Washtenaw Eviction and Foreclosure Defense scores a coup… brings hip hop luminaries The Coup to Ypsi to play a benefit

I’ve been sitting on a secret for the past few weeks, and, tonight, I can finally tell you about it. On Sunday, December 2nd, political hip hop group The Coup will be visiting Ypsilanti from Oakland, and playing at Woodruff’s. The event, which is a fundraiser for Ypsilanti’s Ozone House, to support their work with at-risk, marginalized, and LGBTQ teens, is being hosted by Washtenaw Eviction and Foreclosure Defense (WEFD), and was put together by my friend Jeff Clark. Jeff explained the event like this on Kickstarter, where he’s hoping to pre-sell at least $2,000 in tickets and screen printed show poster, in order to make the whole thing possible.

THE COUP!
The Coup is a radical hip hop collective from Oakland, California, whose work is entirely danceable, political, and notorious. Their new album, Sorry to Bother You (ANTI- Records, Oct. 2012), has been steadily racking up positive reviews, from Pitchfork to the New York Times. The Chicago Tribune says: “A presidential election. The national debate over the widening economic gulf between rich and poor. Political rebellions across the world. Yes, the timing’s just about perfect for another studio album from Oakland agit-rappers The Coup.” On top of it all, members of The Coup are involved in foreclosure defense and other modes of activism in their own hometown.

WEFD has been offered the (extremely rare) opportunity to host a show by The Coup in the progressive little Midwest oasis of Ypsilanti, on December 2. If we pull it off, it’ll mean a dance party the likes of which Washtenaw County has never seen—curated, organized, and made possible by unpaid community members. Read on, comrades!

WHERE THE MONEY GOES
Not only has The Coup generously agreed to make Ypsilanti a stop on their national tour, they’ve also agreed to play for a reduced fee in an intimate space. Woodruff’s is donating its stage as the show’s venue. Our funding goal of $2,000 will cover all the night’s expenses. Volunteer labor will take care of the rest.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Bring on The Coup! Be a part of this extraordinary experience. Only 180 tickets will be available for this show.

Also on the bill are Brooklyn art-rock duo Japanther, and Oakland rapper Kev Choice.

As of right now, only 44 tickets to the show are still available through the Kickstarter campaign, so, if you want to go, I’d suggest taking care of it today.

As for the new album, entitled Sorry to Bother You, I haven’t heard it yet, but, from what I hear from the folks at Epitaph, it’s incredible. (According to Wikipedia, the album will also serve as a soundtrack for an independent film written by and starring The Coup’s Boots Riley. It’s described as “a dark comedy with magical realism,” inspired by Riley’s work experiences as a telemarketer.)

And, here, if you’ve never had the pleasure before, is a sample of their work. This is The Guillotine.