Boots Riley

Riley was born in 1971 in Chicago into a family of social justice organizers. He is the son of Walter Riley, an African-American attorney, and Anitra Patterson, whose father was African-American and whose mother was a Jewish refugee from Königsberg who fled Europe with her parents as a teenager in 1938.{{cite journal |url=http://bostonreview.net/race-literature-culture/robin-d-g-kelley-sorry-not-sorry|title=Sorry, Not Sorry|first=Robin D. G.|last=Kelley|date=11 September 2018|journal=Boston Review|access-date=14 February 2019}}

By the time Boots was one, his family had moved to Detroit, and when he was six they moved to Oakland,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/22/magazine/how-boots-riley-infiltrated-hollywood.html|title=How Boots Riley Infiltrated Hollywood|last=Weiner|first=Jonah|date=May 22, 2018|work=The New York Times Magazine|access-date=May 23, 2018|language=en}} where he later attended Oakland High School.{{cite news|last1=Arnold|first1=Eric K.|date=26 April 2006|title=The Life of Riley|work=Easy Bay Express|url=https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/the-life-of-riley/Content?oid=1080907|access-date=19 August 2020}} When the school faced cutbacks in the 1980s, 2000 of Oakland High's 2200 students protested by participating in a walkout organized by Riley and friends.{{cite book |last1=Rubin |first1=Riley |title=Creative Activism: Conversations on Music, Film, Literature, and Other Radical Arts |date=17 May 2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |location=USA |isbn=9781501337239 |pages=187–188 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ym9PDwAAQBAJ&q=boots+rileyy+2000+student+walkout+oakland+high&pg=PA187 |access-date=20 January 2021}} Interested in politics at a young age, Riley joined the International Committee Against Racism at age 14{{Cite web|url=https://stanfordpulse.com/2019/02/20/boots-riley/|title=Boots Riley: Activism Before Art|date=2019-02-20|website=PULSE Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-19}} and the radical Progressive Labor Party at age 15.

File:Boots Riley performing with Galactic at Voodoo Fest.JPG

{{split portions|The Coup|date=February 2019}}

In 1991, Riley founded the political hip hop group The Coup with E-roc.{{cite web |last1=Thorn |first1=Jesse |title=Boots Riley: The Coup, Sorry to Bother You, and more |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/23/820433758/boots-riley-the-coup-sorry-to-bother-you-and-more |website=www.npr.org |access-date=18 January 2021 |date=24 March 2020}} Alongside rappers Spice 1 and Mopreme Shakur (then known as Mocedes), they released a song on a 1991 compilation album called Dope Like a Pound or a Key, released by Wax That Azz Records.[https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/speakers/423418/Boots-Riley Boots Riley Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530203849/https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/speakers/423418/Boots-Riley |date=2023-05-30}}. All American Entertainment. All American Speakers Bureau. Group DJ Pam the Funkstress joined the following year.Espinoza, Joshua. 2017 December 29. "[https://www.complex.com/music/2017/12/boots-riley-shares-story-on-pam-funktress Boots Riley Shares Heartfelt Post Remembering Pam the Funkstress]." Complex. Riley was both chief lyric writer and music producer of The Coup's albums.

In 1992, The Coup signed to Wild Pitch Records/EMI, and released their debut album Kill My Landlord in 1993. Two of the album's singles, "Dig It" and "Not Yet Free" received play on national Black radio, BET and Yo! MTV Raps.

In 1993, E-40 released the video for "Practice Lookin' Hard", a song based around Riley's lyric, "I got a mirror in my pocket and I practice lookin' hard", from the song "Not Yet Free".{{Cite web|title=E-40's 'Practice Lookin' Hard' – Discover the Sample Source|url=http://www.whosampled.com/sample/89309/E-40-Practice-Lookin'-Hard-The-Coup-Not-Yet-Free/|access-date=January 11, 2017|website=WhoSampled}} The video featured Riley singing the chorus while he, E-40 and Tupac Shakur reflected light into the camera from a handheld mirror while dancing around.{{Citation|title=E-40 – Practice Lookin' Hard|date=November 24, 2009|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avkToQqG1qw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/avkToQqG1qw |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|access-date=January 11, 2017}}{{cbignore}}

