Boots Riley Talks Coup Album Cover Reaction

Philly.com’s Tom Moon talked to Coup rapper aymond “Boots” Riley about the general reaction to the group following the attacks of September 11, since the group’s planned album cover had them blowing up the World Trade Center. Riley said, “It was weird, all of a sudden people were talking about us. Saying some racist [stuff] and some things that showed to me they had no idea what the Coup is about. Some of the hip-hop message boards got really hateful. Make no mistake: I was saddened by what happened [in the attacks]. But I can’t help that it did bring awareness about what we’re doing.”

Unfortunately the fluff piece doesn’t address the likely real reason for attacks against Riley, who after the attacks pointed the finger at the U.S. government and said “The Coup does not support and has no respect for the American flag,” and that “No one will be admitted to a Coup show wearing red, white and blue — they’re violent gang colors.”