TALK TO ME by Run the Jewels Lyrics Meaning – Unpacking the Explosive Commentary on Modern Strife
Lyrics
With a gun and a knife in our waistband
Went to war with the Devil and Shaytan
He wore a bad toupee and a spray tan
So high now, hoping that I land
On a Thai stick, moving through Thailand
On the radio, heard a plane hijack
Government be in debt while they cook crack
I move in a world of conspiracies
Obey no rules, I’m doing me
Smoke kush, transport to the airport
Customs found a joint in my passport
Pull cash and I gave him what he asked for
Goddammit, it’s a motherfucking miracle
Small bribe, made it back into America
Hit Uber and maneuvered out the area
Rhyme animal, pitbull terrier
Rap terrorist, terrorize, tear it up
Brought gas and the matches to flare it up
Militant Michael might go psycho
On any ally or rival
Born Black, that’s dead on arrival
My job is to fight for survival
In spite of these AllLivesMatter-ass white folk
This is spiritual warfare that you have been dealing with.
This is not a fight that you have been dealing with flesh and blood
But this is a fight against principalities and evil doers and unclean spirits
(RTJ3 motherfuckers)
Brave men didn’t die face down in the Vietnam muck so I could not style on you
I didn’t walk uphill both ways to the booth and back to not wild on you
You think baby Jesus killed Hitler just so I’d whisper?
When you’re safe and sound and these crooks tap your phone and now have a file on you?
What, me worry? Nah, buddy, I’ve lost before, so what?
You don’t get it, I’m dirt, motherfucker, I can’t be crushed
Fuckers, open the books up and stop bullshitting the kid
My dick got a Michelin star, I’m on par with the best ever took the gig
I’m a super cat, from don dada to dusk, don’t bother to touch
I got firm clutch on the grip and the bucks
I might ghost ride a tank, take a ride to the bank
I’m the son of Rick Rubin rushing full-thrust
Don’t flash weak shit to the Shark Tank judge
Talk real good ’cause I’m smart and stuff
We a good crew to fuck with, better to love
I told y’all suckers, I told y’all suckers.
I told y’all on RTJ1, then I told ya again on RTJ2, and you still ain’t believe me.
So here we go, RTJ3
Talk to me
(RTJ)
Talk to me
In a musical landscape peppered with sterile pop and veiled lyrics, Run the Jewels (RTJ) stands out as a guardian of gritty, raw commentary. ‘TALK TO ME,’ a dynamite track from the duo’s third album, ‘RTJ3,’ encapsulates their brazen, no-holds-barred approach to societal issues and personal battles. The song is a front-row ticket to understanding the complex realities in which RTJ operates, a mixture of personal bravado and social consciousness woven together with the finesse of seasoned lyricists.
Killer Mike and El-P, the two constituents of RTJ, do not shy away from controversy in ‘TALK TO ME.’ They unravel layers of meaning with every verse, addressing systemic oppression, hypocrisy, and the need for resistance. But to truly grasp the full extent of this track’s intensity and significance, one must dissect it, piece by audacious piece.
Confronting Demons: Personal and Political
‘TALK TO ME’ launches with visceral imagery of emerging from the ‘badland’ with a simultaneous readiness for both self-defense and attack. The ‘gun and a knife in our waistband’ suggests a constant state of warfare, which is not solely against flesh and blood, but against corrupt system power represented by ‘the Devil and Shaytan.’
The figure with ‘a bad toupee and a spray tan’ is a hardly veiled reference to political figures whose decisions impact the lives of the marginalized. RTJ’s battle extends beyond personal survival; they’re engaging in a cultural and moral conflict against those who prosper from institutional corruption.
Navigating Surveillance and Conspiracy
The world of RTJ is post-Orwellian, where ‘these crooks tap your phone and now have a file on you.’ RTJ speaks to the overreach of surveillance and a society where privacy is a relic. The hijacked plane on the radio and dabbling of government in illicit activities suggest the paradox of the ‘watched’ becoming ‘watchers,’ questioning who the real criminals are.
Additionally, the mention of moving through customs and a minor brush with law enforcement nods to the dichotomy of privilege. A simple bribe smoothes a tense encounter, underlining the ease with which some navigate systems designed to oppress others.
The Hidden Manifesto of Empowerment
Deep within the lines of ‘TALK TO ME,’ there is an undercurrent of empowerment. ‘I’m a super cat,’ boasts one half of RTJ, offering a glimpse into their self-conception as nimble, powerful and undefeatable entities in the music game and beyond.
Their declaration of being ‘the son of Rick Rubin’ is not just a shoutout to one of hip-hop’s legendary producers, but also a claim of their own influential and transformative role in the industry. RTJ positions themselves as vanguards, revolutionizing not just music, but the minds of those who listen.
Born Black: The Undeniable Call to Survival
‘Born Black, that’s dead on arrival’ is a stark reminder of the ingrained societal risks that come with one’s skin color. RTJ is unflinching in their portrayal of the immediacy of this peril and the urgency with which they tackle it. The song serves as an anthem for resistance and a relentless pursuit of survival in the face of systemic racism.
The notion of fighting against ‘AllLivesMatter-ass white folk’ while being aware of one’s mortality highlights the contradiction of a movement that negates the specific struggles of Black communities. RTJ refuses to mince words, delivering a biting critique of performative allyship and shallow understanding.
Memorable Lines: Verbal Bullets That Resonate
‘You think baby Jesus killed Hitler just so I’d whisper?’ stands out as particularly provocative, challenging the presumption of silence and passivity in times of injustice. RTJ aligns themselves with bold truth-tellers, those who use speech as a weapon against an oppressive silence imposed by those in power.
Another line that pierces is ‘When you’re safe and sound and these crooks tap your phone and now have a file on you.’ This encapsulates paranoia and the unsettling awareness of being under constant scrutiny. RTJ seems to remind us that we can’t take a false sense of security for granted—an admonishment woven into the rap, begging for reflection, response, and rebellion.
