Boots Riley: Movies, Awards & Box Office

Raymond Lawrence "Boots" Riley (born April 1, 1971) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and filmmaker who has established himself as a prominent voice in political hip hop. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Riley moved to Detroit as a toddler and later to Oakland, California, where he attended Oakland High School and became deeply involved in social and political activism from a young age. He joined the International Committee Against Racism at age 14 and the Progressive Labor Party at age 15, activities that would shape his artistic vision throughout his career. In 1991, Riley founded the political hip hop group The Coup with E-roc, serving as both the chief lyric writer and music producer for the group's albums. The band signed to Wild Pitch Records/EMI in 1992 and released their debut album Kill My Landlord in 1993, followed by acclaimed records like Genocide & Juice (1994), Steal This Album (1998), Party Music (2001), and Pick a Bigger Weapon (2006). Riley's music is known for its sharp political commentary, addressing issues such as capitalism, corporate imperialism, and police brutality. In 2006, he collaborated with guitarist Tom Morello to form Street Sweeper Social Club, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2009 and touring with major acts like Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction. Beyond music, Riley has been an active community organizer, founding The Young Comrades, leading guerrilla hip-hop concerts on flatbed trucks, and teaching persuasive lyric writing at a high school in East Oakland. He made his feature film directorial debut with the science fiction dark comedy Sorry to Bother You (2018), which received critical acclaim and won the Best First Feature award at the Independent Spirit Awards. He went on to create the absurdist comedy series I'm a Virgo (2023) for Amazon Prime Video and directed the film I Love Boosters (2026). Riley is openly communist and has been involved in various activist movements, including Occupy Oakland, the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, and Palestinian liberation efforts, signing pledges such as Artists4Ceasefire and Film Workers for Palestine.