Riley hasn't been shy about weighing in on what he perceives to be a "fake 'crime wave' narrative" in Oakland - largely centered on a rise in "bipping" and non-violent retail theft - that has been weaponized against Black folks and other people of color.
Fans of Riley's work will have to wait until the film's release to see what insight it offers into the politicization of those narratives, but a quick listen to this 2006 song by Riley's band, The Coup - also called "I Love Boosters!" - can give some glimpse into his sensibility.
For some of y'all folks, this stuff might faze ya / This ain't the way the society raised ya / But most of it was made by children in Asia / The stores make money off of very low wages / The next time you see two women running out the Gap / With arms full of clothes still strapped to the rack / Once they jump in the car, hit the gas and scat / If you have to say something, just stand and clap.
Collection
[
|
...
]