In 1994, The Coup released their second album, Genocide & Juice, featuring guest appearances by E-40 and Spice 1. Fueled by video play and some radioplay for the single "Fat Cats and Bigga Fish", the album shot up the charts, but stalled when EMI absorbed Wild Pitch.{{cite web |last1=Rabin |first1=Nathan |title=The Coup |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-coup-1798207982 |website=www.avclub.com |access-date=18 January 2021 |date=17 February 1999}} At this point, E-roc left The Coup on amicable terms.{{cite web |last1=Ducker |first1=Jesse |title=The Coup's 'Steal This Album' Turns 20 |url=https://www.albumism.com/features/the-coup-steal-this-album-turns-20-anniversary-retrospective |website=www.albumism.com |access-date=18 January 2021 |date=9 November 2018}}

1998's Steal This Album, released on indie label Dogday Records, was called "a masterpiece of slow-rolling West Coast funk" by Rolling Stone magazine.{{cite news|date=December 9, 1999|title=Coup de grace|page=51|work=The Rep|publisher=The Arizona Republic|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/124495728|url-access=subscription|access-date=January 11, 2017|via=Newspapers.com}} The single, "Me and Jesus the Pimp in a '79 Granada Last Night", was an eight-minute song about the grown-up son of a prostitute driving his mother's killer to a secluded place in which to murder him.{{cite web |last1=Kogan |first1=Frank |title=Party to the People |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2001/11/06/party-to-the-people/ |website=www.villagevoice.com |access-date=19 January 2021 |date=6 November 2001}} A novel, Too Beautiful for Words by Monique W. Morris, based on the story characters and descriptions in the song, was published by HarperCollins in 2000.{{cite web |last1=Pahwa |first1=Nitish |title=A Beginner's Guide to the Music of Sorry to Bother You Director Boots Riley |url=https://slate.com/culture/2018/07/the-coups-best-songs-a-beginners-guide-to-the-music-of-sorry-to-bother-you-director-boots-riley.html |website=www.slate.com |access-date=19 January 2021 |date=19 July 2018}} Del the Funky Homosapien guests on the track "The Repo Man Sings for You".

The group's fourth album, Party Music, was released on 75 Ark Records in 2001. It was re-released in 2005 by Epitaph Records. The original cover art depicted group members standing in front of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center as they explode.{{cite web|title=Album cover of WTC blast pulled|url=http://www.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/13/wtc.cover/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011113114947/http://www.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/13/wtc.cover/|archive-date=November 13, 2001|access-date=July 9, 2018|work=CNN}}{{cite web|title=The Coup Cover Art|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/coup-detat/|access-date=July 9, 2018|website=Snopes|date=20 September 2001}} Riley is depicted pushing a button on a bass guitar tuner and DJ Pam the Funkstress is shown holding conductor's wands. The photo was taken in May 2001, with the album scheduled to be released just after the September 11, 2001 attacks. In response to the uncanny similarity of the artwork with the attacks, the release was delayed until an alternative cover could be prepared. The album hit No. 8 in the 2001 Village Voice Pazz and Jop Poll, was named "Pop Album of the Year" by The Washington Post, and "Hip-Hop Album of the Year" by Rolling Stone. The album included a guest appearance by dead prez on the song "Get Up".

Riley released a controversial press release on September 18, 2001, later published in the book, Another World Is Possible. The press release stated that "last week's events were symptomatic of a larger backlash against U.S. corporate imperialism". The controversy surrounding the cover art, press release and the lyrics from Party Music (specifically the song "5 Million Ways to Kill a CEO") led to Riley appearing on local network news affiliates all over the U.S. He appeared on Fox News's Hannity and Colmes and ABC's Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. During this time, conservative commentator Michelle Malkin called Riley's lyrics "a stomach-turning example of anti-Americanism disguised as highbrow intellectual expression".{{Cite news|last=Malkin|first=Michelle|date=December 30, 2001|title=Stop giving America a bad rap|newspaper=Townhall|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/michellemalkin/2001/12/30/stop_giving_america_a_bad_rap|url-status=live|access-date=January 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111212801/http://townhall.com/columnists/michellemalkin/2001/12/30/stop_giving_america_a_bad_rap|archive-date=January 11, 2017}} The Independent concluded it was "protest album of the year, by a million-man march".{{Cite news|date=November 9, 2001|title=Album: The Coup|newspaper=Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-the-coup-9210493.html|access-date=July 24, 2018}}

