Former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello has dropped a music video for his new song “Rabbit’s Revenge,” featuring dubstep producer Bassnectar, and rappers Big Boi and Killer Mike. This track is the third song to be released for his upcoming album The Atlas Underground, which is set to be released on October 14.
“Rabbit’s Revenge,” opens with an obscured figure in a hood using a voice changer notifying the listener that they “can see what’s happening,” and that “this time around, the revolution is televised,” a reference to the famous Gil Scott Heron spoken-word poem “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. The video then cuts to Morello opening up the song with brooding the guitar chords before Big Boi begins his verse.
Both Big Boi and Killer Mike proceed to discuss the issue of police brutality and call upon political action, with Big Boi explaining, “Were we come from we don’t f**** with no holices/We pay their salaries and they pay us back with mistreatment.” Right after his verse Morello does the chorus,followed by Killer Mike who dellivers a verse where he references two victims of systemic injustice stating, “[I] fight for my life like a mother fucking Treyvon/ Fight for my life like a mother fucking Mike Brown.”
The song lists many people who were victims of police brutality throughout history during Morello’s chorus such as Sandra Bland, James Earl Greene and Hay Nhat Duong. This song blends a variety of genres, with Morello’s guitar chords channeling some of Rage Against The Machine’s 90s work, blended in with Bassnectar’s dubstep production.
Morello announced that he was working on The Atlas Underground back in July, and released two song with the announcement: “We Don’t Need You” featuring Chicago rapper Vic Mensa, and “Battle Sirens” featuring dubstep producers Knife Party. A preview for “Rabbit’s Revenge,” was also a part of the trailer for the upcoming Ultimate Predator movie reboot.
Bassnectar is a week away from releasing his upcoming EP Reflective (Part3), featuring producers Vindata, Gnar Gnar, Jantsen, and Conrank. This EP will also host the release of his new side project with long-time collaborator Sayr, titled Naux Faux.
Formerly one half of lengendary hip-hop duo Outkast, Big Boi has been busy keeping up his solo career, dropping music video for his track “All Night,” in June. The Atlanta rapper then joined the likes of Childish Gambino and N.E.R.D this past July at the Lovebox music festival in London.
Fellow Atlanta native, Killer Mike, who launched onto the music scene after being featured on Outkast’s “The Whole World,” has also kept busy. The rapper joined the soundtrack for Boots Riley’s film Sorry to Bother You on the track “Monsoon,” in July.
Killer Mike, who is half of Run The Jewels with Brooklyn rapper and producer El-P, will also be joining his musical partner onstage for the Adult Swim Music Festival in Los Angeles this October. The duo are set to join the likes of Thundercat and comedian Hannibal Buress as the major acts on the line-up.
Photo Credit: Marv Watson
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