After the Fall

Likewise, "Ghetto Manifesto" blends good-timey music with get-serious words, starting off with a vibe -- a din of revelers is heard in the background -- that recalls the beginning of Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up." Boots then boasts of writing his lyrics on parking tickets and, as his first order of business, declares: "This is my resumé-slash-resignation/A ransom note with proposed legislation." But it isn't all agit-prop with the Coup. One of the better tracks on the record is Riley's missive to his daughter, "Clean Draws," which he penned for her birthday: "This is for you and the woman you fittin' to be/Tell that boy he's wrong, girls are strong/Next time at Show-and-Tell, play him our song."

Still, it's the more controversial tunes that have made the Coup a favorite of socially aware hip-hop heads -- and a thorn in the side of the mainstream. In the current climate, when even John Lennon's "Imagine" faces problems at the radio level, Riley isn't expecting to get much airplay.

The Coup's Boots Riley and DJ Pam the Funkstress want to get this Party started.

Details

With Casual
8:30 p.m. Monday, November 12
$16.75, 303-443-3399

Fox Theatre, 1135 13th Street, Boulder

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More About

• Walter Riley
• Boots Riley
• The Coup (Musical Group)
• Hip-Hop and Rap
• War Crimes

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"The censorship that I'm facing now is about the same as ever," he says. "We've been censored all the time. When I try to go to the media, we've been blacklisted. We were censored with 'Takin' These' [an early single from Genocide and Juice]. The Box would not play 'Takin' These' because we had a scene where we were taking furniture out of Rockefeller's mansion and giving the stuff out on the street for free."

Led by a Communist and more interested in pursuing ideals than money, the Coup may never crack the mainstream. But the group does want you to free your mind so that your ass -- and a revolution -- will follow. Astute members of the hip-hop nation, pay attention and get ready for takeover.