In 2006, The Coup released Pick a Bigger Weapon on Epitaph Records, featuring guest appearances by Tom Morello, Talib Kweli, Black Thought from The Roots, and Jello Biafra.{{cite web |last1=Newlin |first1=Jimmy |title=Review: The Coup, Pick a Bigger Weapon |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/the-coup-pick-a-bigger-weapon/ |website=www.slantmagazine.com |access-date=20 January 2021 |date=23 April 2006}}

In 2003, guitarist Tom Morello invited Riley to be part of the "Tell Us the Truth Tour", which was meant to shed light on the monopolization of the media and the coming FTAA agreements.{{cite web |last1=Katz |first1=Larry |title=Can We Handle the Truth? Audioslave's Tom Morello Talks About Politically Oriented Tour |url=https://archive.commondreams.org/scriptfiles/headlines03/1119-10.htm |website=www.archive.commondreams.org |publisher=Boston Herald |access-date=18 January 2021 |date=19 November 2003}} The tour, hosted by Janeane Garofalo and Naomi Klein, featured acoustic performances by Riley, Morello, Billy Bragg, Steve Earle, Mike Mills, and Jill Sobule.{{cite web |last1=Braiker |first1=Brian |title=Raging against The Machine |url=https://www.newsweek.com/raging-against-machine-133785 |website=www.newsweek.com |access-date=18 January 2021 |date=25 November 2003}}{{cite web |last1=Dansby |first1=Andrew |title=Steve Earle Speaks Truth |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/steve-earle-speaks-truth-246823/ |website=www.rollingstone.com |access-date=18 January 2021 |date=7 November 2003}}

In 2006, Morello approached Riley to form a band together under the name Street Sweeper. The duo, who later changed their name to Street Sweeper Social Club, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2009. They toured in support of it along with Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction.{{cite web |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=Tom Morello's Street Sweeper Social Club Posts First Single |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tom-morellos-street-sweeper-social-club-posts-first-single-109365/ |website=www.rollingstone.com |access-date=18 January 2021 |date=28 April 2009}} On May 24, a press release went out announcing Street Sweeper Social Club as one of the headliners of the 2010 Rock the Bells tour. Street Sweeper Social Club released The Ghetto Blaster EP in late July 2010.

In 1991, the same year Riley co-founded The Coup, he and other activists and hip hop artists created the Mau Mau Rhythm Collective.{{Cite web|last=Cook|first=Dave|date=1996|title=Should rap artist run for political office?|url=http://www.daveyd.com/politicaloff.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111215430/http://www.daveyd.com/politicaloff.html|archive-date=January 11, 2017|access-date=January 11, 2017|website=daveyd.com}} The Collective put on "Hip-Hop Edutainment Concerts", which allied with and promoted the campaigns of community-based organizations like Women's Economic Agenda Project (WEAP), Copwatch, International Campaign To Free Geronimo Pratt, the Black Panther Alumni Association, and various anti-police brutality projects."[https://www.carleton.edu/news/stories/west-coast-hip-hop-artist-and-activist-to-appear-at-carleton-college/ West Coast Hip Hop Artist and Activist to Appear at Carleton College]." News. Carleton College. 2008 January 25. The Collective would use the growing popularity of their concerts to bring a large number of youth to take over a closed Oakland city council meeting and hold a public meeting.

