Killing in the Name
| "Killing in the Name" | ||||
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| Single by Rage Against the Machine | ||||
| from the album Rage Against the Machine | ||||
| Released | November 2, 1992 | |||
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| Length | 5:14 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
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| Rage Against the Machine singles chronology | ||||
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| Rage Against the Machine reissued singles chronology | ||||
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Australasia cover | ||||
"Killing in the Name" is a song by the American rock band Rage Against the Machine, and appears on their 1992 debut album Rage Against the Machine. It features heavy drop-D guitar riffs. The lyrics protest police brutality, inspired by the beating of Rodney King and the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
"Killing in the Name" was released as the lead single from Rage Against the Machine in November 1992. It reached number 25 on the UK singles chart. In 2009, following a public campaign protesting the British talent show The X Factor, "Killing in the Name" became the UK Christmas number one.
In January 2025, "Killing in the Name" became the first song by the band to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.