Run the Jewels
The shadow of Donald Trump's inauguration loomed large over Marathon Music Works on Tuesday night, where a sold-out crew of hip-hop heads raged to the reigning champs of not giving a fuck, Run the Jewels, in the first week of their world tour alongside Cuz, Gangsta Boo and The Gaslamp Killer.
Opening with flurry of punches from Killer Mike and El-P, who announced their presence with a chopped-and-screwed "We Are the Champions" and a hearty "We've come to fuck all this shit up" from Killer Mike, Run the Jewels once again proved themselves to be the kings of live hip-hop. Rappers aren't always known for being great live performers — not in the same way that rock bands are practically required to cut their teeth in live settings to be successful — but RTJ own the stage like few other rap acts can.
But we knew that already. What we didn't know was what they'd say about the inauguration.
"We were supposed to be in D.C. a couple days ago," El-P bantered, following a firestorm performance of "Love Again (Akinyele Back)" with Tennessee's own Gangsta Boo. "It was gonna be our second show of the tour. It was sold out — 3,800 people in Washington, D.C.! It was going to be incredible. And the water main broke, and took all of the water away from the club and a six-block radius. Which meant that the sprinklers couldn't work. Which meant that we couldn't do the fuckin' show. But it's OK, because we're Run the Jewels and we do not leave motherfuckers hanging, so we're going back. We're going back the night before the inauguration of President Fuckface.
"It's almost as though history wants us in that fucking town, just to usher in that cunt cocksucker," El-P continued. "And I say that to you now as a free man, because I'm enjoying my free speech while it fuckin' lasts."
At another point, Killer Mike predicted that Trump will end up tweeting "Fuck RTJ" before his term is through.
Tuesday's show wasn't all doom, gloom and shit-talk though.
"I tell you, there's really not that much you have to say about this fucking shit," El-P said. "And I know that you're all a bit nervous, but I'll tell you: We have a fucking community. We're not going to let these old cocksuckers take our world away from us. Not gonna fucking happen, because our eyes are open and we know that all the promises and the bullshit and the propaganda really only boil down to a few fucking things and we see it clearly."
The duo then launched into "Lie, Cheat, Steal," off Run the Jewels 2, ending that sentence with an exclamation point and charging forward into the unknown with reckless abandon.
Gangsta BooPhoto: Lance Conzett
Gangsta BooPhoto: Lance Conzett
The Gaslamp KillerPhoto: Lance Conzett
Photo: Lance Conzett
Photo: Lance Conzett
Run the JewelsPhoto: Lance Conzett
Run the JewelsPhoto: Lance Conzett
Run the JewelsPhoto: Lance Conzett
Run the JewelsPhoto: Lance Conzett
Run the JewelsPhoto: Lance Conzett
Run the JewelsPhoto: Lance Conzett