In 2005, Riley produced the score for an episode of The Simpsons entitled "Pranksta Rap".Riley, B. [BootsRiley] (August 23, 2014). 4those watching The Simpsons marathon: Episode 9 of Season 16, "Pranksta Rap" is scored by me. I did not write those raps tho. [https://twitter.com/BootsRiley/status/503240877070745600 Twitter]

In 2007 and 2008, Riley toured heavily with New Orleans–based band Galactic.{{cite web |author= |title=Galactic Announces Fall Tour with Boots Riley, Chail 2NA and Lifesavas |url=https://glidemagazine.com/10065/galactic-announces-fall-tour-with-boots-riley-chail-2na-and-lifesavas/ |website=www.glidemagazine.com |access-date=20 January 2021 |date=15 August 2007}} The band performed The Coup songs behind Riley's vocals and they also performed their collaboration, "Hustle Up". In 2008, while performing with Galactic, police interrupted the concert and Riley was charged with using "abusive language"—a charge that had not been laid in 26 years, and never before against a performer.{{cite web |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=The Coup's Boots Riley Talks Abusive Language Charges After Virginia Festival Scandal |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-coups-boots-riley-talks-abusive-language-charges-after-virginia-festival-scandal-254954/ |website=www.rollingstone.com |access-date=20 January 2021 |date=30 June 2008}}

In 2010 and 2011, Riley recorded with Ursus Minor on the album I Will Not Take "But" for an Answer, and toured with the group in France.{{cite web |title=Ursus Minor invite boots riley & desdamona |url=https://www.spectable.com/ursus-minor-invite-boots-riley-desdamona/129231 |website=www.spectable.com |access-date=20 January 2021}}

In 2012, Riley finished a screenplay for "an absurdist dark comedy with aspects of magical realism and science fiction", inspired by his own time working as a telemarketer.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/02/625321886/boots-riley-mines-his-experiences-as-a-telemarketer-in-sorry-to-bother-you|title=Boots Riley Mines His Experiences as a Telemarketer in 'Sorry to Bother You'|last=Gross|first=Terry|date=July 2, 2018|work=Fresh Air|access-date=July 3, 2018|publisher=National Public Radio|author-link=Terry Gross}} In 2017, he was able to begin production on his screenplay for Sorry to Bother You, directing it himself, with stars Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson and Steven Yeun.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/tessa-thompson-lakeith-stanfield-steven-yeun-movie-sorry-to-bother-you-1202113786/|title=Tessa Thompson, Lakeith Stanfield, Steven Yeun To Star In 'Sorry To Bother You'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anita|last=Busch|date=June 15, 2017|access-date=June 27, 2017}} The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2018, and was theatrically released in the United States on July 6, 2018, by Annapurna Pictures. The film received acclaim for its cast and concept, as well as Riley's screenplay and direction.

In July 2018, Riley signed a TV script deal with Media Res. In June 2020, he announced plans for a new seven-episode series entitled I'm a Virgo, starring Jharrel Jerome. The show premiered at South by Southwest on March 11, 2023, and was released on Amazon Prime Video on June 23rd 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/boots-riley-announces-new-tv-series-im-a-virgo-starring-jharrel-jerome/|title=Boots Riley Announces New TV Series I'm a Virgo Starring Jharrel Jerome|first=Sam|last=Sodomsky|website=Pitchfork|date=22 June 2020}}

In 2021, Riley signed a two-year overall television deal with Media Res.{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2021-10-26|title=Boots Riley Inks Overall Deal With Media Res|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/boots-riley-overall-deal-media-res-1234862484/|access-date=2021-10-27|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}

File:Boots Riley 20160118-1099.jpg, 2017]]

Riley identifies as a communist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/8xp39v/boots-riley-talks-about-a-socialist-alternative-for-society|title=Boots Riley Talks About a Socialist Alternative for Society|first=Casper|last=Hughes|date=January 3, 2019}}

