In 2012, El-P produced Killer Mike's critically acclaimed album R.A.P. Music. The following week, Killer Mike appeared on the track "Tougher Colder Killer", from El-P's album Cancer 4 Cure.
Both won the acclaim of media and fans across the globe and led to 2012′s legendary, hugely successful “Into The Wild” tour. One year later, the duo return to satisfy fan demand, and their own creative urges, as Run The Jewels, cementing their musical alliance with a full album of uncompromisingly raw, forward thinking hip-hop.
They released their self-titled debut album, Run the Jewels, on June 26 2013, via Fool's Gold Records to critical acclaim.
Their follow-up record, Run the Jewels 2, was announced in August 2014. It was released through Mass Appeal Records, on October 24, 2014. They also announced the release of a traditional remix album of Run the Jewels 2, which will be released via Fool's Gold Records Records in 2015, and a remix album titled Meow the Jewels exclusively featuring "cat sounds" which will see guest production from Prince Paul, The Alchemist, Just Blaze, Dan the Automator, and others.
Run the Jewels 3 was digitally released on December 24, 2016, three weeks prior to its previously announced release date of January 13, 2017. Physical release of the album appeared on January 13 in the United States and January 20 elsewhere.
In June 2017, the track "Legend Has It" from Run the Jewels 3 was featured in the teaser trailer for Marvel's Black Panther during game four of the 2017 NBA Finals, and was viewed 89 million times in 24 hours. Multiple Run the Jewels tracks were also featured in the 2017 action film Baby Driver, which also featured a cameo by Killer Mike. In September 2017, Run the Jewels released "Mean Demeanor", a track created for the football video game FIFA 18.
In March 2018, Adult Swim released a Run the Jewels/Rick and Morty crossover music video for "Oh Mama". The music was a remix of "Oh Mama" from Run the Jewels 3 accompanied by sound effects from a Rick and Morty short. The effort was directed by Juan Meza-León, and was released prior to Run the Jewels headlining the 2018 Adult Swim Festival on October 7, 2018.
On December 12, 2019, the single "Legend Has It" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Run The Jewel's 4th studio album, RTJ4, was released on June 3, 2 days earlier than the pre-determined release date, following the wave of protests about the death of George Floyd in the hands of police brutality. RTJ4 was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 89, based on 26 reviews. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 8.8 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.
Banana Clipper
Run the Jewels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I presented the evidence
Eloquent as the president
Evident is the emphasis
I deserve me a championship
But before I banana clip
I'mma chill so my man can rip
With the heart of an orphan
I got the words of a murderer
And an eye for distortion
You take a slice of my portion
I'll take a piece of your profit
I'll drive at illegal speeds
Keep an oz in my pocket
We run the jewels in your town
A quarter pound on my person
I'm known for pounding the stage
I'm talking burning and cursing
Producer gave me a beat
Said it's the beat of the year
I said El-P didn't do it
So get the fuck outta here
You wanna hang, bring your throat
I got stools and a rope
I'mma slang pope
Haranguing the land with a man's flow
A new edition to the art of the old code
That's fully retarded and put a part in your bold dome
Ay El
We the villains, we antagonist bad guys
Mercy me, merciless me putting pain in they sad eyes
It's time for Skywalker talk 'cause meet the true Darth Vader
I hit your mom in '03, but a G ain't ate her
So baby boy, you should tighten up and show some respect
Before I Melvin on you Jody, put my arm on your neck
Or worse yet be the reason your girl want a divorce
Be at your crib with your kids saying "fuck your fort
Lil' nigga!"
