“I grew up around politics. I organized my first campaign when I was 14, a walk-out in my high school to protest the year-round school schedule.”

American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and filmmaker

Boots Riley is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and filmmaker. He is the lead vocalist of The Coup and Street Sweeper Social Club, and is known for his political activism. He made his feature film directorial debut with Sorry to Bother You in 2018, a science fiction dark comedy that he wrote and directed. The film grew out of The Coup’s 2012 album of the same name. He later created and directed the absurdist comedy series I’m a Virgo in 2023, and is also credited with the feature film I Love Boosters in 2026.