Ah, Monday. Pretty much everybody’s least favorite day of the week. Back to work or school after a weekend off is never fun. One of the better parts about a Monday though are when you’re able to sit back and reminisce for just a moment about the weekend’s many adventures, possibly even sharing a story or two with friends or co-workers who weren’t there. For me personally, I celebrated a birthday this past weekend, which was nice. And while I received some good presents from friends and family, the greatest gift I received over the weekend was given not only to me, but to the world at large. Very early on Friday morning, hip hop stars El-P and Killer Mike unleashed their second album as Run the Jewels. It was supposed to be out on Tuesday, but I guess they couldn’t wait any longer. That’s understandable, especially once you hear the record. It’s a 100% free download by the way, and is available at runthejewels.net for the cost of your email address. I’ve been listening to Run the Jewels 2 all weekend, and can honestly say it’s not only the best hip hop record released so far this year, but one of the best records overall from 2014 so far. That’s not a claim I throw around lightly. The beats hit harder and the lyrics are wilder than the last album too. I doubt that I’ll be able to do a full writeup about it, especially since I haven’t published a proper album review in a few months (sorry about that by the way, there’s a lengthy explanation as to why), so please just take my recommendation and download the record. Then download some of the songs as part of today’s edition of Pick Your Poison. There’s some good cuts in this set from Germany Germany, Hollands, Lost Trail, Twin Waves and Vincent Colbert. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream tracks from Bully, Cherry Glazerr, Greywind, Medicine, Mike WiLL Made It + iLoveMakonnen, and more.

Diplo & Skrillex ft. Kiesza – Take You There (RiFF RAFF Remix)

Germany Germany – Blank Mind Empty Heart

Hollands – Great White Shark

The Icarus Line – Don’t Let Me Save Your Soul

Julius – Ohh Baby

Lost Trail – Blood Forcefield

Repeater – Lonely

R.O.M.I. – F*ckin’ Good.1/There UR.

SEX BBQ – Locus of Control

Twin Waves – Into the Night

Vincent Colbert – Baseline

Yellow6 – Looking Back Towards the Sea

SOUNDCLOUD

Bully – Milkman

Cherry Glazerr – Nurse Ratched

Greywind – Afterthoughts

Joakim – This Is My Life (Kindness Remix)

The Knife – Stay Out Here (Kane Roth Remix)

Medicine – Turning

Mike WiLL Made It / iLoveMakonnen – Wishin You Well