The style is
Radiation leak at Mile Island
Also known as Chernobyl talk
Listen for the sirens
For the green I'm a hoarder
You're the poor distorter
Sorta morbid sonnin' these fuckin' whoredome explorers
I'm bored. Enough of your bummy shit, it's numb to the core, sure
You suck a good dick for the fame
And couldn't resist getting played
I fuck like I'm headed to war
I'm really not playing no games
But tag me god damn it I'll kill the carrier mentions my name
Hey, I'm a soldier of fortune, a mercenary on beat
I'm merciless, I'll torture emcees, tie up both of they feet
If they refuse to run the jewels we beat the bottoms of feet
I'm talking grip pliers, guys, to the top of your teeth
Hey me and Jaime killed the competition, top of the heap
Is where we staying when they corpses resting under our feet
I sent they mom a little cash and a sympathy letter
Told her she raised a bunch a fuck boys
Next time do better
Bitch
We the old Atlanta, new Atlanta, future of the city
Daddy Fat Saxx don't give a damn 'cause can't nann new niggas get with me
Now it's true, niggas are simply simple minded simple Simons
Being dumbed down by the local radio stations by designing
But what I be rhyming, no payola is required
My bank account obese as fuck while yours sits on a diet
Nigga your lease is up, you're fired
Quiet, that's how the boss talk
Retain ownership on everything, every car bought
And paid for, no neighbors 'cause I'm sitting on acres
Went to Vegas, jumped the broom 'cause I wasn't trippin' on papers
Or no prenuptial agreement for mama
If we broke up and she took half I'd still be sitting on commas
Eight figures nigga
"Banana Clipper" by Run the Jewels feat. Big Boi is a powerful song about asserting oneself as a deserving champion through explicit and bold lyrics set to a deep and heavy beat. The song opens with El-P moving like an African elephant with elegance, presenting the evidence that he deserves a championship. Before using force, he takes a step back to let his man have his moment of ripping. The next verses are from Killer Mike's perspective, who compares himself to a little man against Hellion, but with the heart of an orphan, and words of a murderer. He takes what is his and drives at illegal speeds with an ounce in his pocket. He talks about how to survive in the rap game, which could be quite violent and intense, and stands triumphant as a villain and antagonist while he puts pain in people's eyes.
The chorus talks about running the jewels in town and having a quarter pound on the person. It's about being known for pounding the stage and cursing. The producer gave Killer Mike the beat of the year, but he sends them away because El-P did not produce it. Later, Big Boi comes in with a verse about being a soldier of fortune, a mercenary on beat, and torturing emcees. He talks about sending the mom of his competition cash and a sympathy letter, advising her to do better next time. The song ends with a declaration about being the future of the city and retaining ownership in everything.
Overall, "Banana Clipper" is a fierce track that showcases the individual talents of Killer Mike, El-P, and Big Boi. The song's fiery energy is complemented by the heavy and distinct instrumental. The lyrics are expertly crafted and delivered, painting vivid images of strength, aggression, and dominance.
Line by Line Meaning
I move with the elegance of an African elephant
I'm graceful, strong, and powerful
I presented the evidence
I've got the proof
Eloquent as the president
I speak in a clear, persuasive manner
Evident is the emphasis
It's obvious, I'm making my point very clearly
I deserve me a championship
I've worked hard and earned some recognition
But before I banana clip, I'mma chill so my man can rip
I'll take a break so my friend can show off his skills
Little man against Hellion, with the heart of an orphan
I'm like a small fighter against a huge, powerful opponent, and I'm doing it alone without anyone to help or support me
I got the words of a murderer and an eye for distortion
I use words to kill, and I know how to manipulate and alter the truth
You take a slice of my portion, I'll take a piece of your profit
If you try to steal from me, I'll take revenge and steal from you
We run the jewels in your town, a quarter pound on my person
We are powerful, and we carry weapons and drugs with us
I'm known for pounding the stage, I'm talking burning and cursing
I'm famous for my energetic and angry performances
Producer gave me a beat, said it's the beat of the year
Someone gave me a great music track
I said El-P didn't do it, so get the fuck outta here
I rejected the beat because it wasn't made by a skilled producer
You wanna hang, bring your throat, I got stools and a rope
I'm ready to kill you if you threaten me
I'mma slang pope, haranguing the land with a man's flow
I'm like a preacher, spreading my message forcefully with my music
A new edition to the art of the old code, that's fully retarded and put a part in your bold dome
I'm bringing a new style of rap to the old-fashioned way of doing things, and it's so crazy that it can even affect your brain
We the villains, we antagonist bad guys, mercy me, merciless me putting pain in they sad eyes
We're the bad guys, and we enjoy causing pain and suffering
It's time for Skywalker talk 'cause meet the true Darth Vader
I'm so powerful that I should be compared to a movie villain like Darth Vader
I hit your mom in '03, but a G ain't ate her
I had sex with your mother in the past, but I didn't make her mine
So baby boy, you should tighten up and show some respect
You need to be careful and show me respect
Before I Melvin on you Jody, put my arm on your neck
I'll hurt you if you don't behave
Or worse yet be the reason your girl want a divorce
I'll ruin your relationship with your girlfriend
Be at your crib with your kids saying "fuck your fort Lil' nigga!"
