User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 214 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 5 out of 214

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  1. Mar 18, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This album, maybe like most people, was my introduction to this amazing rap duo. El-P's production is amazing, adrenaline-inducing, and electrifying all at once. This album blends OG rap, with Killer Mike's style, and a newer rap style in El-P's style of rap, and I think it's a great contrast that works perfectly. And I ain't here to talk about who's better between the two, I'm just here to give my honest critique. But, I will say Killer Mike's a great lyrical rapper that is passed upon when spoken about lyrical rap in today's game. Expand
  2. Jun 8, 2020
    9
    A great, fun album with pure hip hop not plagued with poppy songs or songs made for radio. This is hip hop in his rawest form. The production is so different, and the lyrics are impecable.
  3. Apr 10, 2020
    8
    I adore this album and consider the best of the three RTJ albums to date. The conscience and messages that this album contains are strong and part of the reason I believe it is Killer Mike and El-Ps best collaboration is because in this album they are telling the stories they've wanted to their whole life up until this point. The production is great and their lyrical ability shines strongI adore this album and consider the best of the three RTJ albums to date. The conscience and messages that this album contains are strong and part of the reason I believe it is Killer Mike and El-Ps best collaboration is because in this album they are telling the stories they've wanted to their whole life up until this point. The production is great and their lyrical ability shines strong too. This album truly does not have any significant weaknesses, and to be truthful the only reason it doesn't score higher is due to the lack of true CLASSIC songs on this album. At the time in 2013 this album had a lot of playability, but nowadays several years removed it's harder to find the time to play a song from this album unless you are truly in the mood to listen to this particular sound. Overall, a fantastic album and my favorite of their three with great producing, lyrical ability, and storytelling.
    Favorite Track: A Christmas **** Miracle
    Least Favorite Track: No Come Down
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  4. Jul 16, 2018
    8
    This consistent trilogy's ('till they release more albums) Beginning shows a lot of aggressive, evidenced by electronic and heavy beats, that are less variable than posterior plays. Not forgetting about thrilling samples which gives songs some scaring . RTJ 1 is more homogenize than its another two brothers.
  5. Aug 29, 2015
    9
    Run the Jewels is remarkably fun. While most of the album strays from the political message that both El-P and Killer Mike push so hard, it remains fresh by including the best **** ever.
  6. Jun 9, 2015
    8
    Had fun listening to this album. El-P shows off his eccentric production style and it pays off with some really nice beats. Killer Mike and El-P are great lyrically, spitting some really aggressive, hard-hitting verses as well as some more mild, inspirational ones. They complement each other so well and seem to be so in sync with each other. The highlights of the album for me are "Run theHad fun listening to this album. El-P shows off his eccentric production style and it pays off with some really nice beats. Killer Mike and El-P are great lyrically, spitting some really aggressive, hard-hitting verses as well as some more mild, inspirational ones. They complement each other so well and seem to be so in sync with each other. The highlights of the album for me are "Run the Jewels," "Sea Legs," "Job Well Done," "Get It," and "A Christmas **** Miracle." Overall pretty good album Expand
  7. May 9, 2015
    7
    This album's pretty good. There are some parts that feel stale or repetitive before the song's even over ("Job Well Done," "No Come Down") but there are enough interesting beats and fuzzy, heaving basslines to keep most people interested. Highlights: "Run The Jewels," "36" Chain," "A Christmas **** Miracle."
  8. Apr 19, 2015
    8
    very good, fun record!
    this album is incredible, having a wide arrangement of instrumentals and some great lyricism, and while this is no album of the year, it does have some really good stuff on it, and it's definitely something you should check out if you like rap music.
