The original version from Run The Jewels’ Summer release relied on sampled instrumentation with heavy rock influences but it is Royal Blood’s flair and raw passion that really take today’s re-work to the next level. The release was met with huge excitement from fans on both sides of the Atlantic, thrilled as Royal Blood themselves for the stary team-up and hoping for more shared music in the future. “God save Royal Jewels” indeed!

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Публикация, споделена от Royal Blood (@royalblooduk)

Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher from Royal Blood have had a particularly busy Autumn season ever since the release of their latest dance-influenced single and video for ‘Trouble’s Coming‘. With frequent radio and TV show appearances, the track reached their second highest position at #46 in the UK Singles Chart and #19 in the Billboard Chart, only few positions behind their all-time best ‘Figure it Out’. The song is also sitting at over 8 million Spotify streams and 1 million YouTube views since its late September premiere, and was recently nominated for Annie Mac’s ‘Hottest Record of The Year’.

‘Trouble’s Coming‘ and the brand new ‘The Ground Below (Royal Jewels Mix)‘ are the only two appearances from Royal Blood since their critically acclaimed second album How Did We Get So Dark? from 2017. With no further details on their highly anticipated follow-up, Kerr is expected to feature on the track ‘Little Wonder‘ from Architects’ upcoming release For Those Who Wish To Exist, set for 26 February 2021.

Meanwhile, Royal Blood will perform alongside Billy Corgan from The Smashing Pumpkins, The Killers and many more at Radio DC101’s DC101DERLAND Show, scheduled for free online stream on the official Facebook page on 16 December 2020

We’re joining @DC101 for their #DC101DERLAND At Home this year! Tune in to DC101’s Facebook Live on the 16th December for the free show. https://t.co/UGMkEdqFlE pic.twitter.com/0dmphFouVK

— Royal Blood (@royalblooduk) December 4, 2020

Already well established as one of the leading names in the contemporary alternative/hardcore hip-hop scene worldwide, Run The Jewels are well versed in venturing in rock territories. Ever since their second record RTJ2 from 2014, Killer Mike and El-P have formed a strong bond with Rage Against The Machine’s charismatic frontman Zach de la Rocha, resulting in the explosive rap rock collaborations for ‘Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)‘, ‘A Report to the Shareholders/Kill Your Masters‘ and most recently ‘Just‘.

Run The Jewels’ latest studio album RTJ4 received a very positive reaction worldwide, reaching #9 at the UK Album Charts, #10 at US Billboard with additional acolades in Scotland (#3), Canada (#8), Ireland (#8), Germany (#11) and New Zealand (#11). The surprising team-up with Royal Blood is a huge step forward for both acts, shining with infectious energy, street attitude and seemless production. With less than a day since its release, ‘The Ground Below‘ is already hailed as one of the most exciting and well-matched collaborations this year, potentially starting a promising partnership for future records.

Denis Villeneuve release the long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi classic last October. The film garnered massive critical acclaim, but underwhelmed somewhat at the box office, despite starring the likes of Ryan Gosling, and a returning Harrison Ford.

El-P revealed back in September that he had been approached by the film’s producers, and explained in the notes accompanying the track that he was “honoured to even be thought of” by the producers.

“Almost every sound apart from percussion was created on the same type of synth Vangelis used for the original Blade Runner score. It’s unmixed as I only had about 2 days to whip it together and send over.”

Meanwhile, El-P’ Run The Jewels bandmate Killer Mike has come under heavy criticism, after he partook in a sit-down interview with controversial US gun lobby the NRA, receiving hearty backlash for some of his views on gun control. The context of the interview also stirred controversy, coming just hours after hundreds of thousands of Americans took part in the March for Life.

After initially going viral, Mike apologise, claiming his decision was motivated by Martin Luther King’s reputation for engaging in debate with opponents.

“I sat with people that I might not always agree with”, he explained.

“I sat with a group called the National Rifle Association and I did an interview about black gun ownership in this era.

Mike also shared the full interview, seemingly to illustrate his point that the NRA supposedly manipulated the interview for their own benefits. You can see the full 45 minute interview below.

El-P came to the defense of his close friend and bandmate, taking to Twitter to point out that their differences in opinion were part of what makes their friendship so strong.  “He doesn’t need me to defend him but fuck that here we are and I’m doing that. Because I know the only way to have a perfect track record out there is to never try. And I know we need Mike out there trying, like he always has. Warts and all,” El-P wrote.

2 things i need to say. pic.twitter.com/q8GrxQeWPs

— el-p (@therealelp) March 26, 2018

There was a party-like atmosphere surrounding the place, as for the first time in decades there was no significant rainfall during the whole festival, and fans duly celebrated as such, before the festival takes a year off in 2018, to allow the ground and plant life of the festival site to have a summer off from the damage of hundreds of thousands of attendees.

