El-P talks Run The Jewels and running a record label | Red Bull Music Academy

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When a 17-year-old Jaime Meline took on the name El-P and formed Company Flow with Mr. Len and Bigg Jus, he could hardly have known that he was going to change the hip-hop game forever.
In his 2013 Red Bull Music Academy lecture, El-P discussed the ’90s underground rap scene in New York, running Def Jux, all things Run the Jewels, and more.
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#ELP #HipHop #RedBullMusicAcademy
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But that’s exactly what the Brooklyn crew did, introducing bracing new production and rhyming styles that became a massive influence on the generation that came after. After he helped define indie hip-hop in the ‘90s, El-P did it again when he started Def Jux, an imprint that brought Cannibal Ox, Aesop Rock, and RJD2 to the world. That’s not even mentioning El-P himself, who has released a number of solo albums and provided production for the likes of Alec Empire, Killer Mike and Trent Reznor, before reaching new levels of acclaim with Run The Jewels.
TOPICS:
04:54 - Run The Jewels
26:19 - Cancer 4 Cure
44:50 - Company Flow
56:02 - ’90s New York underground
1:07:07 - Running a record label
1:10:10 - Producing and gear
MUSIC:
01:24 - Run The Jewels - “Get It” • Run The Jewels - Get I...
21:02 - Killer Mike - “Big Beast” • Killer Mike -- "Big Be...
34:28 - El-P - “The Full Retard” • El-P - "The Full Retar...
52:09 - Company Flow - “8 Steps To Perfection”
The Red Bull Music Academy is a global music institution committed to fostering creativity in music. We celebrate music, its culture, and the transformative minds behind it. Begun in 1998, the Academy has taken the core principles that underlie its annual workshop for selected participants and applied this curatorial approach to events, lectures, and city-wide festivals throughout the year.
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[@RBMA]

You can read more on EL-P here... www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/el-p-lecture

[@MistahRapsey]

El-P has had one of the greatest progressions in music. Massive respect for this dude.

[@solarpanel8195]

you know a lot of artists would show similar progression but they get paid to literally dumb down, pause their progress, and sell out. this is called "selling your soul" because you sell your gifts and dumb it down for consistent money- and they pay them consistent money because theyre dumbing down the public making them easier to control. People like EL P are real, they keep going without the hidden hand, they progress and display the progress openly. That is so RARE in humanity now...

[@anonymousghostcrab4606]

well said

[@raysanchez1227]

The Migos had a better progression in music than this guy.

[@mamba4817]

​@@raysanchez1227😂

[@hectormugwump5530]

He's on his own level entirely. I met him briefly at a gig in Bristol. He's an absolute gentleman.

[@joeymolten]

I met him in St. George, UT in 2016 and he told me to STFU and get out of his face. He later came over and apologized and we got a pic together. It turns out, I interrupted a Star Wars trailer he was watching. He is the greatest!

[@ezzong]

@@joeymolten lol what a plot twist

[@Tryhardblackguy]

@@joeymoltenlmfaoooooo hahaha

[@kevinterriquez1316]

El-P is one of the purest personifications of the essence of hip hop and lyrical mastery /storytelling

[@kevinterriquez1316]

In the same class with DOOM, AESOP, SLUG, EYEDEA and a few select others to say the least. Even his presence and collaborations over the years speaks volumes to the transcends and evolution of true music talent.

[@kevinterriquez1316]

Anyone and almost everyone he had featured out worked with has shown almost exactly what the essence of the reality of the era in which it was spawned from.

[@kevinterriquez1316]

Intense, raw, unique, even crass and vulgar all things considered due to the times as of now

[@kevinterriquez1316]

Just the most raw, almost harsh evocation of feelings that may be uncomfortable in the moment but you have to accept what it is.

[@kevinterriquez1316]

Beauty, rugged, honest, even ugly and equivocation beyond understanding with such depth that you cant ignore the poetic painting.

[@cerissalopez5974]

One would never expect such God-tier level, neck breaking beats to come out of him based off of a single glance. Def the finest example of never judging a book by it's cover.

