In 2012, El-P produced Killer Mike's critically acclaimed album R.A.P. Music. Later that year, Killer Mike appeared on the track "Tougher Colder Killer" from El-P's Cancer 4 Cure. The following year they officially formed the duo "Run the Jewels", with an album under Fool's Gold Records announced for later in the year. They released their self-titled first album titled Run the Jewels, as a free digital download.[2] The duo announced they would begin recording the highly anticipated sequel to their debut in February 2014, after a series of Australian live dates as part of St Jerome's Laneway Festival