Rage Against The Machine

Formed in Los Angeles in 1991, Rage Against the Machine are critically acclaimed for their aggressive, politically charged rhymes. During the 1990s, they found huge success with their politicized image, broad array of influences and punk attitudes. The band represents an important intersection in 1990s culture – between the musical expression of urban black rebels (hip-hop, funk) and their white counterpart (metal, punk rock). Accompanying a musical fusion of punk, hip-hop, and metal, the lyricism of frontman Zack de la Rocha provides a fiery critique of corporate America, government oppression, and cultural imperialism. Both de la Rocha and guitarist Tom Morello were born into activist families, influential in shaping the band’s political views and activism. De la Rocha’s father devoted his artistic work to Chicano causes, and Morello was raised by a civil rights activist mother and a Kenyan rebel-turned-diplomat father. Rage Against the Machine views their music as a vehicle for social activism, and de la Rocha has explained this by saying: I’m interested in spreading those ideas through art because music has the power to cross borders, break military sieges, and establish rea…