Skellig Gra
Member
Exactly. They came out during one of the most prosperous eras of our country and disappeared as soon as things went to shit. Completely backwards.
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Shout out to Zack de la Rocha lyrics from the 90s that are still relevant
- Thread starter Joe
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uncelestial
Member
Some of that stuff really holds up well. Mic Check, for example.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvd4hh1i8UE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvd4hh1i8UE
March of the Crabs
Member
Yeah its crazy how relevant RATM's lyrics still are. Another extremely relevant 90s jam is Propagandhi's "The Only Good Facist is a Very Dead Facist". The lyrics still feel like they apply today:
"Just what exactly are the great historical accomplishments
Of your race that make you proud to be white?
Capitalism? Slavery? Genocide? Sitcoms?
This is your fucking white history, my friend.
So why don't we start making a history worth being proud of
And start fighting the real fucking enemy? "
"Just what exactly are the great historical accomplishments
Of your race that make you proud to be white?
Capitalism? Slavery? Genocide? Sitcoms?
This is your fucking white history, my friend.
So why don't we start making a history worth being proud of
And start fighting the real fucking enemy? "
Marky Mark
Member
I saw them years ago at the big day out when they reformed for that. It was great and they all seemed to be having a great, great time back together.
Fenderputty
Banned
For me, RATM's lyrics are better today than when I was young. I'm much further left and interested in politics.
Holy shit I haven't thought about his band in 15+ years.
Holy shit I haven't thought about his band in 15+ years.
Tragicomedy
Member
I LOVE Rage, but let's be real. Zack's worth $25-50 million. He is the 1%.
http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/celeb/zack-de-la-rocha-net-worth/
http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/celeb/zack-de-la-rocha-net-worth/
brianjones
Member
He is The Machine
He's also a giant douchbag.
PantherLotus
Professional Schmuck
Tupac: you got money for war but can't feed the poor.
Messofanego
Banned
Thanks, Joe, for reminding. Still the same issues because in a lot of ways the status quo has been maintained in society still.
I realized he was probably a dick when the band stayed together to form Audioslave with Cornell.
March of the Crabs
Member
Shit dude, you're missing out. Around the year 2000 they got a new bassist and randomly went from being an alright punk band to being an epic prog/thrash/hardcore band that is unlike anything else out there. Basically Rush mixed with Slayer. Their last two albums (Supporting Caste and Failed States) are ridiculously badass and will blow your mind if you haven't listened since the 90s.
Don't you dare trigger me
Robot Pants
Member
Mic check is such a dope song
Maria is my 1A song on BOLA and Mic Check is my 1B. Maria is probably their most underrated song ever and in my opinion has the best lyrics Zack ever wrote. It's crazy good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR4Nqhtz5xk
The sun ablaze as Maria's foot
Touches the surface of sand
On northern land
As human contraband
That's just how the song starts, I mean are you kidding me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR4Nqhtz5xk
The sun ablaze as Maria's foot
Touches the surface of sand
On northern land
As human contraband
That's just how the song starts, I mean are you kidding me.
benjipwns
Banned
There's a lot of bands whose lyrics sound better than they read. Rage is definitely one of them.
But I've always liked Zack in an "awww" kind of way. Tom Morello is the one I can't stand, he seems so smug about everything except his guitar playing.
Thread reminds me of a Thursday stab at politics regarding native americans:
But I've always liked Zack in an "awww" kind of way. Tom Morello is the one I can't stand, he seems so smug about everything except his guitar playing.
Thread reminds me of a Thursday stab at politics regarding native americans:
bit on the nose but i like the last two lines
bananabread
Member
This has always been one of my favorites:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49WwUgdU6yE
RAtM playing a local record store before they really blew up, back when they were young and angry.
Zack was truly a great frontman, real fire in his eyes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49WwUgdU6yE
RAtM playing a local record store before they really blew up, back when they were young and angry.
Zack was truly a great frontman, real fire in his eyes.
PassiveObserver
Member
From Battle of Los Angeles in 1999 on prison privatization and targeting black people
New Millennium Homes
Cover tha spread sheets
Tha Dow Jones skyin'
Tha cell block live stock
Tha bodies they buyin'
Old south order
New northern horizon
Just realizing now that "new millenium homes" are prisons
From Evil Empire in 1996
Roll Right
Here comes the hands on the leashes
The cross, the capital, the pale families, the fear and the mouthpieces
The single sista lynch
The cell doors crash
And the master's drums echo, echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
The single sista lynch = locking up black men leaving them as the sole parent in the home.
Such good lyrics, it's crazy.
New Millennium Homes
Cover tha spread sheets
Tha Dow Jones skyin'
Tha cell block live stock
Tha bodies they buyin'
Old south order
New northern horizon
Just realizing now that "new millenium homes" are prisons
From Evil Empire in 1996
Roll Right
Here comes the hands on the leashes
The cross, the capital, the pale families, the fear and the mouthpieces
The single sista lynch
The cell doors crash
And the master's drums echo, echo, echo, echo, echo, echo
The single sista lynch = locking up black men leaving them as the sole parent in the home.
Such good lyrics, it's crazy.
GeordieMark
Member
Love the music, but I don't rate Zack particularly highly as a lyricist or rapper. RATM songs seemed much more intelligent when I was at school.
XGRaViSmOrSX
Member
So glad I was able to see them live back on the Battle for LA tour. Probably still one of the best live shows i've been too. The energy was just insane.
I really wish they would come back and throw down the gauntlet one more time.
I really wish they would come back and throw down the gauntlet one more time.
Nailed it.
Considering how many Republican candidates perpetually use popular artists' songs without their permission and in direct contradiction to many of those artists' individual political views, I've long since wondered if RATM would even mind if any of the Republicans used Sleep Now in the Fire at one of their rallies, since it perfectly encapsulates that party's philosophy.
RATM songs also tend to be strangely prescient. I remember listening to Testify in 2003, and it was like, yeah, Baghdad is burning. Again.
Also, the original video for anyone who hasn't seen it. It complements Matt Taibi's recent Rolling Stone piece quite well.
I think that's a fair criticism but I the counterpoint that they wanted their message to be distributed on a massive wide-scale is a fair point too. They could have went the independent route but there's a reason their music, and by connection their "radical" political message, is still on the outer fringes of mainstream popularity - because they signed to a major label. Political bands that were independent have more credibility but they are completely irrelevant and almost completely forgotten.
While signed to Sony they had full and total creative control over what they released.
Even though they were incredibly popular during their heyday they left A LOT of money on table. They released only three (4 if you consider the covers album) original albums and only performed about 350-450 shows (I forget the exact number) during their initial 9 year run. That is another indication to me personally that the message, through the sale of CDs, and not money was the main (but also not only) driving point of the band.
Also, throughout their time together they had a long track record of playing free shows for benefits, playing single shows and festivals for fundraising efforts, showing up to rallies/protests/strikes to increase exposure, and even donating sizable percentages of entire tours to charities.
Full disclosure: Although I no longer have an emotional attachment to the band, I was a complete fanboy as a kid.
Goldenroad
Member
Zach is dope, but man, the 90's is not very long ago. I'd argue most lyrics from the '90s are still mostly relevant today. You want your mind blown, go listen to some Woody Guthrie records.
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