TOP TAG TEAM FOR 10 SUMMERS: RUN THE JEWELS CRUSH RTJ2 AT T5

Sabrett hot dog stands were not only blasting out clouds of their usual cookout smoke, but full-volume Run The Jewels, making Terminal 5 seem like the dopest spot in NYC as fans poured into the sold-out venue. Each night of RTJ’s four-night 10th anniversary run was focused on one of their beloved albums – and Run The Jewels 2’s supreme appeal drew a total party crowd on night two. On parade were classic jewel runner shirts and even some meticulously-bandaged hands to match the mummified fist and gun from the RTJ2 album art. The merch line stretched so far back that it intersected the processions for the nearest bar. The hip-hop duo’s custom brews were sold out early, which lessened the bartenders’ workload a bit as they danced to RTJ. T5 was so packed for Killer Mike, El-P, and Trackstar the DJ, it was nearly impossible to move around without crunching a plastic cup of booze in someone’s sticky grip. There was, however, one wildcard option: catching a ride behind the arcade-style snake of dudes who continuously pursued the center of the mosh pit.

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RTJ menu

Run The Jewels

As remarkable as the raging whirlpool that had formed for RTJ was the level of respect within it. Enabling the brave to happily bounce around in a pinball machine of nonviolent dancers, this caring atmosphere even got props from El-P later in the night. After an insane “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry” that prompted floorboard-pounding jumps, El declared through his own tears, “There’s no crying. It’s inappropriate. It doesn’t make sense. If you’re already crying, you’re too emotional. Mike, don’t cry, come on,” he teased. Mike replied, “I gotta cry! You gotta let it out. I’m either gonna cry or I’m gonna fart. Which one do you want?” El conceded, “I want the crying. We’re gonna do everything tonight to make this night a celebration of our ten years as a group… We’re gonna do everything we can to make this night a motherfuckin Blockbuster Night tonight!” he yelled to huge screams. Then, of course, they jolted souls with the punchy lines of “Blockbuster Night Part 1.”

Run The Jewels

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setlist

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10 years of RTJ

The run-through of RTJ2 that blew minds for set one was followed by a generous set two with eleven more songs, fulfilling many other hit cravings one might have still possessed. And the dream-come-true RTJ2 experience was full of firsts. Opener “Jeopardy” was a live debut, and the line, “The jewel runners, top tag team for two summers,” was satisfyingly revised to reflect “ten summers” for their 10th anniversary. Another live debut, bonus track “Blockbuster Night Part 2” (after Part 1) was limited to Despot’s verse, and Despot himself – who Mike announced as one of his “favorite motherfuckin’ rappers” – got big cheers when he popped up onstage to deliver it. Several other tracks hadn’t been played live in ages, including “All My Life” (first time since 2015), “Early” (first time since 2018), “All Due Respect” (first time since 2017), “Love Again (Akinyele Back)” (first time since 2017), and “Crown” (first time since 2016). NYC was also treated to a visit from a multi-album guest – dubbed “Run The Jewels royalty” by El-P – BOOTS, whose coolly plaintive vocals on “Early” made the track hit even harder.

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El-P

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RTJ & Despot

If you’re wondering how they were able to get through “Love Again (Akinyele Back)” without Gangsta Boo, who passed away in January, grab some tissues, because things got super sweet. After the sensual track, during which her feminist verse was played in tribute and loudly covered by fans of all genders, Killer Mike got everyone to echo her “Yeah, hoe!”s from the song, saying, “Hope you hear us in heaven, girl, we love you.” El-P shared, “So this is sort of a weird show, right? ‘Cause it’s a full album and it’s not like, ‘Oh, just give ‘em the bangers.’ We knew it was gonna be a little scary getting to that song that we just did because that good friend of ours [Gangsta Boo] passed away. We were lucky to get to know her. When she came to the studio to do the song, we had already recorded the song, and we didn’t have anyone on it except us. And we were listening to the song, and we were like, ‘Yeah, yeah. It’s good, it’s good. Maybe the chorus is a little strong though? I don’t know,” he said as Mike and T5 laughed about the dick-filled chorus. “And it was a thing. Like we had already sent this shit to mastering ‘cause we had kinda looked around for someone and we didn’t find someone. And at the last minute, Mike and I looked at each other and we just said, ‘It’s not right. It’s not what we want to say. We need another voice on here,’ and Mike said, ‘Bring in Gangsta Boo.’” Shyly smiling, Mike recalled, “And she came in and talked to us like we were little boys and made us blush.”

Run The Jewels

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Run The Jewels

“We have such an amazing cast of characters,” said Mike, “whether it’s BOOTS, or Zack de la Rocha, or god bless the dead Lola/Gangsta Boo, and including you beautiful mothafuckas in the audience. Thank you, jewel runners! Thank you, man. This universe is ever expanding.” Referencing the night’s surprises, he added, “Despot. BOOTS. Little Shalimar. Weird, wild shit goin’ on. It’s like a fuckin’ freak show up here tonight!” El-P quipped, “And Killer Mike is the biggest freak of them all.” Mike agreed, “Yes I am. You can ask my wife, baby. Freaky shit goin’ on. Freaky shit! …Gotta eat your own wife like a cupcake.” At one exciting juncture, the way New York City reacted to Killer Mike’s raised hand said a lot about the hype for forthcoming record RTJ5. A barrage of sacredly-whispered “five”s rose up from the crowd, mingling with the ever-present joint puffs, triggered only by his outstretched fingers. As a still-reeling recipient of a Mike fist bump formed with those same fingers earlier in the night, I feel obliged to report upon the contact high that comes from brushing knuckles with that THC-effusing icon. Like RTJ’s intense finale of “A Christmas Fucking Miracle” and their vibe-lifting live energy, there’s no way to come down from it.