Musicians - The Coup

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	Musicians - The Coup

The Coup is also the title of a novel by John Updike.

The Coup is the name of a hip-hop group. Based in Oakland, California, the Coup formed as a three-member group in 1992 with rappers Raymond "Boots" Riley and E-Roc along with DJ Pam the Funkstress. E-Roc left on amicable terms after the group's second album, and The Coup is now a duo.

The Coup's debut album was Kill My Landlord. In 1994 they released their second album, Genocide and Juice. After a four-year recording hiatus, the group released the critically acclaimed Steal This Album in 1998, with a title reminicent of anarchist Abbie Hoffman's Steal this Book, and a stand-out single in "Me and Jesus the Pimp in a '79 Granada Last Night". The online magazine Dusted called Steal This Album "the best hip-hop album of the 1990s". In 2001, The Coup released Party Music to widespread praise; however, in part due to distribution problems, sales of the album were low.

The Coup, politically radical in their music, align themselves with other radical hip-hop groups like Dead Prez. Their music is characterized by electronic sounds and bass-driven backbeats overlaid by humorous, cynical and sometimes violent lyrics criticizing capitalism, prostitution, American politics, and police brutality, among other things.

The group gained some national attention for the cover art of their recording Party Music. The album cover depicted group members Pam the Funkstress and Riley standing in front of the twin towers of the World Trade Center as they are destroyed by huge explosions; Riley is pushing the button on a guitar tuner. The cover art was finished in June 2001. The album's planned release date was just after the events of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and the cover art was withdrawn hastily. There was no connection between the band and the attacks. The album release was held back as alternative cover art was prepared.

Criticism

The Coup's song "5 Million Ways to Kill a CEO", with lyrics such as "throw a dollar in a vat of hot oil, when he jump in after it, watch him boil", has garnered intense criticism, specifically on the Fox News Channel.

Current Members

Boots Riley

Riley has been involved in political activism and hip hop since he was 15 years old. In 1991, he and other artists founded the Mau Mau Rhythm Collective, a group set up to use the power of hip hop music to publicize other efforts and movements. The next year, Riley founded The Coup.

Pam the Funkstress

Pam the Funkstress was a student of the late DJ Prince of Charm. In addition to DJing, she currently owns and operates a successful catering business in northern California.

Member Killed in Robbery

On November 15, 2005, Tarus Jackson, who had joined the group as a "hype man", was shot dead during a robbery at his home in Oakland. As hype man, Tarus (AKA Terrance) was charged with pumping up the crowd before shows.

Sources

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for The Coup ]

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