(AllHipHop News) The rapper-producer combo that brought you R.A.P. Music, one of the most critically acclaimed Hip-Hop albums of 2012, is officially joining forces as the new rap duo Run The Jewels.
The group’s name was inspired by lyrics from LL Cool J’s song “Cheesy Rat Blues” from his 1990 album Mama Said Knock You Out.
“It’s kind of a nod to our age,” El-P tells Spin Magazine. “Basically it’s just some tough sounding s### that can mean a lot. It encapsulates what Mike and I bond over, the era we love.”
“It’s that bad guy s###,” adds Mike.
Run The Jewels is currently recording new tracks in Brooklyn and plans to have a full album ready for release on June 19th also known as Juneteenth. Unlike like their first collaboration, both the Atlanta-based Killer Mike and the New York-based El-P will be rhyming throughout the project.
This will be the fourth studio album for El-P following his previous solo LPs Fantastic Damage, I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead, and Cancer 4 Cure. He also has several instrumental albums including the jazz/Hip-Hop fusion project High Water.
For Mike this will be LP number seven in his catalogue. His previous works include Monster, Underground Atlanta, and the I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind series. The Dungeon Family alum is also said to be working on part four to Pledge and a sequel to R.A.P. Music.
Listen to a snippet of Run The Jewel’s “Banana Clipper” below.