says this album isn’t that good…
some weird suggestions and criticisms in this review.. guess it’s all opinion anyway. even this comment.
the album is definitely sick if you like their music. There’s new classics on there without a doubt. if you’re lukewarm on them to begin with, i’m not surprised you didn’t love it. RTJ2 is a lil better overall, but this one has some essential stuff if you like RTJ
I give it a 2/5 by the way.
ThErik reviewer sounds like he doesn’t find layered well thought music interesting. I bet secretly he is a backstreet boys fan and finds rtj’s music offensive. I have listened and read rap reviews since 94, and this one might be one of the worst.
Happy New Year. You should be a Tarot card reader to determine my next career move, I guess? One review broke your fragile heart? Ain’t nothing but a hearrrrt breaaaak lol.
I rate this review a 1/5
Dope ish
Album of 2016 and 2017
Dana works for the Popo and voted Trump
Funny how Dana speaks for all of RTJ fans and makes recommendations for the music, but its obvious he doesn’t understand either.
overrated
hipster rap
rapster hip
sellin out
Rtj greatest rap group alive right now, album is amazing its literally all i listen too right now
Super dope
Awarded best new music on Pitchfork, glad someone still gets real hip hop.
Hot shish
More I listen, the worse this review gets, seriously dude, GOLD… how bout you mention that was a small part of the chorus, just bad. The arid Trina track is a southern 80s thowback, but no mention. You say 6 maybe 7 tracks are “Stellar”, which would be half the album. I didnt listen to any of the tracks prior to the album release so “Down” was faaaar from pedestrian, it was the lit wick to the
Bomb I was about to hear, the way you write about “Down” just bad man , the hook, I would say inspired/inspiring thought the bird/broken wings part was dope. Bout a 3rd if not more of RTJ IS conscience music, so its nuthin new. The production from 1 to 3 certainly varies in layering sounds and samples,El is still one of the few dudes who still samples heavy and gives a middle finger and says catch me, its almost like saying the production on PITAPOR is the same as Midnight Marauders. The chorus on call ticketron is classic El-P so I respect it, it reminded me of his, “E.M.G.” No mention of how all the albums are tied together visually/sonically or lyrically…meh review my dude
Fire as usual! Thumbs down on the review….
One of the best frickin albums of …the year !
clumsy review, but pretty accurate even if it isn’t precise. RTJ3 is really at its best in the last third of the record, and the overall project does feel a bit like a blockbuster movie franchise (just check the photography in the packaging). i was a little underwhelmed at first, but overall the album is growing on me, and it’s better than the review makes it out to be–even for non-Stans. In an era that seems to have mostly abandoned the rap duo, KM and EL-P hold the tradition down–their chemistry is as volatile as ever, and you can hear a creative friendship that transcends their shared love for weed and hiphop itself in every track.
5
Modern boom bap
87/100 on Metacritic. Dope album, shitty review.
This is how hip hop should sound in 2017.
Dana Scott is a terrible reviewer. S/He says: “El-P sticks to his guns looking to impress the Gen X and Y fans who still latch onto his brand of hyperbolic sci-fi inspired lyricism and political commentary.”
S/he fails to mention on how they switch their cadence up. No, the production and subject matter is definitely different on this album. Did you really listen to this album or just skim through it?
The chorus is arid (“I’m the shit bitch!”) but that’s only part of the chorus. It’s more of a hook than a chorus.
DIGGEDY DOPE ISH
How does an album this good get below a 4 star rating? Shyts bangin’
so fucking good
Garbarge…. Chance all day
hiphopdxgroupie…… nm who gives a fuck about the opinion of a groupie, whatyya know anyways? you prob’ly got dick in your ears so often u don’t know the sounds of good music, beat it bitch!
Amazing album.
Sucks balls
NIN, where El P gets his production sound from? Indie concept group? Comparing to Final Destination 6? Vapid Shallow hooks?
This might just be the worst review I have ever read and that has nothing to do with the score, since an opinion is an opinion. Shit is all over the place yet goes nowhere. A few buzz words and a bunch of puke. Does this site even check if “writers” can write?
Classic material
Real Hip Hop
This feels me up
Boring.
Boring?? You serious? Give props to the south and north collab and making beautiful hip hop. Its only getting more intricate and better! You must listen to mainstream radio.
Hipsters hop on tracks aka Hip Hop. So bullshitty
this is wack…. desiigner is running the game from now on!!!!
Hahahahahahahah
RTJ3 …….So far best album of the year. 5/5
9 out of 10 on DiS, tfw the rock kids get hip hop more than the hip hop site
Lets push things forward…
seriously their best album yet.
No doubt!!! Fire from start to finish! Thank you for the appreciation of true hip-hop.
One verse on this record is more intricate than most albums
Run its course? Just starting the next marathon more like.
Ya’ll are fuckin retarded if you think this isnt a seriously insane album! From production to lyrics. 4.5/5 for sure. I am elated these artists still take the craft seriously and not for JUST the money! Keep Killing em RTJ.
.
DOPE ALBUM
RTJ2 is my favorite… it just flows really well… track 2,3, 4… so good. RTJ takes on more of the social activist lyrics vs. RTJ2 having a balance of funny/stoney + the serious social activism — 5/5 for both
I agree, RTJ3 is dope, but definitely no RTJ2 by any means, lol!
HHDX is trash for this rating
Dope
Dope ass album, hiphopdx reviews are garbage as fuck
“Run its course” ?! Unbelievable… nobody can ever take these reviews seriously, I swear. I was at the first LA RTJ show, which was actually in the OC at the Observatory… and even saw EL-P and Killer Mike together BEFORE RTJ was created, at the Echoplex. I’ve been to every RTJ show ever in LA, not counting festivals, etc… I have literally watched their venues and fan base TRIPLE, if not more, every single show I attend. And this last one at the Shrine Auditorium was no exception, with an unbelievable amount of people (sold out a 5,000 person venue). Lol, I don’t see them “running their course” anytime soon, you better run this review : |
This album is a fucking 5 if anything is.
HHDX trips me out!! This album is serious fire. All that matters is US, THE FANS!!!! We love what RTJ does, lyrics and production! Keep it bangin’ yall!!!
Dana Scott should be fired!! Every review is bullshit!