Jul18

Boots Riley Interviews Unity Lewis

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With cats like Paris, The Coup, and Michael Franti, the Bay Area has a long history of political rappers. So, it’s no surprise that one of the brightest new socially conscious MCs Unity Lewis (a.k.a Young Precise) calls Oakland his home.
The son and grandson of political activists, Unity Lewis is readying an EP, Audio Veve, for release later this month. In the meantime, Unity caught up with one of political rap’s icons, Boots Riley of The Coup, who Unity says is one of his personal heros.
Boots recently wrote a movie script, Sorry to Bother You, based on his experience as a telemarketer. Of course The Coup will provide the soundtrack for the film and will be released on Anti/Epitaph. After that, a new Street Sweeper Social Club with Tom Morello album. In the meantime, exclusively for URB, old guard puts forth questions for new comer Unity Lewis:

BOOTS: How do you hope your music will affect the world?
UNITY: Ultimately, I hope my music will uplift the consciousness of this planet by making people aware. When one is fully aware of self and surroundings this can create harmony between that person and nature. The concept of duality stifles humanity. My ancestors saw no separation between, you, me, them, nature and all of creation. 

BOOTS: Who is your audience, or who do you want it to be?
UNITY: I want every one in the world to listen to my music. I am not discriminating. My music is for everyone, even those who are not ready yet.

BOOTS: What are you usually doing while you listen to music?
UNITY: Music has healing properties that have been medically proven to improve the quality of life, so when I listen to music it is usually accompanied with another stress relieving activity like drawing or dancing. Sometimes music will be on to calm my nerves and help me through a stressful time. I also play music to motivate me when I am getting ready to go out, in my car, on the train, plane or sometimes even at work.

BOOTS: How do you want people to feel when they listen to your songs?
UNITY: When people listen to my songs I want them to feel connected to me. I want people to feel one with the unity that my being represents, which is bigger than me as merely an individual. I see my creative energy working as a mouthpiece for what our collective consciousness feels, thinks and experiences above and below the surface.

BOOTS: What instrument would you play if your vocal chords were gone?
UNITY: I am already into making beats and producing so if my vocal cords were gone I would become a super producer and learn every instrument. As a producer of music, knowing as many instruments as you can learn is beneficial, just as it is beneficial for a writer or performer of lyrics to learn as many languages possible. Instruments can be used like vocal cords to communicate a vast range of ideas and emotions.
So what’s going on with you Boots?

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