I, personally, would be remiss and a damn liar if I said this band isn't the benchmark for tasteful hybridization of rock and hip-hop. Like, real rock and real hip-hop, done in a way that is ostensibly, well ... real. This was the very first time I realized what I do now as an artist was possible. The first time I saw activism guiding songs. It was the first time I felt represented in the two realms of music that I always felt should cross over, but that society and MTV chose to bifurcate.
I would be remiss if I didn't say this band paved the way for bands like Fever 333 and so many others — not only those discussing politics, but those actually doing something about the issues they discuss. And I would be a liar if I said I'm not ecstatic about their return. If ever there was a time in my generation for Rage Against the Machine to return — not only for us as a turbulent American population, but globally, as well — this would be it.
What better place than here? What better time than now?
photograph by Lindsay Brice/Getty Images
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photograph by Lindsay Brice/Getty Images
photograph by Rob Verhorst/Redferns
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photograph by Rob Verhorst/Redferns
Zach de la Rocha
photograph by Niels van Iperen/Getty Images
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Zach de la Rocha
photograph by Niels van Iperen/Getty Images
Brad Wilk
photograph by Frank White
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Brad Wilk
photograph by Frank White
Tim Commerford
photograph by Brian Rasic/Getty Images
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Tim Commerford
photograph by Brian Rasic/Getty Images
Tom Morello
photograph by Tony Mottram/Retna/Photoshoot/Everett Collection
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Tom Morello
photograph by Tony Mottram/Retna/Photoshoot/Everett Collection
photograph by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images
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photograph by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images
photograph by Lindsay Brice/Getty Images
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photograph by Lindsay Brice/Getty Images
photograph by Niels van Iperen/Getty Images
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photograph by Niels van Iperen/Getty Images
photograph by Catherine McGann/Getty Images
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photograph by Catherine McGann/Getty Images
photograph by Lindsay Brice/Getty Images
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photograph by Lindsay Brice/Getty Images
photograph by Lindsay Brice/Getty Images
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photograph by Lindsay Brice/Getty Images