3 Transformative Rap Rock Songs That Were Radical at the Time

Rapping and rocking within the same song has been common for a long time. But there are a few tracks in the history of rap rock that were radical at the time of their releases—genre-busting collaborations that changed pop culture and unleashed a ripple effect still felt decades later.

So in the spirit of disrupting the spick-and-span sorting of music, let’s revisit the pioneers as well as the artists that continued to revolutionize the synthesis of DJs, MCs, and guitars.      

“Epic” by Faith No More

If you were watching MTV in 1989, you would have seen videos like “Kickstart My Heart” by Mötley Crüe or “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison in regular rotation. This was one year before “Been Caught Stealing” by Jane’s Addiction made its way on air. Which made Faith No More’s “Epic” utterly radical by comparison. This song, as much as any, helped pave the way for alternative rock’s cultural revolt in the early 1990s.

“Killing In The Name” by Rage Against The Machine

There are many ways to write a protest song. You can pen “Born In The U.S.A.” and watch as politician after politician misinterprets the lyrics. Or you can disguise a message in the abstract poetry of “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”, leaving room for countless interpretations. But there’s also an approach that’s a little more direct. Let’s say one doesn’t want to beat around the bush. That’s exactly how Rage Against The Machine addresses its subject in “Killing In The Name”. Not much wiggle room here: F**k you, I won’t do what you tell me.

“Walk This Way” by Run-DMC and Aerosmith

When Run-DMC began rapping over a classic rock riff that producer Rick Rubin played in the studio, the hip-hop legends had no idea who or what Aerosmith was. By the mid-80s, Aerosmith was hobbled by drug addictions and waning popularity. But an accidental collaboration with Run-DMC helped resurrect the band’s career. It also changed music history as “Walk This Way” became the first hip-hop single to reach the top five on the Hot 100. For his part, Rubin helped popularize rap while also breaking down both cultural and musical barriers.

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