Run The Jewels - RTJ4
Chuck D called hip hop the “black CNN” in its early stages, a way to report stories that traditional media wouldn’t cover. Run The Jewels is probably the most popular hip hop duo of the past decade that embraced this tradition. In 2020, they released their major label debut, simply titled “RTJ4”. The move to a major didn’t take away any of their rage and brutal honesty. They tackle a wide variety of social issues, making this a true protest record. Anger and joy go hand in hand on this album, because despite the very serious subject matter, the beats are so infectious that they could work at a backyard party just as well as at a protest rally. The creatively explosive collaboration of Killer Mike and El-P is in itself a wonderful example of how greatly unity works - if we just want to.
