Rage Against the Machine

Lyrics

[Intro]
Good evening
We want to just quickly send a nice friendly message to the, uh, Fraternal Order of Police in Philadelphia
Here's something nice and friendly
Here's something nice and friendly
Here's something nice and friendly
It goes a little something like this

[Verse 1]
Fuck the police comin' straight out the underground
A young nigga got it bad 'cause I'm brown
And not the other color, so police think
They have the authority to kill a minority
Fuck that shit, 'cause I ain't the one
For a punk motherfucker with a badge and a gun
To be beaten on and thrown in jail
We can go toe-to-toe in the middle of a cell
Fuckin' with me 'cause I'm a teenager
With a little bit of gold and a pager
Searchin' my car...
... is sellin' narcotics
You'd rather see me in the pen
Than me and Lorenzo chillin' in a Benz-o
... out of shape
And when I'm finished, bring the yellow tape
To mark off the scene of the slaughter
Still getting swole off bread and water...
A young nigga on the warpath
And when I'm finished, know there's gonna be a bloodbath
Of cops dying in L.A
Yo, I got something to say
[Chorus]
Fuck the police, come on, uh, what
Fuck the police, yeah, come on
Fuck the police, yeah

[Verse 2]
Fuck the police comin' straight out the underground
A young nigga got it bad 'cause I'm brown
And not the other color, so police think
They have the authority to kill a minority
Fuck that shit, 'cause I ain't the one
For a punk motherfucker with a badge and a gun
To be beaten on and thrown in jail
We can go toe-to-toe in the middle of a cell
Fuckin' with me 'cause I'm a teenager
With a little bit of gold and a pager
Searchin' my car, lookin' for the product
Thinkin' every nigga is sellin' narcotics
You'd rather see me in the pen
Than me and Lorenzo chillin' in a Benz-o
... out of shape
And when I'm finished, bring the yellow tape
To mark off the scene of the slaughter
Gonna get swole off bread and water
I don't know if they fags or what
Search a nigga down and grabbing his nuts
And on the other hand, without a gun, they can't get none
But don't let it be a black and a white one
'Cause they'll slam ya down to the street top
Black police showing out for the white cop
Yeah, this brother will swarm
On any motherfucker in a blue uniform
Just 'cause we in Washington D.C
Punk police are afraid of me, word
Brother on the warpath
When I'm gonna finish, it's gonna be a bloodbath
Of cops dying in L.A
Ayo, we got something to say
[Chorus]
Fuck the police
Come on, sing that shit loud, come on
Come on, one more time, here we go, here we go
Come on, one more, we gotta do it right now, come on
Yeah, check it out

If you're a fan of music that pushes back against the status quo and stands up for those who might not have a voice, Rage Against the Machine's cover of NWA's "F**k tha Police" is sure to catch your attention. Originally released on the Live & Rare album, this particular version was recorded at the benefit concert for Mumia Abu Jamal in Washington, D.C. in August 1995.

With its unrestrained lyrics and hard-driving beat, "F**k tha Police" was a controversial song when it was first released by NWA in 1988. But it wasn't until Rage Against the Machine covered it seven years later that the song truly found new life.

About F**k tha Police (Live at the benefit concert for Mumia Abu Jamal, Washington, D.C. - August 1995)

The version of "F**k tha Police" performed by Rage Against the Machine at the benefit concert for Mumia Abu Jamal in Washington D.C. was truly a sight to behold. Starting with a grinding guitar riff, the song quickly picks up steam as lead singer Zach de la Rocha launches into a blistering rendition of the track's iconic opening lines: "F**k tha police, comin' straight from the underground."

From there, the song only ramps up in intensity, with de la Rocha's vocals rising to a fever pitch as he sings about the harsh realities of police brutality and systemic racism. The song's explosive chorus is punctuated by the pounding drums of Brad Wilk and Tom Morello's distorted guitar work, creating a sonic landscape that perfectly captures the anger and frustration of those who are often targeted by law enforcement.

It's worth noting that the benefit concert for Mumia Abu Jamal was held to raise awareness about the case of the well-known political prisoner, who had been on death row for over a decade at the time of the concert. Jamal's case has long been a lightning rod for controversy, with many people believing that he was unfairly targeted by law enforcement and railroaded into prison. By playing "F**k tha Police" at this particular event, Rage Against the Machine was clearly making a statement about their own views on police brutality and the importance of standing up for those who are marginalized by society.

Overall, Rage Against the Machine's version of "F**k tha Police" is a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of the original song, as well as a testament to the band's ability to take a classic track and make it their own. With its explosive energy and potent political commentary, this song is sure to remain an essential anthem for anyone who believes in the power of music to inspire change and bring about a better world.

• Release Date: June 30, 1998
• Artist: Rage Against the Machine