"Steal This Record" is a song by the American hip-hop group The Coup.
Definition "Steal This Record" is a specific track from the 1998 album Steal This Album by the hip-hop collective The Coup.
Overview Released as part of their third studio album, Steal This Record embodies The Coup's characteristic blend of politically charged lyrics and funk-influenced hip-hop production. The song contributes to the overarching themes of social critique and anti-establishment sentiment prevalent throughout the album.
Etymology/Origin The title "Steal This Record," along with the album title "Steal This Album," directly references Abbie Hoffman's influential 1970 counter-culture book, Steal This Book. Hoffman's work provided instructions on how to subvert consumer culture and governmental systems, advocating for direct action and communal resource sharing. The Coup's adoption of this phrasing extends Hoffman's anti-capitalist and anti-authoritarian message to the context of music production, distribution, and consumption, implying a critique of the commodification of art and intellectual property.
Characteristics Musically, "Steal This Record" typically features The Coup's distinctive sound, which integrates live instrumentation—including bass, guitar, and drums—with programmed beats and turntable scratching. The lyrical content, delivered by frontman Boots Riley, is characterized by its explicit socio-political commentary. Themes often include critiques of economic inequality, police brutality, systemic oppression, and calls for revolutionary change, consistent with The Coup's established political stance within hip-hop.
Related Topics
- The Coup: The Oakland, California-based hip-hop group known for their radical left-wing political lyrics and funk-infused sound.
- Steal This Album (The Coup album): The 1998 album on which the song "Steal This Record" appears, widely recognized for its political commentary and musical innovation.
- Steal This Book (Abbie Hoffman): The seminal 1970 counter-culture publication by activist Abbie Hoffman, which serves as the direct namesake and conceptual inspiration for The Coup's song and album.
- System of a Down's Steal This Album!: A 2002 album by the rock band System of a Down that similarly adopted a title referencing Abbie Hoffman's work, showcasing the enduring cultural impact of the original phrase.