The event was a significant one in particular for many of Britain and London’s musicians, with many having their say on the recent general election, as well as the public outrage surrounding the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower Fire, and the Tory government’s neglect of housing standards, that cost the lives of so many.

And the winner of the best flag at #Glastonbury2017 goes to… pic.twitter.com/4rjKpvUb8Q

— easyodds.com (@easy_odds) June 23, 2017

Friday night saw Radiohead headline the Pyramid stage, as they brought their usual array of ethereal brilliance, with Johnny Greenwood twiddling his boxful of buttons, and Thom Yorke bringing out his perennially outstanding dance moves.

Despite a somewhat avant-garde setlist (15 step and Myoxomatosis, anyone?), fans were treated to a rare performance of the band’s first ever hit in ‘Creep’, which was a massive surprise for those in attendance, given Radiohead’s less-than-glittering relationship with their own breakthrough hit.

Not only are Radiohead playing 'Creep', but it actually looks like they practiced it beforehand #Glastobury

— Daniel Jeakins (@DanJTweets) June 23, 2017

Thom Yorke and co. pulled out the big guns towards the end of their set, and set the fans home very happy, with a spine-tingling rendition of ‘Karma Police’ rounding off the night.

Meanwhile, Grime veteran Dizzee Rascal was pleasing his own fans, with a hit-laden headline slot on the West Holts stage, set the benchmark for the rest of the weekend’s Grime acts to aspire to.

Prior to the triumphant return of Grime to Worthy Farm, Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals caught the eyes of thousands, with a blisteringly good set just before Dizzee, bringing funk, soul, and more glorious dance moves to a baying crowd, lit beautifully by the Friday night sunset. It was a star-making performance for the band, and you can watch their set in full here

Saturday was the day the politics came, as Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn- whose name had already been heavily chanted by fans on Friday night- received a heroes welcome on the Pyramid stage, as he gave a speech, before Run the Jewels’ set.

At #Glastonbury I spoke with thousands of people. Over 4 million have watched my speech online since. We're building a movement #ForTheMany. pic.twitter.com/s10U6yuTO8

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 27, 2017

Killer Mike and El-P then laid waste to the festival, in their typically incendiary fashion, with extra emotional value placed on the performance due to the passing of Mike’s mother just days before the festival.

❤️ https://t.co/FVvdrSPo0r

— el-p (@therealelp) June 22, 2017

Stormzy packed out the Other Stage for his evening set, and undid his tracksuit jacket part-way through his set to reveal a t-shirt paying tribute to the victims of the Grenfell fire. He then demanded answers and ownership of responsibility of both the government and authorities involved, before rapping a short verse lamenting his sadness over the tragedy.

Liam Gallagher also paid tribute earlier in the day, but to the victims of the Manchester terror attacks of last month, before a rousing rendition of Oasis’ classic ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’, which was shared beautifully with a very emotional crowd.

For the victims of Manchester and London attacks, and #GrenfellTower
For the first time EVER, @LiamGallagher sings Don't Look Back in Anger pic.twitter.com/730OxB8C7u

— bbcglasto (@bbcglasto) June 24, 2017

Saturday night- a very nearly Sunday morning- was polished off in style by the Foo Fighters, who played nothing but hits, repaying the fans’ patience after pulling out of 2015’s festival, due to frontman Dave Grohl breaking his leg.

As is customary with a Foos set, there was fantastic rapport with the crowd from Grohl, and deafening crowd singalongs, particularly for the likes of ‘Best of You’ and ‘Monkey Wrench’, the breakdown of which was dragged out for so long, it would’ve been annoying if it had been anyone else doing it. Grohl and Foos drummer Taylor Hawkins also switched places for a great cover of Queen and David Bowie’s ‘Under Pressure’, with Hawkins surprising many, and doing very well with the not-so-enviable task of covering Freddie Mercury’s vocals.

Many congratulations to our friends the @foofighters on their @GlastoFest headlining show! #underpressure pic.twitter.com/waW0jx7iMb

— Queen (@QueenWillRock) June 24, 2017

After a surprise set from Elbow on Friday night, there was much speculation about the unannounced act on the John Peel Stage on Sunday afternoon. Festivalgoers were then sent into complete overdrive when The Killers made their triumphant return to a tent so packed out, the Festival Twitter page had to tell fans to turn back from trying to see the band, as it was already totally full.

Glastonbury! pic.twitter.com/W9iBKCKIyY

— The Killers (@thekillers) June 26, 2017

Boy Better Know continued Grime’s strong showing at the festival, with a raucous headline slot on the Other Stage, with Justice providing a similarly emphatic end to the weekend with a live set on the West Holts Stage, for the fans that hadn’t yet been burnt out by the weekends events.

