Last night, tastemakers and purveyors of music of all varieties Red Bull Sound Select (in conjunction with Fun Fun Fun Fest) brought hip-hop heavyweights Killer Mike and El-P, known collectively as Run the Jewels, to Austin venue Red 7 to headline a night of standout rap artists. The venue was at capacity early in the evening, and Red 7’s indoor room remained as packed as I’ve ever seen it most of the night. Just before Run the Jewels took the stage around 11:30, the space seemed to reach a critical mass of concertgoers and the energy exploded with the force of an atomic weapon when Killer Mike and El-P appeared before the crowd.
Fans bounced and rapped along as the duo leaned out into the crowd, spitting bars to beats supplied by DJ Trackstar. Despite an almost suffocating heat, fans weren’t going anywhere, and they evidenced their devotion by sticking it out song after song. Drenched in sweat after the first song, the duo didn’t seem affected by the heat either, as they brought incredible energy to each track. Wiping his brow with a towel, Killer Mike told the crowd, “This is what a rap show is supposed to feel like.” In an era when much of hip-hop culture has been commercialized and the sounds have become pop-oriented, nearly indistinguishable from other varieties of radio pop, Run the Jewels are part of a bastion of true hip-hop believers. The night had the experiential texture of a warehouse show, the early days of hip-hop, as Run the Jewels rapped under the dim glow of red stage lighting. The grit and the sweat are real, and so is the duo’s heart and soul.
Half way through the set, El-P dangled a huge gold chain out over the clamoring hands of crowd members. Issuing instructions on how to be more like himself and Killer Mike: “You go down to the invisible jewelry store,” he told them, “and you pick out a huge 36-inch invisible gold chain.” The crowd cheered wildly as he finished, “That way the next time a law enforcement officer, or a teacher, or an authority figure tell you to do what they want you to, you can tell them to suck your dick or whatever else you have to suck, because you’ve got a 36-inch gold chain around your neck!” It’s this old-school hip-hop attitude that endorses cultural alternatives that has made Run the Jewels and underground hero of rap fans.
Fans of the duo are likely aware that RTJ2, the collaboration’s second full-length will drop on October 28th, and you may have also heard that following a successful Kickstarter a remix album made entirely of cat sounds Meow the Jewels, is also on the horizon. If you missed this show, you’ll have another chance to see Run The Jewels at Fun Fun Fun Fest in November. But if you don’t have your tickets or if you choose to miss such a killer opportunity, that’s on you, homie.
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