[@mahmoodshah7209]

Cerissa Lopez Yeap

[@delta-9969]

I like how the graphics at the bottom just say "switch topics here" for the whole video. Top quality video production.

[@ToroidalVortexLove]

El P is such a likable dude.

[@bmar896]

1:31:40 I'm so fucking glad the guy asked about TOJ and the way El P responded to that. This is the way the songs should be written, hip hop ones especially because in a years time you can say "Yeah I've been there but I've contained it". Real shit. Props to El P for keeping it real.

[@ilikerice5208]

Karl Pilkington with who? Talking bout your profile

[@bmar896]

@@ilikerice5208 It's Karl mixed with the face of Mike Stoklasa from RLM.

[@ilikerice5208]

@@bmar896 I think you’re my soulmate. Rlm and Xfm got me through 2020

[@bmar896]

@@ilikerice5208 Or maybe a cellmate (that's a reference) Yeah those two go hand in hand for me.

[@charizmawolf6490]

It's rare for redbull to actually upload the music during these interviews. El-p owns all his masters. True genius

[@shellacSOUP58]

For me, a lot of El-P's work has increasingly become a love letter to the aggressive, progressive hip hop he came up with. I would say that the most "out" or "cosmic" he's ever been was the sound he pioneered on Cannibal Ox's "The Cold Vein" or most of his work on "Funcrusher Plus".

[@bigmoneysteppa]

Cold vain is out of this world...one of the best things ive ever heard.

[@shellacSOUP58]

steppa money Couldn't have said it better myself

[@0oidiedinatimemachineo024]

+steppa money Yeah Cold Vein is amazing but my favorite shit is Fantastic Damage I remember when that album came out like 2002 wowww that shit was sooo amazing.. and still to this day I bump that album just about every single week.

[@BIG_PASTA]

Ive been on a Fantastic Damage kick again (just was listening to it in my car and it lead me to this video) and I think it might have to be my favorite hip hop album..definitely top 3. I live in NY and that shit just sounds like NY to me... gritty, ugly, congested but somehow still beautiful. Its like the soundtrack to the subway packed with people screeching along passing over the Williamsburg Bridge at sunset or some shit. Funny thing is back when it came out I was in 10th grade and I remember hearing it and was definitely struck by it in a way that I put it aside, knowing Id come back to it one day... my ears werent quite ready for it I guess... but it stuck with me for sure and a few months later I started loving it and it slowly became quite possibly my favorite hip hop album. I guess thats how it goes with something fresh and new and innovative that you have never been exposed to before... even food can be like that I guess. Fuck what a cool album though. Yeah, sorry for the rant. Peace and all that!

[@0oidiedinatimemachineo024]

coldgettindumb It really is such a fucking amazing album.. I have so much crazy memories with this album.. When it first came out I was like a sophomore in highschool and I used to eat like an 8th of shrooms and listen to Fan Dam with headphones on.. Oh my god it was a fucking trip I vividly remember hearing different/new sounds in his beats everytime I'd listen they are so fucking layered and amazingly put together and interpreting his lyrics in new ways everytime I'd listen to it while tripping.. So awesome. I still play the shit out this album almost 15 years later (wow time flies!)

[@andrewcantor-wagner2056]

Ive known of El from Def Jux, his producing, and his work with Aesop Rock. I've been a fan of Mike from his work with OutKast. Never would have thought in a million years these guys would link up but damn I'm glad it did. They just click so damn well and feed off each other

[@barryk00da]

EL-P is a so aware. Really fuckin smart dude

[@fullmetalsnowflake2508]

oh for sure. just don't ask him about building 7 :P

[@zackcolbourne6921]

Since El-P is a hero of mine, i'm comfortable saying he looks like he's about to give a really rad fire safety lecture with a rock song in it.

[@nono-sh1iu]

EL-P is one of the best to ever do it.

[@funknotik]

The company flow track always blows my mind. It sounds like New York's in the year 2025, retro futuristic.

