Rage Against the Machine

Solo Artist

Photo: Penner · CC BY-SA 4.0
Active 1991-2000, 2007-2011, 2019-2024
Origin Los Angeles, California
Albums 4
Tracks 45
Most frequent collaborator Brendan O'Brien · 35 tracks
Genres Rap MetalAlternative MetalFunk Metal
Songwriter
73%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 33 of 45 tracks

Do Rage Against the Machine write their own songs?

All four members are credited on all 33 original tracks, and no writer from outside the band appears on any of them. The only exception is Renegades, which is twelve covers.

By the Numbers

4
Studio Albums
45
Tracks Credited
73%
Self-Written
16 million
Records Sold
9
Years Active
46
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 33 / 45 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 45 tracks: how many Rage Against the Machine wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Rage Against the Machine has a writing credit73%
73%
27%
Sole author33tracks73%
Co-written0tracks0%
Outside writers12tracks27%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Rage Against the Machine's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 45 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)73%
Composer (music)73%
Producer49%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 45 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Zack de la Rocha 1991-2000, 2007-2011, 2019-2024
73%
73%
49%
100%
Tom Morello 1991-2000, 2007-2011, 2019-2024
0%
73%
49%
100%
Tim Commerford 1991-2000, 2007-2011, 2019-2024
0%
73%
49%
100%
Brad Wilk 1991-2000, 2007-2011, 2019-2024
0%
73%
49%
100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Rage Against the Machine's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 73%
100%
100%
100%
0%
1992Rage Against the Machine
1996Evil Empire
1999The Battle of Los Angeles
2000Renegades
Early · 100% written
Late · 50% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1990s
Rage Against the Machine, Evil Empire +1 more
0%
2000s
Renegades

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Rage Against the Machine sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Rage Against the Machine
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Aaliyah0%
Xscape17%
Backstreet Boys25%
LeAnn Rimes41%
TLC59%
Powerman 500089%
Tool100%
73%Rage Against the Machine
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Guerrilla Radio
The Battle of Los Angeles
Written by Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk
Wrote it

Discography 4 albums

All four studio albums, including Renegades, which is an album of cover versions. The live albums, the compilations and the demo releases sit outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Rage Against the Machine45 tracks
BO35Brendan O'Brien, 35 tracks 12Rick Rubin, 12 tracks GR10Garth Richardson, 10 tracks 1Maynard James Keenan, 1 track on Tool's page EB1Eric B., 1 track 1Rakim, 1 track EB1Eric Barrier, 1 track RA1Rakim Allah, 1 track RT1Roger Troutman, 1 track V11Volume 10, 1 track AM1Adrian Miller, 1 track EV1Eric Vidal, 1 track NV1Nick Vidal, 1 track DH1Dino Hawkins, 1 track WK1Wayne Kramer, 1 track F"1Fred "Sonic" Smith, 1 track RT1Rob Tyner, 1 track MD1Michael Davis, 1 track DT1Dennis Thompson, 1 track LT1Lance Taylor, 1 track AB1Arthur Baker, 1 track JM1John Miller, 1 track JR1John Robie, 1 track MM1Mark Mothersbaugh, 1 track GC1Gerald Casale, 1 track ES1Erick Sermon, 1 track P1PMD, 1 track IM1Ian MacKaye, 1 track JN1Jeff Nelson, 1 track BB1Brian Baker, 1 track LP1Lyle Preslar, 1 track B1B-Real, 1 track on Cypress Hill's page SD1Sen Dog, 1 track on Cypress Hill's page DM1DJ Muggs, 1 track on Cypress Hill's page BS1Bruce Springsteen, 1 track IP1Iggy Pop, 1 track RA1Ron Asheton, 1 track SA1Scott Asheton, 1 track DA1Dave Alexander, 1 track MJ1Mick Jagger, 1 track on The Rolling Stones's page KR1Keith Richards, 1 track on The Rolling Stones's page BD1Bob Dylan, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. BO Brendan O'Brien · GR Garth Richardson · EB Eric B.

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

All four members are credited on all 33 of their original tracks, and not one carries a writer from outside the band. The fourth album, Renegades, is the exact opposite: twelve covers with none of them on the credits at all. There is no middle ground anywhere in this catalogue.

Quick Facts

  • Self-writtenAll 33 original tracks are by all four members
  • No outside writersNot one original track carries a name from outside
  • The exceptionRenegades is twelve covers with none of them credited
  • Records soldOver 16 million worldwide
  • Hall of FameInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023
  • Four albums1992, 1996, 1999 and 2000

Creative Fingerprint

Four names on every original song, and none of them on the covers album.

The Story

Rage Against the Machine formed in Los Angeles in 1991 and made three albums of their own songs before splitting in 2000. Zack de la Rocha wrote the words, the four of them wrote the music together, and they have sold over 16 million records worldwide.

Awards & Recognition

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted 2023
Kerrang! Hall of Fame, inducted 2008
NME Heroes of the Year (2010)

Frequently Asked Questions Rage Against the Machine

Do Rage Against the Machine write their own songs?
All four members are credited on all 33 original tracks, and no writer from outside the band appears on any of them. The only exception is Renegades, which is twelve covers.
Who wrote "Killing in the Name"?
All four of them. The album credits every song to Rage Against the Machine, named as Tim Commerford, Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello and Brad Wilk.
How many albums did they release?
Four: Rage Against the Machine (1992), Evil Empire (1996), The Battle of Los Angeles (1999) and Renegades (2000).
How is the writing split?
Zack de la Rocha is credited with the lyrics on the second and third albums and the band with the music. The debut credits everything to all four with no split.
What is Renegades?
An album of twelve cover versions, from Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen to Cypress Hill and Minor Threat, released after de la Rocha left.
Which single charted in the Hot 100?
"Guerrilla Radio" reached number 69, the only one of their singles to enter that chart.
How many records have they sold?
Over 16 million worldwide as of 2010.
Are they in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes, inducted in 2023 after six nominations.
Why did they split?
De la Rocha left in 2000, and Renegades came out after that. The band reformed for touring in 2007 and again in 2019 without making a new album.
Did they make anything after 2000?
No new studio album. The three remaining members went on to form Audioslave with Chris Cornell.

Sources

Wikipedia: Rage Against the Machine Wikipedia: Rage Against the Machine discography