  9. Mar 11, 2015
    8
    Killer Mike et son important acolyte El-P ont fait naître le duo Run the Jewel en 2013. Un véritable pied de nez au hip-hop industriel et commercial dominant les radios du prêt à écouter. Musicalement, c’est El-P qui offre la plus belle alternative au sein du groupe. Il a oeuvré longtemps dans les sphères ombragées du milieu en plus de travailler le son de sa musique toujours dans le dansKiller Mike et son important acolyte El-P ont fait naître le duo Run the Jewel en 2013. Un véritable pied de nez au hip-hop industriel et commercial dominant les radios du prêt à écouter. Musicalement, c’est El-P qui offre la plus belle alternative au sein du groupe. Il a oeuvré longtemps dans les sphères ombragées du milieu en plus de travailler le son de sa musique toujours dans le dans le but d’arriver à quelque chose d’alternatif. Killer Mike impose son agressivité en portant ses textes violemment au microphone «- God damn fat bastard, where that **** casket? -But naw baby you gon' get this here vertical -Every word murderful -Surgical, painful, purposeful». Le mixe des deux hommes sur l’album de 33 minutes est certes trop court, mais il nous offre des chansons aux arrangements parfaits de musicalité et de lyricisme.Un album grandement apprécié dans les circonstances où Drake a été considéré par plusieurs comme l’artiste hip-hop s’étant le plus démarqué cette année. Le hip-hop se doit d’être empreint d’une certaine rage et d’une revendication claire et nette. Expand
  10. Feb 11, 2015
    8
    I love Killer Mike and El-P's attitudes on this album. They're not necessarily trying to prove anything; they just sound like they're having fun in a braggadocious way. This album is filled with awesome hooks and well-written verses by both rappers, and they balance each other out well. It's remarkable that they're so in sync with each other in this way. My only gripe about this album areI love Killer Mike and El-P's attitudes on this album. They're not necessarily trying to prove anything; they just sound like they're having fun in a braggadocious way. This album is filled with awesome hooks and well-written verses by both rappers, and they balance each other out well. It's remarkable that they're so in sync with each other in this way. My only gripe about this album are that the flows can remain similar throughout the album (not to say they're exactly the same). Other industrial rappers like Daveed Diggs of clipping. provide a vast variety of flows throughout their albums, and that gives them the edge. Otherwise, awesome to listen to multiple times, and at high volumes. Love it. Expand
  11. Dec 8, 2014
    8
    My question of "Who is Run the Jewels?" was quickly, abruptly, and violently answered after just one listen to this vibrant pair's newest creation, a fast-paced, 33-minute tornado of audio anger. These guys just seem angry at everything, and that's what makes this mixtape incredible: their energy off one another and vicious lyrics over the hard-banging industrial beats makes this one ofMy question of "Who is Run the Jewels?" was quickly, abruptly, and violently answered after just one listen to this vibrant pair's newest creation, a fast-paced, 33-minute tornado of audio anger. These guys just seem angry at everything, and that's what makes this mixtape incredible: their energy off one another and vicious lyrics over the hard-banging industrial beats makes this one of 2013's most unexpected, but exhilirating, listens. Expand
  12. Jul 3, 2014
    9
    Man, Killer Mike went from being an above average Atlanta rapper to amazing in a very short time. Not as good as 2012's RAP Music, Run the Jewels is still a worthy successor. The production from track to track is similar enough to make the album cohesive, but not similar enough to sound repetitive.
    El-P and Mike have very different styles, but they complement each other in all the right
    Man, Killer Mike went from being an above average Atlanta rapper to amazing in a very short time. Not as good as 2012's RAP Music, Run the Jewels is still a worthy successor. The production from track to track is similar enough to make the album cohesive, but not similar enough to sound repetitive.
    El-P and Mike have very different styles, but they complement each other in all the right ways, even though Mike seems to be more in the forefront of the vocals than El-P is, El-P still contributes largely to what makes this such a great album.
    Also, they released it for free, so what are you waiting for? LISTEN!
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  13. May 3, 2014
    8
    This is definitely a good album. Though I have to disagree with some of the other reviews that make this out to be the Album of the Year. The Album features some great beats by El-P, Killer Mikes incredible flow and some nasty Verses. But all in all it's one of those good albums that make you go "meh", after the 10th listen.
