The Battle of Los Angeles (album)

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The Battle of Los Angeles
An outline of a graffiti spray of a man in a coat raising his fist. The album name is written in graffiti, in the spray outlines. The band name is displayed on the top, in all caps.
Studio album by
Rage Against the Machine
ReleasedNovember 2, 1999 (1999-11-02)
RecordedSeptember 1 – October 1, 1998[1]
Studios
  • Henson (Hollywood)
  • Sunset Sound (Hollywood)
  • Westlake (Los Angeles)
  • Royaltone (Hollywood)
  • Silent Sound (Atlanta)
  • Southern Tracks (Atlanta)
Genres
Length45:16
LabelEpic
ProducerBrendan O'Brien
Rage Against the Machine chronology
Live & Rare
(1998)		 The Battle of Los Angeles
(1999)		 Renegades
(2000)
Singles from The Battle of Los Angeles
  1. "Guerrilla Radio"
    Released: October 12, 1999
  2. "Sleep Now in the Fire"
    Released: April 3, 2000
  3. "Testify"
    Released: August 8, 2000

The Battle of Los Angeles is the third studio album by the American rock band Rage Against the Machine, released by Epic Records on November 2, 1999. At the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Best Rock Album, and the song "Guerrilla Radio" won the award for Best Hard Rock Performance. In their year-end lists, Time and Rolling Stone magazines both named the album the best of 1999.

The album has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, indicating sales of at least two million units.[2] It would be the last full-length studio album of original material released by the band before their first breakup in 2000 (their next album consisted entirely of covers and was released after the breakup).

Music and concept

Musically, The Battle of Los Angeles has been described as rap metal,[3] funk metal,[4] and rap rock.[5] "Voice of the Voiceless", a song referring to American political activist and journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, references a letter written by Mao Zedong, called "A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire".[6]

The album's cover art was an original piece spraypainted by Joey Krebs (also known as "The Street Phantom", "The Phantom Street Artist", or Joel Jaramillo), a well-known Los Angeles graffiti artist who has exhibited at numerous galleries in Los Angeles, New York City, and throughout the United States.[7] Phantom's graffiti work regularly uses an outline profile of a human with text overlaid.[8]

Release and promotion

The Battle of Los Angeles debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling around 420,000 copies in its first week and keeping Mariah Carey's highly anticipated new album Rainbow from reaching the top of the chart.[9] It was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards.

The music videos made for "Sleep Now in the Fire" and "Testify" were directed by documentarian Michael Moore, who appears in both videos.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[10]
Entertainment WeeklyA[11]
Houston ChronicleStarStarStarStar[12]
Los Angeles TimesStarStarStarStar[13]
NME7/10[4]
Pitchfork8.7/10[14]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarStar[3]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStarStarStar[15]
Spin9/10[16]
USA TodayStarStarStarStar[17]

In their year-end lists, Time and Rolling Stone magazines both named The Battle of Los Angeles the best album of 1999. Retrospectively, it was ranked No. 426 on Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2005, the album was listed at No. 53 on Spin's list of the 100 greatest albums from 1985–2005, as well as No. 369 on Rock Hard magazine's book The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[18] In 2021, Metal Hammer magazine named it one of the 20 best metal albums of 1999.[19]

Awards

  • 1999: No. 1 Time Magazine Critic Pick (The Best Music of 1999)
  • 1999: No. 1 Rolling Stone Critic Pick (Best Album of 1999)

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Zack de la Rocha; all music is composed by Rage Against the Machine (de la Rocha, Tim Commerford, Tom Morello, and Brad Wilk).

No.TitleLength
1."Testify"3:30
2."Guerrilla Radio"3:26
3."Calm Like a Bomb"4:58
4."Mic Check"3:33
5."Sleep Now in the Fire"3:25
6."Born of a Broken Man"4:40
7."Born as Ghosts"3:22
8."Maria"3:48
9."Voice of the Voiceless"2:31
10."New Millennium Homes"3:44
11."Ashes in the Fall"4:37
12."War Within a Breath"3:36
Total length:45:10
Australian and Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."No Shelter"4:06
Total length:49:16

Bonus promo CD/tape

In the US, some retail stores gave a free promo CD to those who pre-ordered the album that contained the songs "Clear the Lane" (from the "Killing in the Name" single) and "Hadda Be Playing on the Jukebox" (Live) (from the "Bulls on Parade" single). In Australia, certain chains gave a promo tape titled New... Live... Rare to those who pre-ordered the album that featured "Calm Like a Bomb" and the aforementioned two songs repeated on both sides. The versions of all three songs were the same as those that had been previously released.

