Rage Against the Machine, Killing in the Name

Reading Time: 3 min read

On the 7th edition of Outlandish Rock , we explore the outlandishness behind “Killing in the Name” performed by Rage Against the Machine.

ring on the outlandishness! Outlandish Rock is a column that falls under the umbrella of Controversial Tunes . Like its parent column, Outlandish Rock

provides background information and insight into rock and metal songs that raise eyebrows and stir the pot. The records featured on Outlandish Rock

can be classic or brand new. On the 7^th edition of Outlandish Rock

, we explore the controversy behind the song,

“Killing in the Name” performed by

Rage Against the Machine.

Theme & Lyrics

“Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me!” Woo – that’s a bold statement Zack de la Rocha! Honestly, the entirety of “Killing in the Name” is bold by Rage Against the Machine. This angry, high-energy rap-rock record protests police brutality. The most famous song of their career arrived in 1992 on their self-titled album, following the infamous Rodney King incident. Prior to the scathing “fuck you,” de la Rocha asserts on the chorus, “Those who died are justified / For wearing the badge, they’re chosen white.” Wow – potent and sadly, relevant 30 years after the arrival of the record.

Zack de la Rocha is the star, painting a damning picture of racists and in this case, the police: “Some of those that work forces / are the same that burn crosses.” To quote Drake, “HYFR”! Besides a dynamic, turned-up performance by de la Rocha, guitar god Tom Morello shines, delivering kick-ass jagged riffs and a stellar guitar solo. Before de la Rocha even performs a note, Morello helps establish the ferocious tone of this 90s classic.

Expectedly, a profane rock record protesting police brutality is going to earn a controversial badge and require censor-shit. More interesting is the controversy surrounding “Killing in the Name” in the 2020s. How? Well, shockingly, Trump supporters misinterpreted the lyrics, which goes against EVERYTHING they stood for (Blue Lives Matter, the republican party, and people like Trump himself). “Killing in the Name” is filled with angst, but not the kind of angst they were touting.

Final Thoughts

Bitmoji Image “Killing in the Name” – one of the greatest songs of the 90s. Furthermore, one of the greatest songs of all time! Most disappointing, however, is the fact that the issues and points made by de la Rocha and Rage Against the Machine are still relevant .