It was left to ginger songsmith Ed Sheeran to close the Pyramid Stage, and he did so fantastically well. Whether you’re a huge fan of him or not, there’s something thrilling about watching him build and entire song up using only a loop station- even if some people didn’t understand that that’s what it was.

Never thought I'd have to explain it, but everything I do in my live show is live, it's a loop station, not a backing track. Please google x

— Ed Sheeran (@edsheeran) June 26, 2017

Sheeran also ‘did a Radiohead’ by finishing his set with the previously retired ‘You Need Me, I Don’t Need You.’ Draped in a gay pride flag, Sheeran sat on the edge of the stage, surveying the enormous, female crowd, an infectious smile on his face, ending the festival in a way that can’t help but make you smile.

Thanks for coming, and for making #Glastonbury2017 such a special one. Roll on #Glastonbury2019! pic.twitter.com/SY5SgddSKK

— Glastonbury Festival (@GlastoFest) June 26, 2017

The announcement comes after the group released the video for ‘Legend Has It’ on their Facebook page, RTJ also revealed in an e-mail to their fans, the Glastonbury performance was listed amongst the fetstivals to be played this summer.

https://twitter.com/finn_with_1_n/status/844620150821306368

Run the Jewels will be spending a lot of time in the UK in the coming months, with a string of shows at the end of this month, and the beginning of April, before the string of festivals, on both sides of the Atlantic, before culminating with a huge show in support of Eminem in Glasgow, Scotland on August 24th.

As for Glastonbury itself, things are starting to take a clear shape. The festival’s three headliners have been confirmed, in Radiohead, Foo Fighters, and Ed Sheeran, with Thom Yorke and co. rumoured to be planning a special, one-off set to mark the 20th anniversary of their iconic album Ok, Computer. 

RTJ aren’t even the first act to announce themselves this week, with funk icon Nile Rodgers confirming himself for the festival independently. Rodgers takes his cue from the likes of Wiley and The Avalanches in announcing themselves individually for Glastonbury, away from any official festival announcements.

One of the biggest wells of speculation remaining however, is the performer that will occupy the ‘legends’ slot on Sunday. For a while it was heavily suggested that Diana Ross would be the act schedules to be playing, though NME reports that this may no longer be the case.

The album has gained much critical acclaim, continuing the momentum of the duo’s two previous albums, with a more politically charged, visceral lyricism to this third LP, given the very liberal political views of both Killer Mike and El-P, and the rather grim things that happened in 2016.  Tickets for the four date tour will go on sale at 10am on January 20, and RTJ will be hitting Belfast, Dublin, Manchester, and London on their tour. There has been no confirmation yet of any potential additional dates, or indeed any festival dates on these shores in the coming months. The full details of the tour and it’s dates are below.

Limelight- Belfast- March 29 2017
Olympia Theatre- Dublin-  March 30 2017
Albert Hall-Manchester -March 31 2017
Camden Roundhouse- London – April 01 2017

The song follows Killer Mike and El-P contributing the song ‘Panther Like A Panther (I’m The Shit)’ to the soundtrack to Gears of War 4. However there is not yet any news as to whether this song will be on the tracklist for Run The Jewels 3. El-P took to twitter at the end of September to let the expectant fans know that the album was very nearly completely finished.

every word for #RTJ3 has now officially been recorded. the album is almost finished.

— el-p (@therealelp) September 27, 2016

The recording process for this third album has been underway since as far back as the early days of Run The Jewels 2, when both members took part in a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, but in the two years since the only release from the duo has been the charity, cat-inspired album Meow The Jewels, released a year ago.

The album was apparently “halfway finished” as far back as March, with El-P posting song snippets on his Instagram, and Killer Mike told discussed the album’s progress and potential features to Hip-Hop Wired, with a potentially “big” feature in the works. “We got a feature idea in mind and we’ll see how it turns out. If it’s not that, it’ll probably be no feature,” suggesting a more self reliant album, as well as a “darker, harder, meaner [and] angrier” project. When pushed and asked whether that one feature was a singer, rapper, rock star, Mike simply replied: “artist.”

Whilst there is no official release date for RTJ3, the album is still slated to have a release by the end of the year. In the meantime, over the summer, El-P has initiated a competition on Twitter amongst the group’s fans, challenging them to remix the instrumentals from the popular Pokemon games, following his comments against recent phenomenon Pokemon Go!

best poke-man remix get a free t shirt and hoodie https://t.co/k4W3wMhJcu

— el-p (@therealelp) July 9, 2016