Tag: Rap Rock
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Rage Against The Machine ‘Rage Against The Machine’ (1992)
Rage Against the Machine is synonymous with my experience of becoming politically aware during my early teen years. I’ll never forget borrowing their album Evil Empire from my friend Ryan Polk in seventh grade, sneaking it into my house to avoid the peering eyes of my mom (who definitely wouldn’t be happy with the rabble…
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Nova Twins ‘Parasites & Butterflies’ (2025)
Parasites & Butterflies is a fun romp through modern rock, blending hip hop and dubstep and pop together over highly energetic nu-metal esque instrumentation. Think Cardi B meets Muse meets Skrillex (especially on “N.O.V.A”) and you’re on the right track. I don’t know if this album has much if any staying power for me but…
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Hollywood Undead ‘Swan Songs’ (2008)
I’m not here to dog on bands but Hollywood Undead is just not my cup of tea– it’s synth rap rock nu metal for hardcore hipsters who also like boy bands. Plenty of people like them but I can’t seem to understand why. I’m sorry Hollywood Undead fans. If you’re reading this I swear I…
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Bloodhound Gang ‘Hooray For Boobies’ (1999)
Bloodhound Gang is one of those bands that only could have really blown up in the late 90’s. I remember being in middle school and laughing my absolute ass off after hearing their hit single “The Bad Touch” on the radio. I think it was on 92.3 KSJO, which definitely had an edgier sound, but…
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Linkin Park ‘Hybrid Theory’ (2000)
In 2000 I was in seventh grade when Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory dropped. At that point I was starting to get into some of the nu-metal bands (as I discussed in my write up for Limp Bizkit’s Significant Other) but once Linkin Park stormed onto the scene it sort of redefined the possibilities of rap-rock…
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Beastie Boys ‘Licensed To Ill’ (1986)
Once a hardcore punk band, the trio of Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock brought their raw, chaotic energy into the world of rap, trading guitars for turntables without losing an ounce of their rebellious spirit. Their debut album Licensed To Ill is pretty much a masterclass in blending irreverence with innovation, marking one of the…
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Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’ (1991)
By 1991, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were already known as the wild children of Los Angeles’ rock scene, blending funk, punk, and irreverent humor into their music. But while their early albums showcased raw energy, they had yet to fully channel their potential into a cohesive masterpiece– before Blood Sugar Sex Magik that is.…
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311 ‘311’ (1995)
When I was in elementary school I had a friend whose house I would spend a ton at. He was a little rough around the edges despite growing up in a really affluent family, and had an older brother who always had a collection of CD’s that were super interesting and (most importantly) had the…
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Bilk ‘Bilk’ (2023)
I happened upon Bilk via X two weeks ago when I saw that their founding drummer was arrested in Jamaica for taking part in a robbery that saw him and his accomplices steal $2 million worth of corned beef. That’s an almost inconceivable amount of corned beef, and the absurdity of the story basically made…
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Run D.M.C. ‘Run D.M.C.’ (1984)
Run D.M.C.’s self-titled debut was a watershed moment for hip-hop in many ways and within a historical context has remained one of the most influential hip hop albums to ever be released. It was the first hip hop album to be certified Gold by the RIAA, introduced the first song ever in the rap-rock genre…
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