Prophets of Rage
| Company type | Supergroup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Defunct | 2019 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Tim Commerford, Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, DJ Lord, Chuck D, B-Real |
| Products | Music recordings (EP and studio album) |
| Owner | Fantasy Records |
Prophets of Rage was a notable American rap rock supergroup established in 2016, featuring three musicians from Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave—bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk—alongside two members of Public Enemy (DJ Lord and rapper Chuck D), as well as rapper B-Real from Cypress Hill. Their recordings were released under the Fantasy label.
The ensemble remained active until 2019, dissolving after Rage Against the Machine reunited. Throughout their three-year span, Prophets of Rage produced one EP and a full-length studio album, catering to audiences drawn to politically infused rap rock and rap metal styles.
History
Morello characterized the band as "a specialized unit of revolutionary artists intent on directly confronting the overwhelming election year nonsense with Marshall stacks blazing."
The group's name was inspired by the Public Enemy track "Prophets of Rage" from their 1988 album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Aligning with their protest performance at the Republican National Convention, they debuted the single "Prophets of Rage." Their inaugural concert took place on January 20, 2016.
From May through October 2016, they embarked on the "Make America Rage Again Tour" across North America, performing a mix of songs from members' past and current bands alongside new compositions.
On August 19, 2016, they unveiled the EP The Party's Over, which included original songs such as "Prophets of Rage" and "The Party's Over," along with live renditions like "Killing in the Name" (originally by Rage Against the Machine) and a reinterpretation of "No Sleep 'til Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys. Brendan O'Brien produced this EP.
The single and video for "Unfuck the World," from their self-titled album, were released on June 1, 2017. Subsequent singles "Living on the 110" (July 11) and "Radical Eyes" (July 22) followed. Their debut album featuring entirely original material was issued on September 15 through Fantasy Records.
Prophets of Rage were slated to open for Avenged Sevenfold during their 2018 End of the World US summer tour; however, the tour was cancelled due to lead vocalist M. Shadows' health issues. On July 6, 2018, the band released "Heart Afire," marking their first new track since their debut album. This was succeeded by the single "Made With Hate" on June 24, 2019.
After Rage Against the Machine confirmed their reunion on November 1, 2019, B-Real and Chuck D announced that Prophets of Rage had ceased activities, explaining they were merely "holding the spot" for Zack de la Rocha.
Members
- B-Real – vocals
- Chuck D – vocals
- Tom Morello – guitar
- Tim Commerford – bass guitar, backing vocals
- DJ Lord – turntables, backing vocals
- Brad Wilk – drums, percussion
Studio albums
- Prophets of Rage (2017, Fantasy Records)
Extended plays
- The Party's Over (2016)
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart rankings | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Main. | US Alt. | US Rock | US Rock Airplay | |||
| "Prophets of Rage" | 2016 | 4 | 35 | 30 | 21 | The Party's Over (EP) |
| "Unfuck the World" | 2017 | — | — | — | — | Prophets of Rage |
| "Living on the 110" | 16 | — | 50 | 41 | ||
| "Radical Eyes" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Heart Afire" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Made with Hate" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — |
| "Pop Goes the Weapon" | — | — | — | — | — | |
"—" indicates the single did not enter the chart.