Music and art is about “the eloquent translation of the human experience,” ‘ El-P tells us — even if that experience isn’t always positive. In the months leading up to the duo’s universally acclaimed sophomore album, El-P and the other half of Run The Jewels, Killer Mike, have spent their time speaking out about the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed black teenager who was shot and killed after an encounter with the police in Ferguson, Missouri.
When we caught up with Run The Jewels, it was day 90 since Brown’s death ignited protests. Since that day Run The Jewels has been addressing the shooting in their music and in the media. We talked to Mike and El-P about connecting the human experience to a real feeling (even if that feeling is rage) and the progression of hip-hop. Run The Jewels plays the on Nov. 18.
REVERB: People talk the most about the chemistry that exists between both of you. Mike, can you talk about why the collaboration with El-P works so well?
Killer Mike: I like him as a human being. Itap more of a brother relationship, laughing, joking or talking shit to each other. I can’t really explain how I made a friend at this age but I thank the universe for bringing us together.
El-P: I love you too, man. I also think that people respond to that in a large way because they can tell that we are in the room together making these records. Something intangible that makes it happen but itap an energy. These days a lot of people are mailing it in. You can tell that we’re present and vibing off of each other.
Because of the content in the music, itap obvious you two are like-minded.
We really are connected. I think that there’s something that comes through in the music and it comes through in our performances. We don’t do music unless we’re in the room together. I’ll prepare some of the production before I get to the sessions but for the most part, we are in the room together the whole time.
EL-P, your production is lauded for its “grime.” Where does the grit come from?
El-P: Years of psycho-therapy. Nah, thatap a really good question. I live in a city where you can’t sit down, a lot of times, people wanna know like where did the noise come from. When you’re sitting in your apartment making beats, you’ll hear a siren or shouting while the beat is playing. Itap the sound of the world as I experienced it. My influences have to be credited, too. I grew up in the Rick Rubin era, Def Jam The Bomb Squad and The Clash. I just have a lot of influences and they have lent themselves to this sound.
Mike, you maintain a social aspect to the themes in your rhymes. Talk about how important that perspective is in creating hip-hop with a message.
Killer Mike: The way I know hip-hop, it was introduced as an extension of Black Nationalism, gangs, the Civil Rights Movement. It was Afrika Bambatta who organized an alternative to gang violence in terms of hip-hop, rapping b-boying and the culture of hip-hop. I can’t do hip-hop without a social aspect. When the news didn’t give a shit about any kids, black or white, hip-hop cared. I don’t understand how you do hip-hop and not have that.
El-P: I also think that as an artist and as a writer, I believe that itap necessary to be tuned in, if you’re tuned into your environment, empathy, and heart, a writer will pick up on and incorporate the stresses and be able to present a real full artistic idea. This is about the eloquent translation of the human experience. I can’t ignore the sirens, the gunshots and the ringing in my ears.
Do you guys get annoyed by the term “edu-tainment?”
Mike: I like Edu-tainment the album and I’m gonna teach at a college but in terms of rapping, education is meant to awaken curiosity. I want to get you asking questions. I don’t care who you vote for, I want you to be a part of your local political spectrum. I give a fuck if you’re told to do something, that you ask why? Thatap the thing they shut off first, your curiosity. When they tell you to stop asking ‘why’ you’re being programmed. Education comes at the point of curiosity. When I did the verse to “Early” I left it open but you know, when a mother dies, a family dies. Mull that over. That goes a lot further.
El-P: I would never condescend to say I have the answers but maybe you’ll recognize a voice that feels familiar, the voice of the human spirit. We have to be that voice. “Crown” is about raising a question, trying to give voice to what I see as the twisted relationship to someone who would send someone off to kill for them in a war. You have to have a voice that manipulates the process and asks those questions. Not because I have a solution but because I want to raise a question in the mind of a kid who is being recruited for the army. If a kid hears my verse on that first, by the time they get sought out they’ll have a perspective on it.
Thatap the whole purpose of Run the Jewels and Run the Jewels 2. You guys use every day themes that are explained in a political way. Thatap hip-hop.
Mike: UGK dropped 22 years ago and my life changed that day. This shit is not the same. This is not regular hetto boys shit. When me and El-P got together, I caught the feeling, I know whatap gonna push rap forward, thatap what I’m here to do. We’re not here to rest on our laurels. I want people to know this sound is here to kick your fucking ass and thatap it.
Last question, Killer Mike, when is Darren Wilson going to be arrested?
You know, I was thinking about that this morning. Darren Wilson, this is the 90th day he’s been free. I’m very afraid because Eric Holder has announced he’s resigning. What we shouldn’t do is say nothing. We need to write our state representatives, our attorney general, and demand some action. Thatap the only way to get justice.
Follow our news and updates on , our relationship status on and our search history on . Or send us a telegram.
Ru Johnson is an arts and culture music writer living in Denver. You can follow her on