Personnel

Rage Against the Machine

Production

  • Brendan O'Brien – producer, mixing
  • Rage Against the Machine – co-production
  • Nick DiDia – engineer, recording
  • Russ Fowler – additional engineering
  • Sugar D (David Russo) – additional engineering
  • German Villacorta – assistant engineering (at A&M Studios)
  • Roger Sommers – assistant engineering (at Royaltone Studios)
  • Kevin Lively – assistant engineering (at Silent Sound Studios)
  • Ryan Williams – engineering (at Southern Tracks)
  • Karl Egsieker – assistant engineering (at Southern Tracks)
  • Monique Mitzrahl – assistant engineering (at Sunset Sound)
  • Kevin Dean – assistant engineering (at Sunset Sound)
  • Michael Parnin – assistant engineering (at Westlake Audio)
  • "Atom" – assistant engineering (at Westlake Audio)
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Andrew Garver – digital editing
  • Cheryl Mondello – production coordination
  • Erin Haley – production coordination

Artwork and design

  • Rage Against the Machine – art direction
  • Aimee Macauley – art direction
  • Joey Krebs, The Phantom Street Artist – original spraypainted artwork
  • Danny Clinch – photography
  • Matt DeMello (as "eye cue") – photography
  • Steven Tirona – additional photography

Studios

  • A&M Studios, Los Angeles, CA – recording, mixing
  • Royaltone Studios, Los Angeles, CA – recording, mixing
  • Silent Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA – recording, mixing
  • Southern Tracks, Atlanta, GA – recording, mixing
  • Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA – recording, mixing
  • Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, CA – recording, mixing
  • A&M Mastering Studios, Los Angeles, CA – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] 2
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[21] 17
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[22] 20
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[23] 25
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[24] 1
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[25] 19
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[26] 28
Europe (European Top 100 Albums)[27] 7
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[28] 2
French Albums (SNEP)[29] 10
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[30] 7
Italian Albums (FIMI)[31] 16
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[32] 1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[33] 2
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[34] 68
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[35] 11
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 4
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 15
UK Albums (Official Charts)[38] 23
UK Rock & Metal Albums (Official Charts)[39] 1
US Billboard 200[40] 1
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)[41] 43

Year-end charts

Chart (1999) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[42] 35
US Billboard 200[43] 139
Chart (2000) Position
Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[44] 169
US Billboard 200[45] 53

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[46] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[47] 3× Platinum 300,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[48] Gold 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[49] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Platinum 300,000*
United States (RIAA)[2] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Appearances in other media

"Maria" was covered by Canadian-American singer Grandson in 2019.[51]

References

  1. "Bio". Rage Against The Machine Official Site. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  2. "American album certifications – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  3. Strauss, Neil (November 11, 1999). "The Battle of Los Angeles". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  4. Wells, Steven (November 6, 1999). "The Battle of Los Angeles". NME. Archived from the original on June 16, 2000. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  5. Bassett, Jordan (October 12, 2018). "Tom Morello – 'The Atlas Underground'". NME. Retrieved September 3, 2025. ...Morello and the gang released four essential, politicised rap-rock albums between 1992 and 2000.
  6. A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire, Marxists.org
  7. "The Street Phantom - Artist's Statement at Graffiti Verite.com". Graffitiverite.com. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  8. Dianne Frisbee. "5 Street Artists Pioneering the Future of Design". Elevation. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  9. Sharp, Tyler (June 19, 2018). "Watch Rage Against the Machine Play First Show 26 Years Ago". Loudwire. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  10. Bush, John. "The Battle of Los Angeles – Rage Against the Machine". AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  11. Hermes, Will (November 1, 1999). "The Battle of Los Angeles". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 3, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  12. Sullivan, James (October 31, 1999). "Rage Still at Forefront Of Rock's Revolution". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  13. "Listen Up, Elves!". Los Angeles Times. December 2, 1999. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  14. Larson, Jeremy D. (August 9, 2020). "Rage Against the Machine: The Battle of Los Angeles". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  15. Tate, Greg (2004). "Rage Against the Machine". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 672–73. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8.
  16. Smith, RJ (December 1999). "The New Machine Age". Spin. Vol. 15, no. 12. pp. 213–14. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  17. Gundersen, Edna (November 2, 1999). "Rap-metal quartet rages rhythmically for justice". USA Today.
  18. Best of Rock & Metal - Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten (in German). Rock Hard. 2005. p. 61. ISBN 978-3-89880-517-9.
  19. "The Top 20 best metal albums of 1999". Metal Hammer. Future plc. January 21, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  20. "Australiancharts.com – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  21. "Austriancharts.at – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  22. "Ultratop.be – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  23. "Ultratop.be – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  24. "Rage Against the Machine Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  25. "Listen - Danmarks Officielle Hitliste - Udarbejdet af AIM Nielsen for IFPI Danmark - Uge 44". Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). Copenhagen. November 14, 1999.
  26. "Dutchcharts.nl – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  27. "Eurochart Top 100 Albums - November 20, 1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 47. November 20, 1999. p. 18. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  28. "Rage Against the Machine: The Battle of Los Angeles" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  29. "Lescharts.com – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  30. "Offiziellecharts.de – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  31. "Hits of the World - Italy". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 20, 1999. p. 88. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
  32. "Charts.nz – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  33. "Norwegiancharts.com – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  34. "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 7/11/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  35. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  36. "Swedishcharts.com – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  37. "Swisscharts.com – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  38. "Official Albums Chart on 7/11/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  39. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart on 7/11/1999 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  40. "Rage Against the Machine Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  41. "Rage Against the Machine Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  42. "ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 1999". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  43. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  44. "Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2000". Jam!. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  45. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2000". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  46. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  47. "Canadian album certifications – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles". Music Canada. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  48. "Japanese album certifications – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved March 31, 2026. Select 1999年11月 on the drop-down menu
  49. "New Zealand album certifications – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  50. "British album certifications – Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 31, 2026. Select albums in the Formats field. Type The Battle of Los Angeles Rage Against the Machine in the "Search:" field.
  51. Childers, Chad (May 31, 2019). "Grandson Unleashes Cover of Rage Against the Machine's 'Maria'". Loudwire. Retrieved May 6, 2023.