Oakland hip-hop band The Coup have released a new single “OYAHYTT,” featuring actor Lakeith Stanfield. This song is the first single to be released for the soundtrack of the film Sorry To Bother You, which was directed by The Coup’s lead vocalist Boots Riley, and features Stanfield in the starring role.
“OYAHYTT,” stands for “Oh Yeah, Alright, Hell Yeah, That’s Tight,” which serves as the songs main hook. After the opening, Riley and Stanfield both deliver rap verses. The track features the The Coup’s signature blend of funk, punk rock and hip-hop that they’ve been well known for.
Sorry To Bother You, shares its name with The Coup’s 2012 studio album. The band made an appearance at SXSW in 2014, before dealing with the loss of their DJ and turntablist, Pam The Funktress, who passed away last December from organ failure.
The Coup made their debut with their first project The EP in 1991. In 1993, the group released their official debut album Kill My Landlord, which featured every song from their first EP with the exception of “Economics 101.” During their 27 year career the group have released six studio albums, two EPs and two album compilations.
The Coup is noted for their strong political stances, speaking out against racial disparity, police brutality and capitalism. In 1998 the group released their acclaimed Steal This Album, which the AV Club called “one of the best rap albums of the decade.”
In addition to his work as a musician and film director, Riley is also a community activist and a member of Street Sweeper Social Club with Rage Against the Machine’s guitarist Tom Morello. The group released The Ghetto Blaster EP in 2010 and have made appearances at Van’s Warped Tour and Coachella.
Riley also took part in a Bay-Area relief fund for the Oakland Ghostship warehouse in 2016, which took the lives of 36 people. Prominent Bay-Area artists Tycho, Primus, tUnE-yArDs and Geographer also appeared at the event.
Stanfield stars in Sorry To Bother You as Cassius Green, a down-on-his luck telemarketer who rises through the ranks in the industry by using his “white voice.” Since its release, the film has received critical acclaim, garnering a 93 percent score on movie-review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
In addition to this role, Stanfield played a supporting role in the successful horror flick Get Out and in the hit FX show Atlanta. On October 19, the actor will also be playing a supporting role in the film Girl in The Spider’s Web, which is a sequel to The Girl in the Dragon Tattoo.
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
Leave a Comment