Brad Wilk is proud of the RATM hit, ‘Killing in the Name’s success.
“‘Killing in the Name’ and ‘Like a Stone’ have both reached over a Billion streams,” the drummer wrote on Instagram, along with a group photo. “Both had risk factors.”
He explained, “One mixed genres, had 16 f*ck you’s and was written about police brutality after the LA riots. The other went completely spacious and ethereal. Take risks may be the lesson. Thanks for listening!”
Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Killing in the Name’ has reached one billion streams on Spotify last month, via Metal Hammer. Guitarist Tom Morello shared the news on X, writing, “‘Killing In The Name’ just hit 1 billion streams on Spotify!”
The musician added, “Thanks to all those who listened to it: those who love it, those who hate it, and those that have enjoyed it without understanding it. Righteous proof that rebel music and irony are alive and well.”
‘Killing in the Name’ came out in November 1992 as the first single from Rage Against The Machine’s debut album. The song got attention and caused controversy because the band mixed rap and metal.
The lyrics criticize racist police and the military. It also has the band’s famous line: ‘F*ck you, I won’t do what you tell me.’
In a 2020 Rolling Stone interview, Morello talked about the lyrics of ‘Killing in the Name,’ saying, “‘F*ck you, I won’t do what you tell me’ is a universal sentiment. While it’s a simple lyric, I think it’s one of [Zack De La Rocha’s, vocalist] most brilliant.”
“And to me, it relates to Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass said, the moment he became free was not the moment that he was physically loosed from his bonds. It was the moment when master said, ‘Yes.’ And he said, ‘No.’ And that’s the essence of ‘F*ck you, I will not do what you tell me,'” Morello noted.
The song was a hit in 1992, reaching the top 20 in four countries. Its biggest success came in 2009, when a social media campaign helped it reach number one in the UK over Joe McElderry, the winner of The X Factor.
