CAROLINE HOPING TO PROFIT FROM RAGE

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Buzzing rock/hip-hop supergroup Prophets of Rage have released “Prophets of Rage,” the first single from their forthcoming EP (due 8/19) via Caroline. The song, which was originally made available to stream only on the band’s website, was subsequently made available at all major DSPs. Caroline co-GMs Jacqueline Saturn and Piero Giramonti donned their Che Guevara T-shirts to make the announcement.

The band, which brings together Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk, Public Enemy’s Chuck D and DJ Lord, and Cypress Hill’s B-Real, was formed in response to the election year and the nation’s current state of turmoil.

“Piero and I have a longtime relationship with Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk and are huge fans of Chuck D, B-Real and DJ Lord,” Saturn reports, “and we were blown away when we saw their first show at the Whisky. We really wanted this band for Caroline, and I’m not shy about saying how aggressively we pursued them. Caroline is thrilled to represent their music as well as its powerful and important message. Make America Rage Again!”

“Prophets of Rage” is a re-imagining of the Public Enemy song of the same name, but with new music and a new original verse from B-Real. Look for a video very soon.

The band’s Jimmy Kimmel performance, which aired on 7/25 (watch it here), was taped next door to HITS’ new offices, and several of us who witnessed the set—including several songs just for the crowd in attendance—were, frankly, stunned. The Rage instrumental attack, especially Morello’s guitar, remains as galvanizing as ever, and to hear the two legendary MCs trading stentorian verses over those monster grooves was thrilling.

Appropriately, POR kicked off the Make America Rage Again Tour in Cleveland, not far from the site of the Republican National Convention. Later, Vladimir Putin asked for a translation of their lyrics. The tour continues through October and includes a 9/15 stop at L.A.’s Fabulous Forum.

The group’s Trump-spoofing “Make America Rage Again” ball caps are apparently selling like hotcakes, and no, you can’t have one.