[@shellacSOUP58]

funknotik More dusted 'n digital

[@robertmunro5382]

+ShellacSoup more dusty than digital

[@nevedofficial466]

2024 checking in

[@Iovveeeyou]

I love El P as a business man, rapper and individual. This is what happens when you don't let people add to much cream or suger to your coffee. You end up being real as hell - Honestly Guys - God Bless Yo Boy Michael

[@SlakjeJasper]

This guy is neither a producer or an mc. He's a hero and a lifechanger.

[@ceramikxxx5882]

Foreal.

[@SlakjeJasper]

@@featherycoffee1401 I don't think so no. It's neither or right?

[@featherycoffee1401]

@@SlakjeJasper I guess, I'm not sure now and I cant be bothered to find out. I'm sorry, this is a pointless comment anyway

[@SlakjeJasper]

@@featherycoffee1401 All good

[@groundcontroltouncletom953]

his answer to the T.O.J question is gold and it's something I personally feel too sometimes when I do illustrations about my life

[@redhoode.n.y.6314]

"the 3 gingers in the room"😂😂 gotta love this guy been solid since the 90s big ups to killa mike.. Keep it goin yall💪

[@OlChamberGenius]

Shouts to the dude who asked the question about TOJ

[@Vextos]

Real shit. My favorite song from El.

[@krakapoww]

Such a gem

[@oodlesofhoes]

I've re-read the book twice along with flow my tears, the police man said and confessions of a crap artist... PKD is def on some other ish.

[@0oidiedinatimemachineo024]

Love that track. As matter of fact I love pretty much every single song on Fantastic Damage lol Been listening to it for years and still not bored of it

[@vaporzero1]

That last statement EL made was spot on humbling. Respect all artist to sum it up.

[@Vandalio_Saez]

So ahead of his time everything El touches turns to gold 🔥 🔥 mike drops alot of gems

[@BIGkundalini]

8 steps one of my favorite hiphop songs

[@sweetfruit7769]

El-P looks so young and healthy despite all of those stories about consuming various substances - and his song dedicated to lack of sleep

[@johannsimonot]

I follow him since Company flow, this man IS hip hop, Respect!

[@oljerzbastard4847]

How am I just finding this????!!!!!!!

[@rast123456789]

Ol Jerz Bastard I said the same thing 6 months ago haha

[@MutterSalsa]

Ol Jerz Bastard bump

[@sarrk_los_angeles]

+Ol Jerz Bastard same

[@ToroidalVortexLove]

+Tomacity(Rast) I said the same thing 5 minutes ago. Then realised I did find it a year ago and had seen it already, and I smoke too much weed to know what did yesterday let alone a year ago.

[@anonymousghostcrab4606]

my thoughts too a lot of RTJ fans know little about Def Jux less even Company Flo

[@MoMonarch]

there is almost no one in hip hop as dedicated to their craft as El-P

[@DylanLivesAgain]

Fast forward three and a half years later and he's in Gears of War 4

[@breakprismatshell6270]

He's in RTJ4

[@meningees]

El-p=HIP HOP!

[@prosperbenjamin84]

I grew up on this... mad emotional. Co Flow were my heroes. 💯

[@jmfs3497]

It's great that his mom actually presented both reality and opportunity to him.

[@frankbrenner4852]

Great cat. Sour, cynical, and ridiculously optimistic. Word.

[@nitsaali1012]

Frank Brenner Idk about the sour part, but I think I know how you might mean it. Then again, I haven't watched this particular video of El-P. Dude is so cool though. I need to find a way to surround myself with people like the one's I'm drawn to n KZbin rather than the ones I see when I step away from the computer currently...aka my real family. I need a new real family.

[@LIFEDELAYSDEATH]

FUNCRUSHER LP SAVED MY LIFE... peace to MR LEN EL PRODUCTO

[@maciejduda6040]

Hows that??

[@Lindsayisanosyhooch]

Can they get Mr Aesop Rock on this shit? Aes deserves more respect then he gets

[@prosperbenjamin84]

It would’ve been nice to see him soak up how good Co Flow was... as soon as the track started a tear started balling up in my eyes. Those days were the greatest. Good thing that album aged well.

