Killer Mike: R.A.P. Music (reissue) [ADULT SWIM]

Why you'll love it

This reissue comes with a fold-out lyric sheet, handy for keeping up with Mike's rapid-fire verses. R.A.P. Music scored 85 on Metacritic, earned Pitchfork's Best New Music tag, and was the first time Killer Mike and El-P worked together.

This edition

• Fold-out lyric sheet

About the album

Few rap partnerships start on paper looking quite so unlikely: an Atlanta heavyweight from the OutKast and Dungeon Family orbit, and a Brooklyn producer known for dense, sci-fi underground beats. Yet when Killer Mike and El-P got in a room, it clicked so hard that they went on to form Run the Jewels. El-P produced every track, and Adult Swim's music arm, Williams Street, put the record out in May 2012.

The "R.A.P." stands for "Rebellious African People," and the album lives up to it. "Big Beast," with Bun B, T.I. and Trouble, opens like a car chase, "Untitled" and "Go!" ride El-P's booming, sputtering drums, and "Southern Fried" tips its hat to Mike's home turf. "Reagan" is the sharp-eyed centrepiece, "Ghetto Gospel" turns reflective, and the closing title track makes a heartfelt case for hip hop as Mike's church.

AllMusic called it outstanding, and its real legacy is everything that followed once these two decided to keep working together. Rap has produced plenty of happy accidents, but few have needed quite so many extra speakers.

Also at Kops: more Killer Mike on vinyl · browse Hip Hop / R&B

Tracklist

Listen

On Williams Street / Adult Swim (cat# WTM40692), a reissue of the 2012 album.