Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” hits 1 billion streams on Spotify

Guitarist Tom Morello celebrated the milestone online, thanking those who “loved, hated or appreciated without understanding” the lyrics

The Billion Club Spotify just gained another member. THE Anger against the machine has reached the famous reproduction brand on the platform for the first time “Killing in the Name”his first and greatest success.

The song appears on the group’s self-titled debut album, released in 1992. The album, one of the most influential of the ’90s, accumulates multiple platinum certifications in the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, recording more of 4 million copies. sold all over the world.

Tom Morelloguitarist and one of the song’s composers, praised the result in a publication on X/Twitter. Through the social network he declared:

““KILLING IN THE NAME” just reached 1 billion streams on Spotify! Thanks to everyone who listened: those who loved it, those who hated it and those who appreciated it without understanding. Proof that rebellious music and irony are alive and well.”

“KILLING IN THE NAME” just hit 1 billion streams on Spotify! Thanks to everyone who listened to it: to those who love it, to those who hate it and to those who enjoyed it without understanding it. Proof that rebellious music and irony are alive and well.

—Tom Morello (@tmorello) January 11, 2025

Other songs that have reached one billion plays on Spotify in recent days include “Where is my Mind?” (Goblins), “Take Me Out” (Franz Ferdinand), “…Baby, one more time” (Britney Spears), “Energy” (Kanye West) AND “DJ made us fall in love” (Usher business. Pitbull). The platform has more than 840 songs covered by the brand.

Rage Against the Machine and “Killing in the Name”

“Killing in the Name” it served as the lead single from the band’s debut album Anger against the machine. The song in promotional format was made available on the same day as the album: November 2, 1992, from Epic. The band itself signs along with the production Garth “GGGarth” Richardson (Mudvayne, Melvins, Kitten, Biffy Clyro).

Although timeless, the lyrics protesting police brutality are inspired by a much-discussed topic at the time: the beating Rodney King by four officers in 1991 and related riots in Los Angeles the following year. The melodic part is driven by a riff created by Tom Morello while he was giving a guitar lesson – more precisely on drop-Da tuning that leaves the lowest string (mizona) a tone lower than the others, generating a heavy sound widely used by heavy metal bands.

Due to his controversial and profanity-filled lyrics, “Killing in the Name” it didn’t receive much attention on American radio at the time. In other places in Europe and New Zealand it has been quite successful. Today it is the group’s best-known song.

In 2009, the song sparked an online campaign: fans wanted to put it at the top of the UK Christmas charts to prevent the winners of the talent show The X factor achieved this feat. The initiative was supported by names such as Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney AND Prodigy. It worked: it reached first place in the ranking in question and also led to an entry into the Guinness bookthe record books as the best-selling digital song in the UK, with 502,672 paid downloads in one week.

+++ READ MORE: The album that made Rage Against the Machine possible, according to Tom Morello

+++ to follow the journalist Igor Miranda @igormirandasite on Instagram

Source: Terra

Earl

Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.