[@MrhibyeTV]

Any good musician is a perfectionist.

[@raysanchez1227]

El-p did his thing producing for The Migos on Culture 3. The man deserves his props.

[@u7angbe]

EL P one of the Greatest to Ever do it

[@ConsciousRobot]

El-P is a great speaker, and an incredibly thoughtful and intelligent dude. With just enough sarcasm and cynicism to keep it lighthearted.

[@keepfeatherinitbrothaaaa]

I could easily watch another 2 hours of this.

[@anonymousghostcrab4606]

Obvs if I was there I would have brought up points like - Cancerforcure, which spoke to the inspirational power that s derived from the art form manifest - a deep and emotional force that shines through - the loss of Camu Tao whose intoxicating presence on songs like "when it's going down" - created a powerful beast of rap noise, the groove is raw and sick, the vocals effects are progressive and unforgettable - I feel like this dude was on to something really fresh and special then he passed away.... EL-P / Def Jux in Vancouver during the Revenge of the Robots tour and I remember he was killin it then I though he said "some shit like "I think this E is kicking in".... lol! Boi was wilin tourin and havin fun like rock star I remember Cage was at his prime and said some shit like "Hey Vancouver why can't you get any fucking PCP in Vancouver!" lol .. one of the best shows in Vancouver (Gastown) of the 2000's hip hop era - we still had record stores, record sales... - Many individuals who make great hip hop do it with a sense of punk rock influence or it's associated cultures like graffiti, hardcore, or just telling people yo fuck you! .... love it Thanks redbull and thanks for the interview el

[@mpbourke9019]

wow this is before RTJ were like big big. thats bizarre

[@vernellthomas6644]

Wow Fly Lo in the building! Holy shyt balls! Fly Lo is a beast too

[@MrNotaComedian]

This guy is growing on me

[@Diplomastronaut]

Danny Brown/El-P. Make it happen.

[@joedizzleify]

You're in luck man, check out El-P's album "Cancer 4 Cure"

[@Alex18PR]

He have a feature in RTJ3.

[@fraaazzz1]

Kalanque drunk diving on a Wednesday

[@NorthManSmash]

MF DOOM/El-P

[@kuppakassi]

Mitchem Callahan Oh Hail No

[@JayJayRealhiphop]

Wtf was that Flying Lotus 1:25:17 xD

[@GoblinGamingChannel]

+J Qsmo it looks like him

[@kevinmcgowan9250]

+J Qsmo Holy shit yeah! Cool to see him here.

[@PeterSaudino]

holy shit

[@trashcan_leftist7483]

+Ronald Reagan DAAAAWWWWWGG!!!!! WE BROS!!!!! :) first for me. first for u?

[@datboi1709]

o shit waddup!

[@brainspasm592]

i was looking for Aesop Rock lecture when I bumped into it. Please get Aes on that couch...

[@leejmalcolm1]

Thanks for the openness and honesty El-P. :)

[@philtheblanks7308]

I love how el stole his smile at the right time like its mine hahahahaaa

[@anonymousghostcrab4606]

El - P the highly underrated. Amazing artist.... "Does anybody here go to hip hop shows? No? Why am I here?" lol eLLLLLLL lol

[@u7angbe]

"Get it" that one slap me hard

[@spinitch]

thank y'all for this... please try and get Aesop Rock up soon =)

[@rajatchandra378]

😍😍😍😍😁😁😄

[@0oidiedinatimemachineo024]

I couldn't see Aesop doing one of these lol He kinda seems like hes not really into talking like in all the interviews I ever seen with him hes always like "I'm a very private guy" when asked certain questions.

[@spinitch]

@@0oidiedinatimemachineo024 haha very true no doubt! just hope to hear more long-form interviews with him

[@elsd1517]

Much respect, been listening to EL Producto since the 90s 💉🔥.

[@Aurock]

15:37 "Yeah, son."

