When Run The Jewels released its fourth full-length, RTJ4, in the spring of 2020, the country was in turmoil over the police murder of George Floyd. The music, recorded before Floyd’s death, seemed prescient, speaking directly to police violence and systemic racism. Now the duo of El-P and Killer Mike are dropping RTJCU4TRO, a re-imagined version of the album done with Latinx rappers, producers and singers. We give the record a spin to open this week’s show, and talk about the many ways the music is just as urgent — and at times more celebratory — remixed in Spanish.

We’ve also got Bruce Springsteen‘s tribute to classic soul, the bare-knuckled debut EP from Memphis rapper GloRilla, a gorgeous new Blue Note release from jazz guitarist and composer Bill Frisell and more. Contributors Christina Lee and Keanna Faircloth join NPR Music’s Ann Powers and host Robin Hilton to share their picks for the best releases out on Dec. 16.

Featured Albums:

1. Run The Jewels — RTJCU4TRO
   Featured Songs: “JU$T,” “santa calamif***”
2. Bruce Springsteen — Only the Strong Survive
   Featured Songs: “Soul Days,” “I Forgot To Be Your Lover,” “Turn Back the Hands of Time”
3. Christine And The Queens (as Redcar) — les adorables étoiles (prologue)
   Featured Songs: “Ma bien aimee bye bye,” “My birdman”
4. GloRilla — Anyways, Life’s Great…
   Featured Songs: “Blessed,” “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” “PHATNALL”
5. Bill Frisell — Four
   Featured Songs: “Claude Utley,” “For Hal Wilner”

Lightning Round:

• claire rousay — a heavenly touch (vinyl reissue)
• Duval Timothy — Meeting with a Judas Tree
• Ernest Hood — Back to the Woodlands
• Morris Day — Last Call

Other notable releases for Dec. 16:

• Actress — Dummy Corporation
• Ben LaMar Gay — Certain Reveries
• Gold Panda — The Work
• Heather Trost — Desert Flowers
• Homeboy Sandman — Still Champion
• Illogic — The Transition
• Jordana — I’m Doing Well, Thanks For Asking
• Lyrics Born — Vision Board
• Nas — King’s Disease III
• Puck — Best Friend
• Sharon Van Etten — We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong (Deluxe Edition)
• The Sonora Pine — II (vinyl reissue)
• Tyondai Braxton — Telekinesis
• Wizkid — More Love, Less Ego

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