I wanted to be part of changing the world. I don't want to just stand by and watch it be however it is.
Boots RileyWhat I'm trying to do is make music that people relate to, that talks about ideas that are personal but also make that connection to trying to make revolutionary change, and I don't need to change my music to get to a certain audience.
Boots RileyAll of a sudden it became that hip hop didn't used to be about partying; hip hop used to be about putting out a message.
Boots RileyI always write knowing that people will hear it, but also hoping they'll see it. So a lot of times I make lyrical decisions based on what looks better. Also I write based on what I saw for a video. I obsess over lyrics in the hopes that they'll endure in different ways. I'm very precious about it.
Boots RileyI am a person who always feels like I am not doing the right thing because there's always so many things that need to get done.
Boots RileyI've been involved in a lot of different kinds of projects. I've been on straight hip hop tours. I've been on underground rock tours. I've been on multimillion selling rock shows. I've been in the jam band thing, and both commercial and underground hip hop. Very few people listen to one kind of music.
Boots Riley