Pick a Bigger Weapon:The Coup

Artist: The Coup

Date Released: April 25, 2006

Label: Epitaph

Produced By:

Tracklisting:
 * 1) Bullets and Love
 * 2) We are the Ones
 * 3) Laugh/Love/Fuck
 * 4) My Favorite Mutiny feat. Black Thought and Talib Kweli
 * 5) ijuswannalayaroundalldayinbedwithyou
 * 6) Head (Of State)
 * 7) ShoYoAss
 * 8) Yes 'Em to Death
 * 9) Ass-Breath Killers
 * 10) Get that Monkey Off Your Back
 * 11) MindFuck (A New Equation)
 * 12) Two Enthusiastic Thumbs Down
 * 13) I Love Boosters!
 * 14) Tiffany Hall
 * 15) BabyLet'sHaveABabyBeforeBushDoSomethin'Crazy feat. Silk E
 * 16) Captin Sterling's Little Problem
 * 17) The Stand

Review: A good rap album should be political and humorous, racy and ridiculous, forward thinking and reminiscent, not mention funky as hell, and 15-year veterans of the political rap scene, The Coup, do just that as they drop the irresistible ‘Pick a Bigger Weapon’ on Epitaph’s growing rap roster (Dangerdoom, Blackalicious, Sage Francis‘]). Emcee [[Boots Riley and DJ Pam the Funkstress return after a five-year hiatus with the second best rap album of 2006 thus far (behind Ghostface’s Fishscale).  Boots’ always present political activism shines brightly through his lyrics, but it never gets too serious with a healthy does of comic-relief strung throughout the album.  The brilliance really comes out when he pairs the two together like ‘Laugh/Love/Fuck’s sing-along chorus, “I’m here to laugh, love, fuck and drink liquor/and help the damn revolution come quicker.”  Boots’ vocal styling never flat-lines either as he raps with emphasis and vigor, coloring each track with his off-kilter rhyme schemes and odd syllable stresses.  The music is boisterous and damn funky as well, echoing Parliament and Prince from start to finish.  Guest artists include versus from The Roots’ Black Thought and Talib Kweli, guitar solos from Tom Morello and Tony! Toni! Toné!’s D’Wayne Wiggins and even Dead Kennedy’s Jello Biafra shows up for a skit.  Rap that’s political, catchy and fun is very rare these days, so albums like these are essential for hip-hop to keep its roots.  Who would of thought that 15 years after political rap’s golden age, superstars of the time are either long gone or starring on reality TV series (though Flavor Flav is probably the only reality star I can actually enjoy), but The Coup, overlooked for most of their career, would still be bringing the most potent rap in all of the genre. Mpardaiolo