I'll even hurt your kids and destroy their play area
The style is radiation leak at Mile Island, also known as Chernobyl talk
My rap is so toxic that it's like a nuclear disaster
Listen for the sirens for the green I'm a hoarder
Be warned, I'm greedy and dangerous
You're the poor distorter, sorta morbid sonnin' these fuckin' whoredome explorers
You're the weak one who's trying to twist reality, while I dominate and control these prostitutes
I'm bored. Enough of your bummy shit, it's numb to the core, sure
I'm fed up with your boring, unattractive behavior, it's become unbearable
You suck a good dick for the fame, and couldn't resist getting played
You're willing to do anything for fame, including being taken advantage of
I fuck like I'm headed to war, I'm really not playing no games
I have sex like I'm ready to fight and I'm not joking around
But tag me god damn it I'll kill the carrier mentions my name
I'll respond violently to anyone who talks badly about me
Hey, I'm a soldier of fortune, a mercenary on beat, I'm merciless, I'll torture emcees, tie up both of they feet
I'm like a hired killer, I'll attack other rappers and make them suffer
If they refuse to run the jewels we beat the bottoms of feet, I'm talking grip pliers, guys, to the top of your teeth
If someone challenges us, we'll hurt them so badly that they can't walk or even bite
Hey me and Jaime killed the competition, top of the heap
I and my partner Jaime are the best and crushed all competition
Is where we staying when they corpses resting under our feet
We're dominating and our defeated opponents lay at our feet
I sent they mom a little cash and a sympathy letter
I gave the mother of my enemies some money and pretended to offer my condolences
Told her she raised a bunch a fuck boys, next time do better, bitch
I insulted her and blamed her for raising weak sons, and I ended the message in a vulgar way
We the old Atlanta, new Atlanta, future of the city
We represent different times and styles in Atlanta, and we are the future
Daddy Fat Saxx don't give a damn 'cause can't nann new niggas get with me
I'm too good for anyone to compete with me
Now it's true, niggas are simply simple minded simple Simons, being dumbed down by the local radio stations by designing
Many rappers are too simplistic and their music is dumbed down by the radio stations trying to please the masses
But what I be rhyming, no payola is required
My music doesn't need to be bribed to be played on the radio
My bank account obese as fuck while yours sits on a diet
I'm very rich, while you're very poor
Nigga your lease is up, you're fired
Your time is up, I'm done with you
Quiet, that's how the boss talk, retain ownership on everything, every car bought and paid for
I'm the boss and I don't want to hear objections, and I own everything I buy
No neighbors 'cause I'm sitting on acres, went to Vegas, jumped the broom 'cause I wasn't trippin' on papers
I own a huge property and I didn't care about getting married legally in Vegas
Or no prenuptial agreement for mama, if we broke up and she took half I'd still be sitting on commas, eight figures nigga
Even in case of a divorce, I'd still be very rich
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Royalty Network, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Antwan Patton, Jaime Meline, Michael Santigo Render
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
vincent van der pluijm
Honesly I am so happy right now. Just discovered these guys, got three unknown albums I am about binge listen. Life is good.
emc4255
4th album not 2 far away either
undergroundhead5
Congrats my friend
ManU Minute
RTJ 4 June 5th
vincent van der pluijm
@ManU Minute dammn son cant wait
nl_
This might be one of the greatest hip hop instrumentals of all time. Beat just never gets old.
Matthew Karas
I have said the same thing for 75% of RTJ tracks.
dd dd
NickLip09 definitely not
Chillyb 43
Because..El-P/Killer Mike team! Wonder twin powers,
Activate ‼🔥💯💰
Graham Bag
When I first heard El-P back in 2003 I never thought I'd hear him collab on a track with Big Boi