1) Prophets of Rage is… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:
1) Prophets of Rage is an American rap rock supergroup. Formed in 2016, the group consists of three members of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave (bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk), two members of Public Enemy (DJ Lord and rapper Chuck D), and rapper B-Real of Cypress Hill.
Morello declared to Rolling Stone: "We're an elite task force of revolutionary musicians determined to confront this mountain of election year bullshit, and confront it head-on with Marshall stacks blazing."
The band's name derives from the title of the Public Enemy song "Prophets of Rage" from its 1988 album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. To coincide with the band's protest performance at the Republican National Convention, it released its debut single, titled "Prophets of Rage". The band played its first live show on January 20, 2016.
From May 2016 through October 2016, the band embarked on a North American tour, dubbed the "Make America Rage Again Tour". The set list combined the catalogues of each of the band members' current and former groups, as well as new material written by the band. There is a "Make the World Rage Again" tour scheduled for 2017.
An EP The Party’s Over was released on August 19, 2016. Alongside the songs Prophets of Rage and The Party’s Over, the EP contains live cover versions of the songs "Killing in the Name" (Rage Against the Machine), "Shut 'Em Down" (Public Enemy) and "No Sleep 'til Cleveland", a rework of "No Sleep 'til Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys. The EP was produced by Brendan O'Brien.
On June 1, 2017, the band released a single with accompanying music video for the track "Unfuck the World" from their album Prophets of Rage released September 15, 2017 on CD and vinyl. The band released the second single from the album titled "Living on the 110" on July 11, 2017. On July 22, 2017, the band released the third single, "Radical Eyes".
2) Rico Pabón has kept his soul intact through music as the lead member of Prophets of Rage (POR) and as MC for San Francisco Bay Area Afro-Latin Hip Hop band Agua Libre (formerly O-Maya). 1994 saw the first release from POR, No More Patience. In 1997, after the release of their sophomore offering, Brand New World, POR seemed poised for a national breakthrough. Their single, Memories, was in heavy rotation at urban radio stations around the country, including San Francisco's KMEL. Unfortunately, despite airplay and critical acclaim, national prominence eluded the group as their music was buried in the rubble of music industry restructuring.
www.myspace.com/ricopabon
3) Prophets of Rage was founded by Ewol in K-Town(Kaiserslautern), Germany in 1992. He later invited Yeti as a member and finally Styxx 1993. They released their experimental hip hop debut album, Unite or Perish in 1994. They toured with Megavier ( The Fantastic Four and Megalomaniacs). IN 1996, without Yeti; Ewol, Styxx, added Cave Dave on bass, Sebo on guitar, and Jules on drums. DJ AMIR and DJ SHADOW HELD IT DOWN!! They released their second album, Zen Gravy in 1997 with Four Music. This time around there were features including DJ Amir of Dungeon Mastaz. The album was once again experimental hip hop with a band backing them up on tour with Coolio and Coolen Saue. They helped change the German hip hop scene with their advanced styles of rhyming and sharp production. Additional production and moral support came from DJ. Shadow.
Smashit
Prophets of Rage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But once the ballot's cast they forget about us
Standing on a mountain high above the downtrodden
They forgot about Michigan like all is magnificent
Sitting back watching the news with [?]
They manifest [?]
Simple [?] building up in my chest
Depressed enough to fight back 'cos we settled for less
We get none but a brother like me begun to be another one
To run up in the party, crash it
Put up a wall? We smashit
Wrecking ball to the wall
(To the wall)
Keep small, take them all
(Take them all)
Killing bills, pile up
Everybody stand up, come on
It's the same old lies time after time
(I can't abide, don't cross these lines)
You'll never read my American mind
(It's the same old lies time after time)
It's the same old lies time after time
(They don't like my kind, I can read the signs)
Don't ever read my American mind
(It's the same old lies time after time)
New year's beginning, new beginning again
Backspin, rewind my timeline within
We be coming down fifty five thousand feet
Here we come we go Molotov
Become the gun
The mission, the music, the force
Freedom, border walls
Yes to the beat y'all
Backed by Marshall stacks against murder in the name of the law
They're killing in the name of the Lord
People to the power, power to the people
And the beat's once again raging on the stage
Feel the burn, coming for the power, six pack
Save the babies
Prophets on attack, we smashit
Wrecking ball to the wall
(To the wall)
Keep small, take them all
(Take them all)
Killing bills, pile up
Motherfucker stand up, come on
It's the same old lies time after time
(I can't abide, don't cross these lines)
You'll never read my American mind
(It's the same old lies time after time)
It's the same old lies time after time
(They don't like my kind, I can read the signs)
Don't ever read my American mind
(It's the same old lies time after time)
Wrecking ball to the wall
(To the wall)
Keep small, take them all
(Take them all)
Killing bills, pile up
Motherfucker stand up, come on
It's the same old lies time after time
(I can't abide, don't cross these lines)
You'll never read my American mind
(It's the same old lies time after time)
Yeah, the same old lies time after time
(They don't like my kind, I can read the signs)
You'll never read my American mind
Smashit
The lyrics of Prophets of Rage's "Smashit" take on a political tone in critiquing America's government system. The lyrics highlight the idea that politicians say what they need to in order to earn people's votes, but once in power, fail to deliver on their promises. The song also points out the disconnect between those in power and those who are struggling, and how the powers that be can forget about areas like Michigan, where people are facing significant economic and social challenges.
