Rage Against the Machine was formed in 1991 and opened the gates of a new boundary-obliterating rock-rap musical alliance with the band's literate and politically-charged debut album. Featuring band members Tim Commerford, Zack De La Rocha, Tom Morello, and Brad Wilk, Rage Against the Machine became a critical and commercial success, selling millions of copies around the world while attaining legendary status among alt-rock fans.

To this day, the album, and the band, remain standard-bearers for uncompromising incendiary rock.