When E-Roc left The Coup in 1994, Riley decided to stop making music in favor of forming an organization called The Young Comrades,{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/boots-rileys-career-of-confronting-capitalism-finally-hits-the-big-screen-with-sorry-to-bother-you/2018/07/06/0e341322-809b-11e8-bb6b-c1cb691f1402_story.html|title=Boots Riley's career of confronting capitalism finally hits the big screen with 'Sorry to Bother You'|first=Julian|last=Kimble|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 7, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://hub.jhu.edu/2019/04/04/boots-riley-foreign-affairs-symposium-hopkins/|title=Artist and activist Boots Riley talks film, capitalism, social justice at Johns Hopkins|date=April 4, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://sfbayview.com/2020/08/bay-area-teenagers-are-taking-the-reins-in-the-midst-of-recent-rebellions/|title=Bay Area teenagers are taking the reins in the midst of recent rebellions|date=August 3, 2020}} with a few other radical, black community organizers including journalist and activist JR Valrey. The organization mounted a few important campaigns in Oakland which yielded some minor victories, such as the campaign against Oakland's "no cruising" ordinance.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Top-Cop-Says-Cruising-Law-Needs-Fixes-Oakland-2972350.php|title=Top Cop Says Cruising Law Needs Fixes / Oakland committee meets over youths' demands|newspaper=Sfgate |date=July 24, 1996}}

In 2000, Riley, through his workshop on Art and Organizing at La Peña Cultural Center, led a group of young artists to create "Guerilla Hip-Hop Concerts" on a flatbed truck which traveled throughout Oakland to protest California's Proposition 21.{{Cite web|url=http://www.daveyd.com/interviewbootsaustralia.html|title=An Interview w/ Boots of the Coup|last=Pollard|first=Mark|website=daveyd.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111213439/http://www.daveyd.com/interviewbootsaustralia.html|archive-date=January 11, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=January 11, 2017|quote=We had a flatbed truck and basically make it into a stage and we’d get rappers and we’d drive around neighborhoods and do a show – guerilla theatre. We’d called them guerilla hip hop concerts.}} The workshop also distributed tens of thousands free cassettes of "The Rumble", which he called "newspapers on tape.{{cite web |last1=St.Ofle |first1=Richard |title=Make Change Now • Boots Riley Isn't Sorry to Bother You |url=https://submergemag.com/lifestyle/boots-riley/ |website=www.submergemag.com |access-date=20 January 2021 |date=11 February 2020}}

In 2002, Riley taught a daily high school class, "Culture and Resistance: Persuasive Lyric Writing", at the School of Social Justice and Community Development in East Oakland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/speakers/423418/Boots-Riley|title=Boots Riley | Speakers Bureau and Booking Agent Info|website=www.allamericanspeakers.com|access-date=2020-03-16|archive-date=2023-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530203849/https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/speakers/423418/Boots-Riley|url-status=dead}}

During the fall of 2011, Riley became heavily involved with the Occupy Oakland movement.[http://it.peacereporter.net/articolo/32086/Usa%2C+tensione+tra+sindacati+e+Ows "Usa, tensione tra sindacati e Ows"], Peace Reporter, December 14, 2011.{{cite web |last1=Mahler |first1=Jonathan |title=Oakland, the Last Refuge of Radical America |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/magazine/oakland-occupy-movement.html |website=www.nytimes.com |access-date=20 January 2021 |date=1 August 2012}} In 2018, he spoke at the Socialism 2018 conference.{{Cite web|url=http://socialistworker.org/2018/07/11/seeing-ahead-from-the-high-points-of-socialism|title=Seeing ahead from the high points of Socialism|website=SocialistWorker.org}}

At the 34th Independent Spirit Awards in 2019, Riley criticized U.S. involvement in the 2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis during his acceptance speech for the Best First Feature award for Sorry To Bother You. His speech, which was cut short, was delivered to the press.{{cite news|last1=Greene|first1=Steve|title=Boots Riley Finishes Incendiary Venezuela-Centered Spirit Award Speech Backstage|publisher=Indie Wire|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/02/boots-riley-independent-spirit-awards-speech-venezuela-1202046408/|access-date=26 April 2021}}

In February 2020, Boots announced his support for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2020 United States presidential election.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/BootsRiley/status/1229938806150717440 |title=I have never voted for a candidate in my life. But I will be voting for Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary and the general election. If I'm doing that, there are probably tens of millions in that same position. Let me explain why I'm doing this now}}

