“When we were doing shows in the mid-'90s, the audiences were 95% black. What's happened now is the gentrification of hip-hop. A lot of cities passed ordinances that made it hard for black audiences to gather in large groups. Clubs are more open to hip-hop now 'cause it's the same crowd that goes to rock shows.”

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.