History of the Bay Episode 67: Boots Riley is one of the most unique artists in Bay Area hip-hop, whose career spans different mediums and has always been rooted in revolutionary politics. He has been involved in community organizing since high school, supporting movements such as labor unions, prison abolition, police brutality, and much more. As a founding member of The Coup along with E-Roc and Pam the Funkstress (RIP), Boots used music to spread his message. His contemporaries include Spice 1, E-40, and 2pac, and he's released albums on major labels and independents. Around 9/11, The Coup was thrust into controversy over the twin towers coincidentally being depicted on their album cover, leading Boots to debate Bill Maher on national TV. Recently, his main focus has been filmmaking and his new series "I'm A Virgo" is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. In this detailed conversation, Boots discusses his early history, the current situation in Gaza, his opinions on activism, and much more.