For months now, we've been hearing rumors about Rage Against the Machine that suggested the band, who've reunited for a spate of successful gigs, would soon be hitting the studio to write and record the follow-up to 2000's cover-filled Renegades. Obviously, you've got to take such rumors with a grain of salt, considering Rage's history. But then again, stranger things have definitely happened.

MusicRadar, citing a "source" within the band's label, Sony, reported that rumor, saying that Rage was prepping new material for an album to be released next year. "We're hopeful," the source apparently said, "but a new album is far from definite." The story was picked up by several sites, and fans responded with a great deal of skepticism — as well they should have.

We decided to go straight to the source and reached out to guitarist Tom Morello — who has been busy with his solo project, the Nightwatchman, and will make an appearance on Cypress Hill's upcoming LP — by e-mail this morning, asking him whether there was any truth to these rumors. He got back to us a few minutes later with exactly the kind of response we were anticipating. "Nope," he wrote. Short, sweet and concise. Let's hope this denial puts these Rage recording rumors to rest once and for all.

Long-running, sweet-leaf-loving rappers Cypress Hill are in the process of making their first new album in four years, according to founding member Sen Dog, who told Billboard.com that the group has finished 30 songs for the untitled project. Dog described the album as "definitely hard-core hip-hop" and said the trio hopes to have the album out by the spring, though they’re currently looking for a new record deal.

Sen Dog boasted that it would include writing and production collaboration with Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello on the song "Rise Up" and a cameo from Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda on another untitled track. Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash is slated to appear on a tune called "Front Line."

All of which begs the question, "Wait, Cypress Hill are still together?"

Police arrested 102 people last night after a Rage Against the Machine concert in Minneapolis led to a spontaneous protest against the Republican National Convention, which was taking place in nearby St. Paul. Unlike Monday's protest held just outside the RNC site, the impromptu march didn’t involve vandalism. Check out the complete story of the arrested Rage Against the Machine fans.

Do you think that the police overreacted to the marchers?

Rage Against the Machine will give new meaning to the phrase "counterprogramming" when they plug in at Minneapolis' Target Center on September 3 — in the midst of the Republican National Convention, which will be taking place just across the river in St. Paul that week. Additionally, Rage guitarist Tom Morello will hook up with fellow well-known lefty Steve Earle to play a gig on September 1 in St. Paul, the first night of the convention.

Read the complete story here.