Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2

Run the Jewels 2 is the record that took Killer Mike and El-P from underground odd couple to one of the most vital duos in hip-hop, a 2014 classic back on vinyl as a fresh reissue.

The pair had only made their self-titled debut a year earlier, but the sequel arrived bigger, angrier and funnier, with El-P steering the production. Given away as a free download before it reached shelves, it became a rallying point for fans who wanted rap with both muscle and a conscience.

"Jeopardy" kicks things off with a sneering swagger, and "Oh My Darling Don't Cry" barrels forward with the reckless energy of a getaway drive. "Blockbuster Night Pt. 1" is pure adrenaline, while "Early", featuring Boots, slows the pace for a chilling account of a police stop that still feels painfully relevant. Zack de la Rocha, Travis Barker and Gangsta Boo also drop in along the way.

El-P's beats are dense, distorted and endlessly inventive, and Mike's voice cuts through them like a bulldozer with a sense of humour.

More than a decade on, it still sounds like a call to arms, and it remains essential listening for anyone who likes their hip-hop loud, smart and unafraid. Few duos have ever sounded this hungry.