The lyrics suggest that instead of waiting for change that never comes, it's time to take action, even if it means crashing the party and causing a disruption. The repeated refrain "smash it" encourages listeners to take action and challenge the status quo, using a metaphorical "wrecking ball" to tear down the barriers that keep people from seeing real change.
Overall, the song captures the frustration of many Americans who feel left behind by the political system, and the sense that the only way to make real change is to take drastic action and demand something different. It's a powerful anthem for those who feel powerless and want to use their voices to make a difference.
Line by Line Meaning
They say what the must to gain our trust
Politicians will say whatever they need to in order to gain our trust.
But once the ballot's cast they forget about us
Politicians often forget about the needs of their constituents after they are elected.
Standing on a mountain high above the downtrodden
Politicians have the power and privilege to make decisions that affect the lower classes from a position of authority.
They forgot about Michigan like all is magnificent
Politicians often ignore the needs of certain regions or populations, leading to neglect and inequality.
Sitting back watching the news with [?]
People watch the news passively, without action or engagement.
They manifest [?]
The political elite use their power to manifest their desires and agendas.
Simple [?] building up in my chest
Frustration and anger is building up within the singer due to lack of political action and change.
Depressed enough to fight back 'cos we settled for less
The artist is feeling hopeless but also motivated to fight back against the current state of politics and settle for nothing less than real change.
Waiting for change to come
Many people are hoping for political change and improvement.
We get none but a brother like me begun to be another one
The artist has become frustrated and is taking action to bring about change.
To run up in the party, crash it
The singer is ready to challenge the status quo and take bold action to disrupt the political elite.
Put up a wall? We smashit
The artist is not going to allow political barriers or obstacles to prevent change and progress.
Wrecking ball to the wall
The singer is determined to break down barriers and walls that prevent progress and change.
Keep small, take them all
The singer is encouraging people to challenge even the smallest injustices and make their voices heard about all issues.
Killing bills, pile up
The singer is ready to challenge and remove unjust bills and policies from politics.
Everybody stand up, come on
The artist is encouraging people to speak up and take action to bring about change.
It's the same old lies time after time
Politicians often make the same false promises over and over again.
(I can't abide, don't cross these lines)
The singer is not willing to tolerate or accept the same old lies from politicians.
You'll never read my American mind
The singer's opinion and voice will not be silenced or ignored.
(They don't like my kind, I can read the signs)
The artist is aware of and frustrated by the discrimination and marginalization they face in politics.
New year's beginning, new beginning again
The artist is hopeful for a fresh start and new opportunities to bring about political change.
Backspin, rewind my timeline within
The artist is reflecting on past events and experiences that have influenced their political views and motivation for change.
We be coming down fifty five thousand feet
The singer is descending towards the political elite and is ready to challenge them directly.
Here we come we go Molotov
The artist is ready and willing to use violent means in order to bring about change if necessary.
Become the gun
The singer is ready to use their platform and voice as a weapon to fight against injustice and inequality.
The mission, the music, the force
The singer's mission for political change is fueled by their music and the power of their message.
Freedom, border walls
The singer is fighting for freedom and equality, while challenging the idea of putting up walls and barriers to prevent progress.
Yes to the beat y'all
The artist's message is energized and powerful, encouraging people to join the movement for political change.
Backed by Marshall stacks against murder in the name of the law
The artist's movement is supported by powerful forces and is fighting against police brutality and corruption.
They're killing in the name of the Lord
Religious institutions and beliefs are often used to justify violence and oppression, which the singer is fighting against.
People to the power, power to the people
The singer is empowering people to use their voices and actions to bring about change.
And the beat's once again raging on the stage
The artist's music and message is powerful and energized, with the potential to inspire change.
Feel the burn, coming for the power, six pack
The artist is determined to fight for political power and progress, using their passion and determination to fuel their efforts.
Save the babies
The artist is fighting for a better future for younger generations.
Prophets on attack, we smashit
The singer is ready to challenge the political elite and take direct action in order to bring about change.
Motherfucker stand up, come on
The artist is calling on people to stand up and take action for political change, even if it means challenging the status quo.
You'll never read my American mind
The singer's voice and opinions will not be silenced or ignored in politics.
Yeah, the same old lies time after time
Politicians continue to make empty promises and fail to bring about real change in politics.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Timothy Commerford, Louis M. Freeze, Thomas B. Morello, Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, Brad J. Wilk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind