Run The Jewels

Run The Jewels

Before they ever donned the mantle of Run The Jewels, El-P and Killer Mike were performing together like a well-oiled machine. But Friday on the main stage they moved with the horsepower of a Bugatti and the handling of a Skyline, blowing through song after song with crushing ferocity while still joking and messing around the entire time. It only got better once they shifted into a middle section featuring solo material from Cancer 4 Cure and R.A.P. Music, made even better by having support onstage. On this tour El’s live band is gone, and songs that had guest verses are cut down to the essential core; all we ever needed were these two best friends and a beat. It’s a setup that’s almost spartan, but then again who needs hypemen or a backing band or anything else when together these guys can outperform anybody in rap? -Miles