Run the Jewels 3

Weeks ahead of its slated (physical) release on January 13th, Run the Jewels 3 has "dropped," to use the lingo of the digital age. Coming just two short years after their previous, critically-acclaimed release Run the Jewels 2 (Oct. 2014), this album continues the rap duo's concussive chronicling of the many social ills that plague planet earth. 

Zack de la Rocha makes an appearance on this album, too, though this time it's uncredited. The strongest tracks so far are "Down (feat. Joi)," "2100 (feat. BOOTS)," and a jumpy, electronic-y little number called "Call Ticketron." 

It's a somewhat bleak album, but it hits hard. And as bleak as everything felt in late 2014--hell, most Americans hadn't even heard of ISIS when RTJ's last album came out--the bitter end of 2016 feels for many of us like an even darker and more anxious place.  

So bleak times call for good music. You can download the entire album for free here or just listen on this handy little Spotify window.