EXCLUSIVE SONG: New Street Sweeper Social Club
MP3
Tom Morello and Boots Riley
Now that Rage Against the Machine is through with last week's one-off benefit show in L.A., guitarist Tom Morello has turned his attention to the second release from Street Sweeper Social Club, his project with rapper Boots Riley of the Coup. Hear an exclusive stream below of "Scars," off SSSC's forthcoming Ghetto Blaster EP, out August 10.
On "Scars," Riley drops cheeky rhymes about living on the cheap -- running out on restaurant bills, avoiding calls from collection agencies, signing checks that won't clear, wearing sneakers so worn out that their soles look like "two Muppets talking" -- in between explosive bursts of Morello's trademark guitar riffs. "Broke motherfuckers be sharp as lasers," Riley quips.
"When I heard those verses come out of the speakers, I was rolling on the floor laughing," Morello tells SPIN.com. "Those verses are very honest, and they really capture Boots. He's a militant guy, but he's also a super funny guy, and for every bit of [Black Panthers co-founder] Huey P. Newton in him, there's also a good deal of Richard Pryor."
"I think that 'Scars' is the perfect example of how wickedly funny he can be while getting across a serious point," Morello adds.
And while the new EP was recorded with a live band in the studio, Morello and Riley collaborate using an unusual procedure: As he's done throughout his career, Morello crafts his riffs on nylon-string acoustic guitar, records them to cassette tape, then mails Riley the tapes, so he can write lyrics.
"It's not out of any indie purity," Morello explains. "It's because, you know, I don't know how to work ProTools. I do know how to go to Radio Shack and buy a $20 cassette recorder, no matter how frustrating Boots may find it."
"One of the principle sources of band tension is every time I send him a cassette tape, he has to go to a pawn shop to try to find some old vintage gear to play it on," Morello adds. "[Boots] said he couldn't find a tape deck in any stores, and he was asking dope fiends if they had stolen one lately, and they were like, 'Shit, we don’t steal those! You can't get anything for those anymore!'"
Ghetto Blaster also find SSSC covering LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out," and M.I.A.'s massive hit, "Paper Planes," a song they started covering while opening for Nine Inch Nails last year. "We needed a hot cover tune to lay to waste the goth hordes that were awaiting us," says Morello. "I asked Boots to give me some ideas, and he suggested 'Paper Planes' and two Justin Bieber songs, so we went with 'Paper Planes.'"
You can see for yourself whether those Bieber songs make it into the band's setlists later this summer, when they join the Rock the Bells tour, alongside Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg, Lauryn Hill, and more. Click here for all the dates.
Check out "Scars" below and let us know what you think in the comments section.
LISTEN: Street Sweeper Social Club, "Scars"
24 Comments
Click here to comment- Posted By Anonymous
08.08.10 4:19 PM
It tells the truth about whats really going on in the system !The system is not working its actually making people not wanting to move on !!!To get up and do something with there lives like they say hold that pose !People are not motivated anymore its A recline in society !!!Thats all I gots to say .........
- Posted By Anonymous
08.06.10 2:26 AM
Immortal Technique is good but he and many other political rappers these days are pretty much only heard by people who already have revolutionary ideas. Boots Riley has a talent for getting the message to people in a more subtle way. There's a reason Tom Morello chose to make a band with Boots and not somebody else.
- Posted By Luke
08.02.10 3:47 AM
Dude... This song is so badass! And that wah-wah riff that Tom laid down has got to be one of his most menacing sounding riffs he's ever made! If this new EP coming out is full of songs with as much thought and creativity as "Scars", needless to say, I can't wait for their EP and I can't wait for their official second album.
- Posted By biddy
08.01.10 11:11 PM
Stop calling this MP3. More accurately would be referred to as streaming.
Can't wait for this thing to drop! Definitely stoked for an official cut of Paper Planes.
Man, all you haters out there waiting for recycled Rage Against the Machine need to bring yourselves on into the present. I love Rage Against the Machine, they are one of the best ****ing rock bands ever but you can't begrudge Tom Morello for moving on with his life and collaborating with musicians that are equally as amazing, even if they are from a completely different musical genre.