    It's just not that impressive over all. It doesn't have a lot of
    This is definitely a good album. Though I have to disagree with some of the other reviews that make this out to be the Album of the Year. The Album features some great beats by El-P, Killer Mikes incredible flow and some nasty Verses. But all in all it's one of those good albums that make you go "meh", after the 10th listen.
    It's just not that impressive over all. It doesn't have a lot of weaknesses, but also nothing that really makes it great.

    A few months after the release I have never really had the urge to check back to listen to the full album. Which is disappointing.

    Still this is a pretty good album and most definitely a must-listen for 2013.
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  14. N10
    Oct 8, 2013
    10
    Album of the year material. Nuff said actually when they've earlier proven their great projects together, as seen on last years "R.A.P. Music". I love this, more, give us more of this. A duo that actually stands-out and fight each other with hungry verses, something the mainstream scene is missing out. An album like "Watch The Throne" just ended up boring at the end of the day, with tooAlbum of the year material. Nuff said actually when they've earlier proven their great projects together, as seen on last years "R.A.P. Music". I love this, more, give us more of this. A duo that actually stands-out and fight each other with hungry verses, something the mainstream scene is missing out. An album like "Watch The Throne" just ended up boring at the end of the day, with too much "I'm giving you this, look I'm at the top just bragging about the dough I've got, *non competitive* with this poppy ass hook" and less "I'm going out with this raw verses, I'm the best, try and get me". See and learn, Killer Mike and El-P got this, their chemistry between each other is better than the most, that is what matter at the end.

    "Run The Jewels" is a fantastic record!
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  15. Aug 23, 2013
    8
    It's definitely a good album with good raps and subject matter, but the problem as always with Killer Mike and El-P is that they tend to just make good verses over good beats with no "it" factor that separates it from just two guys spitting over a beat. While definitely a good album, it has next to no replay value and I can't really see myself coming back to this one.
  16. Jul 7, 2013
    9
    A collaboration of producer/rapper El-P and rapper Killer Mike is likely the best hip hop album of the year. The flow between the two in most every track (esp. Run the Jewels and Get It) is so fast and clever that you'll be picking up new lines upon multiple listens. No real tracks to skip, and El-P is such a strong producer giving the tracks themselves small nuances requiring a strongA collaboration of producer/rapper El-P and rapper Killer Mike is likely the best hip hop album of the year. The flow between the two in most every track (esp. Run the Jewels and Get It) is so fast and clever that you'll be picking up new lines upon multiple listens. No real tracks to skip, and El-P is such a strong producer giving the tracks themselves small nuances requiring a strong speaker system. Blows away anything the other popular Hip Hop tag team is spitting out these days. Expand
  17. Jul 4, 2013
    8
    Although this project isn't quite as strong as either of their solo albums in 2012 (Cancer 4 Cure; R.A.P. Music), it does show how well these two work together. Since this 33 minute album is free, there's no point in not getting it. So if you have the time, download this and be amazed by El-P's insane production and abstract lyricism, as well as Killer Mike's in your face, NWA-esqueAlthough this project isn't quite as strong as either of their solo albums in 2012 (Cancer 4 Cure; R.A.P. Music), it does show how well these two work together. Since this 33 minute album is free, there's no point in not getting it. So if you have the time, download this and be amazed by El-P's insane production and abstract lyricism, as well as Killer Mike's in your face, NWA-esque rapping. Oh, and BIG BOI. Expand
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Q Magazine
    Jan 27, 2014
    80
    The electro-inspired beats and declamatory rhymes are just as uncompromising and unorthodox as before. [Oct 2013, p.107]
  2. 80
    It’s a masterful set, stuffed with brooding, industrial-synth beats.
  3. Jan 9, 2014
    100
    Run the Jewels is remarkably fun.