[@cocobadan6957]

Thank you Tony Hawk's Pro Skater for showing me Can Ox and El-P at an early age

[@junebugspade7771]

Lyrical P is the man

[@barnesblvd.1761]

watch this on half speed turn up

[@NoViews]

I’m surprised no one recognized Flylo there that was pretty cool

[@Gamingwithgleez]

Very interesting. I love company flow.

[@haydentenno8803]

Sound like the guy in Linda Tripp by company flow

[@oblivionaccess]

@@haydentenno8803 lmaoo

[@Stoney-Jacksman]

i wanna be down

[@Gamingwithgleez]

@@Stoney-Jacksman I don't want to go against you guys.

[@Stoney-Jacksman]

@@Gamingwithgleez The whole shit is bananas you know?

[@AlexUpatov]

Kenny Beats at 52:47

[@Heyyofryman]

Oh shit haha

[@garethhopkins649]

You see a harmonica, you avoid the record, it's very simple.

[@mattjohnson7775]

El-p is such a goof I love it

[@coupsaibot]

im a def jux fan for life :,) never gonna forget that shit

[@two-cats]

1:28:32 Love this.

[@Nikefreshman]

Flylo!

[@ClarksonFisherIII]

So, um... tell me, um... a little bit about that song and, um... this "Killah Mike" guy...

[@James.k1373]

Insane to find out El-P was just a year older than me an indepedently running a record label

[@mashupmayhem426]

Follow up interview please!

[@ben250158]

the phrase "comes clean on the couch" from the description sounds a lot nastier after RTJ3

[@Ian_Paq]

Interview be4 the big time! Big up to RTJ...

[@ehmazin]

Legend

[@flipperdripper5769]

That first track is savage..

[@AIRJAVITUBE]

Hard.

[@dmacsk8noh8]

Wow !

[@cocobadan6957]

Fly Lo in the audience? Holy shit?

[@phormyouluuh5276]

I wish this would’ve been after RTJ3. Run the Jewels 2 is in my top 10 albums

[@supergario]

is that flying lotus who asks a question at 1:25:25 ?

[@geoffreydeibel]

Chairman Mao deserves props as well… el producto is an awesome interview. Check out the “what had happened was” podcast for more…

[@ActuallyDarcy]

1:25:30 - Pretty crazy that Flying Lotus is just there and no one noticed

[@AMKR4Lyfe]

Cancer4Cure is downright giddy, compared to I'll Sleep When I'm Dead! Damn... great album but damn,

[@victorkoyama5725]

Am I the only person that realized the first person to ask a question is Flying Lotus. That's fuckin dope

[@Huumf]

I'd love another one with killer Mike!

[@ceramikxxx5882]

When elp takes a picture of the host lolol

[@dr.aisaitl7439]

The interviewer is very solid

[@MrDavehef]

Who are the people in the "crowd"? Journalists, Music students or what?

[@mookeychase0907]

David H Always...

[@fullmetalsnowflake2508]

lucky bastards

[@lutze5086]

A fucking distraction, this should have been video podcast format

[@IndigenousMonk]

check out the def jux documentary with cannibal ox .. legendary...

[@MikeHunt-jx1bf]

That is adorable his mom's told him to go to that thing....

[@bizproquo]

Yo ... that track is ridiculous ....!!!

[@sawssman965]

How was the audience not bucking at the beginning? That's one of my favorite songs.

[@HeadDownFM]

more of this.

[@MrhibyeTV]

This dude just asks original interview questions. I want to know you more as a person.

[@PhilippeLandryPhilippeALandry]

EL-P reminds me of my cousins on my mom's side.

[@thepenguin114]

Irish?

[@MrhibyeTV]

Hey man lemme talk to you in KC in october when you guys get there.

[@FauntleroyMontgomery]

Steve Carrell @ 2:24

[@QuervoJones]

love the awkwardness during get it. I can feel it from here

I missed when showed them listening to music

[@philtheblanks7308]

why did you stop making music with sole?

[@stephenedmunds3696]

why don't they buy clip on mics?

[@jacobzeroAWESOMEINFINITE]

IT WAS ABOUT STYLE!!!!!

[@nibblynobbler7064]

Is this blu ray? I can't really see it.