After seven years and three albums, hip hop duo Run the Jewels are making the move to label heavyweight BMG for their highly-anticipated fourth album.
After years of being an independent act, the rap duo – consisting of rapper Killer Mike and rapper/producer El-P – have now joined the fourth largest record label in the world.
The talented duo first got together when El-P produced Killer Mike’s 2012 album, R.A.P. Music, after which the pair formed Run the Jewels and released their debut self-titled album as a free digital download in 2013.
Since then, the pair have gained a dedicated following, with their follow-up Run the Jewels 2 leading to electric performances at Coachella, Bonnaroo and Pitchfork. Run the Jewels 3 only added to the group’s success, taking out the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
Speaking to Billboard about their forthcoming album RTJ4, Killer Mike said: “This [album] is going to march through the motherfucking world like a beast.”
As for why the pair chose to align themselves with a major label after years of independent success, El-P told the publication:
“The truth of the matter is, [Run the Jewels] outgrew our capability to handle it correctly,” he said. “You just have to acknowledge what it is. This is way bigger than we ever expected it to be and I think we’re still amazed by how big it got.”
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Manager Amaechi Uziogwe reiterated the pair’s need to level up following their major success, saying: “We knew it was time to take a step up. We didn’t hit all of the marks that we set out to hit yet and we realised, at a certain point, you need that sort of [label] muscle behind you.”
Meanwhile, BMG’s senior of prerecorded music, Brian Shafton, said of Run the Jewels latest move:
“Anyone that could write a big enough check was interested. We were in my office and we cranked it up and listened to it and the windows were shaking,” says Scherer. “You have these moments when it’s like, ‘Hell, this is why we’re doing it.'”
Fellow BMG executive Thomas Scherer added: “The second they left the room, it was like, ‘How can we be a part of this?'”
He continued: “We want to be a part of history. This is a message that needs to be delivered on a global basis.”
Check out ‘Legend Has It’ by Run the Jewels:
