Run The Jewels talk ‘Meow The Jewels’: “All the money went to charity, directly to the families of Michael Brown and Eric Garner”

In the new, November issue of DIY (out Friday 6th November), Run The Jewels discuss the madness behind ‘Meow The Jewels’.

They laugh off the fact that the out-of-control joke record boasts Massive Attack’s 3D, Geoff Barrow from Portishead, Just Blaze, Prince Paul and BOOTS amongst its production credits. “I enjoy the painful irony that this is probably the only time I’ll get to be on an album with this amount of people I respect,” says El-P, “and I forced them to make the stupidest fucking shit possible.”

“We raised even more than we asked for,” reflects El, “and all the money went to charity, directly to the families of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. It was the choice of the community,” he adds, “I’m really inspired by the fact people made that happen.”

“Mike doesn’t like cats,” he laughs, switching tact, and dropping a clanging great revelation in the process. “Even he was down. The cause was good.”

“Because they’re stupid,” yells Killer Mike across the room in defence. “I don’t understand the ownership of a pet that doesn’t understand it’s your pet.” On Mike’s sliding scale, though, cats don’t fare nearly as badly as his biggest literal pet peeve, poodles. “Poodles I just detest!” he exclaims. “I wouldn’t shoot a cat.”

The pair also tell DIY about the importance of their political stances, particularly with regard to the ongoing racial tensions in America. “As a black man, and a father of two boys in America, I feel a responsibility to do that,” Killer Mike tells El Hunt. “There are not a lot of people doing it in a way that I view as effective. There are not a lot of people who understand the perspective, the pressure it is to be a young African-American male in America. I have the perspective of having a policeman as a father,” he adds. “I think there are extremes, extremists on both sides just shouting for the other side to lose. I don’t see a lot of growth coming out of that.”

Read the full interview in DIY’s November issue, out Friday 6th November. Pre-order a copy below.