Rage Against the Machine Process Dues, Kanye Sends a Message

Since Rage Against the Machine reformed this summer, they’ve made one national headline and thrilled fans, but they’ve failed to keep their promise of finishing the Bush Administration once and for all.

On April 29, during this rap-rock band’s reunion concert at the Coachella festival, Mr. De La Rocha gave a speech accusing the Bush administration of war crimes and said, “They should be hung and tried and shot.” (Hmm. In that order?) A clip found its way to the Fox News program “Hannity & Colmes,” which was not overstocked with Rage Against the Machine fans. The on-screen headline read, “Rock grp ‘Rage Against the Machine’ says Bush admin should be shot.”

Sean Hannity seemed to suggest that the Secret Service should be alerted. Ann Coulter, a guest, got in a good quip (“Has anybody checked in with a Flock of Seagulls to see what their position is on Bush?”), then delivered a final verdict, “They’re losers, their fans are losers, and there’s a lot of violence coming from the left wing.”

On Saturday night Mr. De La Rocha responded. He attacked the “fascist” Fox News pundits for “claiming that we said that the president should be assassinated.” As the crowd shouted its approval, he continued, “No: he should be brought to trial as a war criminal and hung and shot. That’s what we said.” Despite the insistence on due process, this still isn’t a position any mainstream politician would endorse. But that’s precisely the point: At a time when unimpeachable causes and pragmatic endorsements are the norm, it’s nice to be reminded that rock stars can get political without sounding like politicians.¹

Due process?

A mass of promises
Begin to rupture
Like the pockets
Of the new world kings

Whatever that means… oh well, at least they’re as entertaining as the Police. Also, the New York Times’ Coachella quote contradicts the quote from this source. Is this an attempt by the New York Times to make Hannity’s secret service claims more credible by rewriting history? “Who controls the past now, controls the future,” to quote Rage Against the Machine, or maybe Orwell, or maybe Kane from Command and Conqeur? Anyway, at least the Times writer got to make a snide comment, which brings them one step closer to the blogosphere and Web 2.0.

In any case, I was reviewing Live Earth footage the other day (did anyone actually watch it?) and I came across a great guest spot Kanye (not from Command and Conquer) West did on Message in a Bottle by the aforementioned Police. I have got to say that it is some of the worst freestyling I’ve ever heard. I quote….

I’m sending a message in bottle
I said we need a new tomorrow
We need some new leaders to follow
and we need some new leaders to follow
I’m telling you everything that I know
Al Gore *** surely has my vote
And I’m gonna tell you this cuz I should
Sting, you and Police would be good in the hood
And put your hands in the air
and we’re gonna elect John for Mayor (John Mayer)
SO THROW YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR AND WAVE EM LIKE YOU JUST DON’T CARE!²

Reggae-Punk just isn’t conducive to Hip-Hop Flows.

1. This Hip-Hop Future Looks Like Yesterday, New York Times, July 30, 2007. ↩
2. Kanye West Ruins Live Earth, MalanDarras.com, July 8, 2007. ↩