Killer Mike has teamed up with the legendary Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley for a new version of the rap superstar’s “RUN.” Check out the dub-heavy new version below.
On the cut, Marley adds smooth harmonies to Mike’s booming voice, as snare drums as loud as shotguns provide a massive backbeat. Marley also contributes a verse to the remix, showcasing his ability to hold his own with one of hip-hop’s most potent lyricists.
This continues a series of remixes from Killer Mike. Back in October, the MC, who is also one-half of Run the Jewels, teamed with Robert Glasper for a new version “MOTHERLESS,” the emotional core of Mike’s most recent solo album MICHAEL.
The song was penned as a living tribute to their departed mothers Druzella Denise Clonts (aka OG Mama Niecy) and Kim Yvette Glasper. “MOTHERLESS,” Mike’s most vulnerable work to date, was written as an homage to the foundational impact Mama Niecy and Mike’s grandmother had on his character and perspective and as a somber reflection on how deeply their loss impacted his life.
Glasper, who lost his mother 20 years ago, was so moved by the album version that he teamed with Mike in Los Angeles over the Summer to help craft a new version that strips away No I.D.’s production, baring its emotional resonance in an intimate arrangement of just Mike’s voice, Glasper’s piano, and Eryn Allen Kane’s stirring vocals.
“Two years ago I was asked to get on ‘Black Superhero’ by Robert Glasper,” stated Mike. “The song was incredible and he’d go on to win a Grammy for the album. My only regret was that we weren’t in the same room together when we made it. So when talks of him remixing ‘MOTHERLESS’ came up it was a no-brainer, only this time we wanted to be in the studio together along with Eryn Allen Kane.”
This news comes on the heels of Damian’s joint tour with his brother Stephen Marley, announced yesterday. The 18-date Traffic Jam Tour kicks on February 16, with pre-sales beginning today, followed by general sale on Friday, December 15 at 10 AM local time.
