I lived in Detroit until I was six. My older sister was living with us, and she listened to the Ohio Players and Stevie Wonder, so I grew up listening to stuff like that.
“I lived in Detroit until I was six. My older sister … Read More
I just make music based on what I believe.
“I just make music based on what I believe.” Boots … Read More
A lot of people heard about gin and juice for the first time from Snoop Dogg, but it was nothing new in rap music, and it was nothing new in the black community.
“A lot of people heard about gin and juice for the … Read More
When my daughter was born, that was the first time I cried from happiness.
“When my daughter was born, that was the first time I … Read More
I think there’s something your hormones do that makes a chemical change in the way you think.
“I think there’s something your hormones do that makes a chemical … Read More
I thought there were too many songs about people’s personal lives.
“I thought there were too many songs about people’s personal lives.” … Read More
I’ve been involved in a lot of different kinds of projects. I’ve been on straight hip hop tours. I’ve been on underground rock tours. I’ve been on multimillion selling rock shows. I’ve been in the jam band thing, and both commercial and underground hip hop. Very few people listen to one kind of music.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of different kinds of projects. … Read More
I wanted to write a song about sexism, but I didn’t want to do it in a mechanical way and be like, “Don’t be sexist!” because that’s not how I talk in regular life.
“I wanted to write a song about sexism, but I didn’t … Read More
When I was five years old, me and my cousin got into a fistfight because when “That’s the Way (I Like It)” came on the radio, he said, “That’s my song,” and I said, “No, that’s my song.”
“When I was five years old, me and my cousin got … Read More
In high school, everybody rapped. You just pounded on the table.
“In high school, everybody rapped. You just pounded on the table.” … Read More
People give out compliments because it’s polite.
“People give out compliments because it’s polite.” Boots Riley
I have tried to write songs quickly that get scrapped. I’ve also taken a long time on songs that get scrapped because you can over-think something, and you’ve squeezed the life out of it. As opposed to work of art, it looks like a really great work of craftsmanship.
“I have tried to write songs quickly that get scrapped. I’ve … Read More
Sometimes it takes time to get into what ideas actually mean to you. Even when you’re not writing a song, it’s like that.
“Sometimes it takes time to get into what ideas actually mean … Read More
What I’m trying to do is make music that people relate to, that talks about ideas that are personal but also make that connection to trying to make revolutionary change, and I don’t need to change my music to get to a certain audience.
“What I’m trying to do is make music that people relate … Read More
It’s usually important to me to get my idea out first because a lot of times my ideas will seem weird to musicians.
“It’s usually important to me to get my idea out first … Read More
All of a sudden it became that hip hop didn’t used to be about partying; hip hop used to be about putting out a message.
“All of a sudden it became that hip hop didn’t used … Read More
Becoming a father made me a lot more sentimental than I ever was before. I never cried at movies before I became a parent. I feel music more intensely. I think of my political ideas as ideas about how I want to interact with other human beings as opposed to abstract theories about how the world should be.
“Becoming a father made me a lot more sentimental than I … Read More
Death to the pigs is my basic statement.
“Death to the pigs is my basic statement.” Boots Riley
I wanted to be part of changing the world. I don’t want to just stand by and watch it be however it is.
“I wanted to be part of changing the world. I don’t … Read More