Being a pioneer in hip-hop is nothing new for Boots Riley, leader of Oakland, Calif.-based political music group The Coup. But then again, over his near-20-year career, he has continued to push himself for himself, first and foremost. After taking six years off after The Coup’s 2006 release, Pick a Bigger Weapon—though he remained busy with the Tom Morello collab, rap-rock Street Sweeper Social Club, and becoming entrenched with Occupy Oakland—Riley released The Coup’s sixth LP, Sorry to Bother You, a concept album. During the hiatus, Riley also wrote a movie—which this album serves as the soundtrack to—starring himself, based on his experience as a telemarketer (Blackalicious also worked at the same Berkeley nonprofit). Riley has said it’s a dark comedy with tinges of magical realism. Aside from being a soundtrack, the album combines old-school hip-hop (Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five) with The Clash and jumps from anthemic rockers to political punk to educational hip-hop to that good ol’ funky stuff. Support TBA.
Date: Nov 21, 2012
Time: 8 pm
Phone: 800-501-2885
Address: 638 South State Street, Salt Lake City, 84111
Where: The State Room
Date: Nov 21, 2012
Time: 8 pm
Phone: 800-501-2885
Address: 638 South State Street, Salt Lake City, 84111
Where: The State Room
