Legend Has It by Run the Jewels Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Duo’s Dynamic Diatribe
Lyrics
Fuck shit is finished today
RT & J, we the new PB & J
We dropped a classic today
We did a tablet of acid today
Did joints with the masses and ashes away
SKRRRT! We dash away
Donner and Dixon, the pistol is blastin’ away
Doctors of death
Curing our patients of breath
We oughta pay you the trust
Crooked at work
Cookin’ up curses and slurs
Smokin’ my brain into mush
I became famous for blamin’ you fucks
Maimin’ my way through the brush
There is no training or taming of me and my bruh
Look like a man, but I’m animal raw
We are the murderous pair
That went to jail and we murdered the murderers there
Then went to Hell and discovered the devil
Delivered some hurt and despair
Used to have powder to push
Now I smoke pounds of the kush
Holy, I’m burnin’ a bush
Now I give a fuck about none of this shit
Jewel runner over and out of this bitch
Woo!
Woo!
Step into the spotlight, woo!
Woo!
Copping of uppers and downers get done
I’m in a rush to be numb
Droppin’ a thousand ain’t much
Come from the clouds
On a missile to turn this whole town into dust
Don’t make a sound, baby, hush
I am the living swipe right on the mic, I’m a slut
I don’t know how to not spit like a lout
I’ll spill a pound of my kids on your couch
Half of a mongol and mythical team
Feelin’ this treacherous theme
Legend says El is a spawn out of Hell
The myth is my mom is a murderous queen
Your life can end like in Godfather 1
You get the gun as I christen my son
If I die today and it’s Hell I should pay
Tell the Lord Mikey said, “Fuck, it was fun”
Every new record’s my dick in a box
We here the goons, eat them rulers a lot
You’re getting used to me doing no wrong
I don’t play chicken, you prick, I’m a fox
You wanna kick it, I’ll give you the rock
You kiss the wood chipper blade if you bark
I’m fuckin’ magic, in fact I’m a warlock can talk
I got a unicorn horn for a (Stop)
Woo!
Woo!
Step into the spotlight, woo!
Woo!
And the crowd goes (RTJ!)
And the crowd goes (RTJ!)
And the crowd goes (RTJ!)
And the crowd goes (RTJ!)
(RTJ!)
(RTJ!)
(RTJ!)
(RTJ!)
Mike in the jelly, won’t snitch
I’ll rent a room at the Ritz
I’ll sip a fifth of the whisk
I’ll smoke a dub in the tub
Then I will split both my wrists
I’ll pull a sword on you simps
Just for the flick of the wrist
Kitchen ain’t givin’ a miss
Me and Mike skip away whistlin’ and grin
Every day’s golden when you only win
Bullyin’ bastards and beatin’ on beats
Sounds like a day at the beach, preach
I keep the metals to step on your feet
Before you can speak, blaow to defeat
We move on one to ones, you think I’m meek
You think I’m lyin’, you right, see my teeth
Don’t be a bore when I roar if I move
Hunting’s no fun when your prey doesn’t move
I’ll put a gun to a bunny like choose
Say somethin’ funny or bunny go boom
You got a bevy of shit you could groove
We’d like to thank you for choosing our crew
And that’s from the crew you can trust
Warranty plus for fuckin’ shit up
We are the no-gooders, do-gooders
Known to the dancers and dealers and doers of dust
Burning through the veil of contemporary hip-hop with the ferocity of a wildfire, Run the Jewels’ ‘Legend Has It’ stands as a testament to the group’s revolutionary soundscape and no-holds-barred commentary on glory, excess, and the rap pantheon.
Killer Mike and El-P, the incendiary duo behind Run the Jewels, are often lauded for their candor and lyrical dexterity. ‘Legend Has It,’ a track from their third studio album ‘Run the Jewels 3,’ is a powerful manifestation of their audacious artistry. The song’s lyrics are a battlefield where personal bravado, societal critique, and myth-making collide, begging for a closer examination.
The Unflinching Bravado of RTJ’s New Canon
Right off the bat, ‘Legend Has It’ strikes with boastful proclamations, equating Run the Jewels to the comfort food pairing of ‘PB & J,’ asserting their place in the cultural zeitgeist. This self-assuredness is essential in hip-hop’s competitive arena, but here, it transcends mere bragging rights—it’s the establishment of a new doctrine in the genre’s scripture.
The first verse is a masterclass in bravado with a hint of madness, as the duo equates themselves to doctors of death and mythical creatures. With every bar, they firmly plant themselves in the lineage of hip-hop royalty, but with a twist—an admission of their imperfections sculpted into an armor of raw, unbridled humanity.
Revelations of a Rap Apocalypse – Hellfire and Brimstone in Verse
Midway through the track, Killer Mike and El-P transport listeners into a hellscape of their own creation. The imagery is darkly vivid, depicting a realm where the rappers confront and conquer evil, reflecting their larger-than-life personalities and a perhaps cynical view of the world they navigate.
The depiction of this journey from prison to hell is as much literal as figurative, emphasizing the idea that the path to legend status is fraught with fights against inner demons and systemic evils. It’s a powerful commentary on the pressures and tumult that trailblazing artists face in their pursuit of greatness.
The Stygian Satire of Swipe Rights and Woodchippers
Never ones to shy away from self-deprecation, Run the Jewels lace their swagger with a keen, biting satire. The analogy of the modern swiping culture to the fickle love for an artist, or the gory imagery of a confrontation ending in a woodchipper, betrays a dark sense of humor about their own fame and the oft-superficial music industry.
The metaphoric ‘swipe right’ and ‘woodchipper blade’ are emblematic of the track’s hidden layers. One could interpret these symbols as both a critique of society’s short attention spans and the rap game’s propensity to aggressively chew up and spit out talents who no longer serve the prevailing trends.
Untangling the Mythos – The Hidden Meaning Amidst Literal Lyrics
On a first listen, the lyrics might seem littered with conventional rap tropes and outlandish boasts. But woven within the fabric of outlandish claims is a narrative of persistence against the odds, shattering norms and the catharsis of self-actualization.
The ‘murderous queen’ figure and the rebellious charge against mythical foes represent RTJ’s grappling with their own legends. They’re confronting the stories told about them, the legacies they’re creating, and ultimately, their place in the dynastic history of hip-hop.
What Sticks: Unforgettable Lines that Burn Bright
From Killer Mike’s bold admission ‘I became famous for blamin’ you fucks’ to El-P’s proclamation ‘I got a unicorn horn for a…’ pause that leaves the sentence hanging and our imagination sprinting, ‘Legend Has It’ is rife with unforgettable lines that entrench themselves in our psyche.
These lines do more than just exhibit linguistic verve; they offer a glimpse into the psyche of the artists as they navigate their twin roles as titans of their craft and fallible humans. It’s in these one-liners that Run the Jewels consolidate their command over the dual arenas of street poetry and philosophical musing, making it abundantly clear that their legend, indeed, is one worth telling.