Riley is a supporter of Palestinian liberation.{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Alex |date=November 5, 2023 |title=Boots Riley: "The Only Answer Is Organizing on the Job" |url=https://jacobin.com/2023/11/boots-riley-hollywood-gaza-class-struggle-wga-art |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Jacobin |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Voynovskaya |first=Nastia |date=2023-10-30 |title=Bay Area Artists Raise $13,000 for Palestinian Children's Relief Fund |url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13937219/bay-area-artists-palestinian-childrens-relief-fund-continental-club |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=KQED |language=en-us}} In 2022, he signed onto the Musicians For Palestine pledge, refusing to perform in Israel following the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.{{Cite web |date= |title=Our names |url=https://musiciansforpalestine.com/our-names-2-0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927125619/https://musiciansforpalestine.com/our-names-2-0 |archive-date=2022-09-27 |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Musicians for Palestine}} He signed an October 2023 open letter, Artists4Ceasefire, calling for a ceasefire during the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.{{Cite web |title=Artists4Ceasefire |url=https://www.artists4ceasefire.org/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Artists4Ceasefire |language=en-US}}

Riley has defended the annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China, denouncing Tibet as a CIA-backed "fuedal{{Sic}} slave-owning society", with practices that China had attempted to stop before their invasion.{{Cite tweet |last=Riley |first=Boots |user=BootsRiley |number=1645837999303966720 |title=Aight. Here's a quick tutorial on how Tibet was a fuedal slave-owning society (practices China was pushing them to abolish) and how the CIA worked with the Dalai Lama and other slaveowners to keep those practices |access-date=December 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609235356/https://twitter.com/BootsRiley/status/1645837999303966720 |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |url-status=live}} The advocacy group International Campaign for Tibet criticized him for these statements.{{Cite web |last=N |first=John |date=2023-04-14 |title=When principles clash: Tibet, anti-imperialism and the left |url=https://weblog.savetibet.org/2023/04/when-principles-clash-tibet-anti-imperialism-and-the-left/ |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=ICT Blog |language=en-US}}

• Kill My Landlord (1993)
• Genocide & Juice (1994)
• Steal This Album (1998)
• Party Music (2001)
• Pick a Bigger Weapon (2006)
• Sorry to Bother You (2012)
• Sorry to Bother You: The Soundtrack (2018)

• Street Sweeper Social Club (2009)

• 1991 – Dope Like a Pound or a Key (Compilation)
• 1994 – "Streets of Oakland" from The Big Badass by Ant Banks
• 2004 – Zugzwang by Ursus Minor
• 2007 – "Hustle Up" from From the Corner to the Block by Galactic
• 2009 – "Soledad" from Este Mundo by Rupa & the April Fishes
• 2009 - "What I Need is Something Different" from What About Me by 1 Giant Leap
• 2010 – "M M M"; "Get On With It" from I Will Not Take "But" for an Answer by Ursus Minor
• 2011 – "9/11 'til Infinity" from From the Dumpster to the Grave by Star Fucking Hipsters
• 2011 – "Black Flags" by Atari Teenage Riot
• 2014 – "Pocket Full of Slave owners" by Muja Messiah
• 2014 - "Hickory" by Kool A.D. from Word O.K.
• 2014 – "Black Is Beltza" by Fermin Muguruza
• 2015 - "Jaruba Triangle" from Goddess in Yer Way by Howardian
• 2016 - "Booty Bang" by Angelo Moore from Centuries of Heat
• 2017 - "Hit or Miss" by Libretto

{{reflist}}

{{sisterlinks|d=Q4944043|c=Category:Boots Riley|q=no|b=no|v=no|wikt=no|s=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|n=no}}

• {{IMDb name|nm1108556}}
• [http://streetsweepersocialclub.com/ Street Sweeper Social Club Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316073847/http://streetsweepersocialclub.com/ |date=2010-03-16}}

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{{Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Screenplay}}

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{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay}}

{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay}}

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Category:Jewish American activists for Palestinian solidarity

Category:American activists for Palestinian solidarity

Category:American anti-fascists

Category:Oakland High School (Oakland, California) alumni