Zack de la Rocha Goes ‘Digging for Windows’ with El-P

Rage Against the Machine frontman Zack de la Rocha has returned with "Digging for Windows," his first new music in over a decade. Produced by El-P, the clamoring rap track is set to appear on a new solo album that's slated for a 2017 release, according to El. Listen below. The two last crossed paths in 2014 on "Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)", a hard-hitting highlight off Run the Jewels' RTJ2.

Don't mistake the song's sudden release via BitTorrent for an impulsive decision to go solo: Several years ago, de la Rocha scrapped a 20-track project conceived in the late ’90s, a press release points out. (During that time, he hit the studio with DJ Shadow, who later called the project's shelving "soul-crushing.")  At any rate, it's nice to know that the guy's staying busy while the Rage crew hit the road with Chuck D and B-Real as Prophets of Rage.

Speaking of rage — judging from the lyrics to "Digging for Windows", it doesn't seem like de la Rocha's very excited about this election. (Then again, is anyone?) "I stare at a future so toxic," he raps, "No trust in the dust of a promise / Won't mark the name on a ballot / So they can be free to devour our options." Is that the dude's way of saying he's going to skip out on the whole thing à la Killer Mike and stay at his (presumably large) house, or is he obliquely referring to an imminent plan to write in Vermin Supreme (because his pony-for-everyone platform's more or less in line with Rage's progressive beliefs)? Nobody knows for sure, but I'd like to think he's partially subtweeting a certain option-devouring, hyper-conservative, high-ranking Rage Against the Machine fan.

Oh, and a quick PSA to all my fellow jaded Americans: I know participating in the dreaded two-party system has the potential to turn your hard-earned, snow-white moral purity a little yellow, but there's a lot at stake in 2016 — not just nationally, but at the state and local level. Don't be edgy. Just vote already.