Run the Jewels by Run the Jewels Lyrics Meaning – Unpacking the Ferocity and Social Commentary
Lyrics
These motherfuckers all thorn no rose
Egads what a bad dream better not sleep
Take a No-Doz, do some blow
Oh shit what the hell have we done?
It’s alive and it’s hungry as fuck
Better hide all the snacks and the dough
It is out of my control, you are shit out of luck
I don’t wanna be unfair but the pair we got beat that weak shit you got (True God)
Blew up the spot with that new bop
Crew drops, do up ya squad without nuance
I don’t wanna sound unkind but the sounds
I make are the sounds of the hounds that are howlin’
Under your bed I’m here growling
Same time under the blanket you’re cowering
Cowering like cowards cowering on concrete showers in Rikers Island
Victims, we the wolves that’s whylin’
We often smile at sights of violence
Acting brave and courageous ain’t advantageous for health and safety
So when we say run the jewels just run’ em baby, please don’t delay me
And that goes for a guy or lady, the fam god damn we fuckin’ crazy
I’ll pull this pistol, put it on your poodle or your fuckin’ baby
She clutched the pearls, said “What in the world!” and “I won’t give up shit!”
I put the pistol on that poodle and I shot that bitch
Run The Jewels
Run The Jewels
And the crowd chants “Get that paper!”
And the mob says “Kill that witch!”
This city get mad to the max better wave bye-de bye to the high scrapes kids
Get a tin foil hat for the rain, in
Hot water from the roof to the basement
I’mma smoke ’til the planet erases
Build a white flag out of Zig Zags, wave it
Often I’m smoking coffin
Sip lean on a bean like Boston
My young bitch here fine like Pam Grier when she made that movie Coffy
But when my wife’s in town, ay Jackie Brown just stay up off me
‘Cause if they don’t somebody get shot and they gon’ buy a coffin
With the pull of a pin a grenade get a crowd to they feet and a soul to its options
I’m a fool for the win I been made to be loud while these other cats drowning in softness
In a urn or the dirt get tossed in
With a grin or a smirk get accosted
I’m a sin on the verse like a kid in a hearse or a nun in a cum shot, stop it
Big beast in a cage with a heart full of rage, it seems I can’t behave
You could try till you die, oh well you failed, it seems the world can’t be saved
These streets is full with the wolves that starve for the week so they after the weak
In a land full of lambs I am and I’ll be damned if I don’t show my teeth
Run The Jewels
Run The Jewels
Run the Jewels, the eponymous track by hip-hop duo Run the Jewels, is not just any opening salvo; it’s a convulsive and blunt declaration of purpose. At its surface, the song appears as an anthem that glorifies the raw energy of El-P and Killer Mike’s partnership, but a deep dive reveals layers of complexity and critique.
Through a barrage of unabashed bravado and dark satirical lyrics, ‘Run the Jewels’ launches a full-frontal assault on societal ills, parading the duo’s lyrical dexterity while housing a scathing examination of violence, bravado, and the disillusionment of urban life.
A Prelude to Anarchy: Chaos Unleashed in Verse
The opening lines of ‘Run the Jewels’ aren’t just a wake-up call; they’re a rude awakening. The imagery of a dream turned nightmare with the advice to ‘take a No-Doz, do some blow’ swiftly introduces us to the song’s chaotic realm. It’s the wild energy of something new and uncontrollable coming into being, metaphorically illustrating the disruptive force of Run the Jewels in the hip-hop landscape.
El-P and Killer Mike position themselves as this untameable entity, acknowledging their power and potential for destruction, both to the industry’s status quo and maybe to themselves. The reference to ‘snacks and the dough’ implies that they’re here to devour the competition and reap the rewards, unapologetically.
Cinematic Violence: The Dark Allure of the Underworld
As the lyrics progress, references to cowardice, violence, and the dog-eat-dog nature of survival come to the forefront. The metaphor of ‘wolves that’s whylin” and scenes of violence interpreted as pleasurable sights are emblematic of a glamorization of the gritty realities of street life often seen in cinema. This paints a picture where acting like a hero can have deadly consequences, an echo of the harsh truths within many urban environments.
The provocativeness of the line ‘Run the jewels’ serves a dual purpose; it’s a command to surrender valuables in an act of robbery, and an invocation to heed the larger message of the album. It becomes a rallying cry, one that suggests the act of seizing what one desires, be it material wealth or ideological triumph.
Untouchable Bravado: Earning Stripes Through Lyricism
One cannot ignore the unyielding confidence that pumps through the song. The duo’s self-assured verses, rich with the bravado of having made it through situations that would break lesser individuals, underscore their dominant presence. Lines like ‘Blew up the spot with that new bop’ not only talk about musical prowess but also demonstrate an ascent from the struggles and the climb to the top.
The ‘I don’t wanna sound unkind’ preface is quickly belied by the next breath where Killer Mike roars with the ‘sounds of the hounds that howl’ under your bed. It’s this aggressive self-assuredness that’s become emblematic of Run the Jewels’ style — at once self-aware and uncompromising.
The Smoke Before Fire: The Inevitability of Conflict
Nowhere is the undercurrent of tension more evident than in the graphic depiction of the consequences that follow resistance against them— namely violence enacted without discrimination. The disturbing hyperbole of putting a pistol ‘on your poodle or your fucking baby’ lends a visceral quality to the song, jarring the listener with its over-the-top savagery.
While this line serves as a moment of shock, it also acts as a stark representation of the indiscriminatory nature of violence in society at large, hinting at the impersonal and random tragedies that befall innocent bystanders amidst criminal bravado.
Hidden Agenda: The Social Commentary Beneath the Beats
At the heart of ‘Run the Jewels’ lies an intelligent, albeit bleak, critique of societal structures. The song, in its raw and unrestrained aggression, encapsulates the systemic violence and inherent inequalities present within urban life. The appeal of ‘get that paper’ and ‘kill that witch’ are dual reflections of a capitalist society that valorizes material gain over moral considerations and the mob mentality that pervades public discourse.
Yet, despite the ominous tones and the characterizations of violence, there is defiance and resistance here. Run the Jewels are not only revealing the world’s dark underbelly, but also holding a mirror to the audience, challenging listeners to recognize and confront the uncomfortable realities of our time. With each assertive command to ‘run the jewels,’ we are invited to strip away illusions and face the music, quite literally.