I'm a huge Coup fan, so I for sure consider Boots one of my all-time favorite emcees. His rhymes are just off the hook and he flexes his hip hop into a funkadelic direction that I dig in a big way. Tech is for sure a lyrical genius, but his beats are pretty hard core. Del is amazing, hugely underrated, and in fact one of my favorite Coup joints is The Repo Man Sings For You with Del throwing down the first verse.
Did I mention I can't ****ing wait for the new Coup album later this year?
- Posted By Anonymous
07.30.10 9:16 AM
Rick just doesn't like Boots' style... Also RATM split apart because of the decision making process had fallen apart within the band, Zack didn't want the band to release Renegades but they did and so the band fell apart. Also sometimes changing isn't good I don't see why playing the same style is bad as long as it feels new.
- Posted By Rick Rubin
07.29.10 9:50 PM
First off, I would like to say that Evan Sanchez is a hater, but he is right. This song sucks!!! The biggest misconception is that people who don't like SSSC expect them to be like Rage. That is not true. The truth is that most people like SSSC because of Tom Morello and the his history with rage. Tom style is getting a little repetative. In my opinion, and this is my opinion, he has to strive to go to the next level. He content with his sound and it's getting a little cliche' for lack of a better word. When Tom puts out an album, you know exactly what you are going to get. The perfect example of a very innovative guitar player would be the edge from U2. That boy changes it up every album.
On to Boots. The guy who said he's one of the best rappers, how old are you.? On a political level a better rapper would be Immortal Techniques. Lyrically, I would say that Del Tha Funky Homosapain is superior to boots and he's from Oakland like Boots. The lyrics in this song are horrible. Some examples..... Give me my refund and push up daisies. Horrible!!! got free cable because I know somebody got some broke partners that will throw somebody. Yeah, great lyrics. I don't know what song you guys are listening to but this song is garbage.
Tom get a new perspective on music your style is getting old. That's why Rage broke up, because Zack was tired of doin' the same soundin' sh**!!!!!
Last thing, on a positive not at least Street Sweeper Social Club is better Night Watchmen.
- Posted By Anonymous
07.29.10 2:50 PM
Lol you asking Boots Riley to bring something to the table lyrically? He ain't saying ****? Who exactly would you compare him to that has better lyrics and actually "says ****"? I'm not gonna hate on your taste in music but I'm just curious who you think meets your higher standards?
Boots has been able to convey very political messages without being too preachy and sounding like he's reading stuff from a book or some political pamphlet. He brings it in a way you can relate to it and points out the hypocrisies of the system using humor. I personally think he's one of the best rappers ever and he's definitely talking about some real issues, not irrelevant crap. And musically The Coup's albums have just gotten progressively better and better with each album.
Usually it's people that miss RATM that talk crap about Boots. Get over it. The Coup has always been dope and I've been digging Street Sweeper so far.
- Posted By evansanchez
07.29.10 11:23 AM
weak...all of it. I think Boots is a biter. I have never felt his flow, it's way too standard, and he never changes any rhythm up. Come on man, bring something to the table, lyrically speaking - you ain't saying ****. Also, i agree with someone earlier, Tom's guitar line is all power chord, no funk....how do you spell BORING? Other than that, OMG it is the best music ever...wow i love it they are so good, the best band ever, oh my god
- Posted By Chris Bracco
07.29.10 8:01 AM
Their single is called "paper planes" ... really? REALLY? Too soon, guys ... :P
- Posted By Devil's Ad
07.28.10 4:51 PM
Great song. Apparently you can get them on ebay, too. Good thing b/c boot camp sounds like a drag. http://cgi.ebay.com/USMC-Marine-Military-Dress-Blue-Jacket-Coat-Uniform-...
- Posted By spiralout247
07.28.10 4:35 PM
dont want to sound political AT ALL, but there's a big reason why there hasnt been a new Rage LP in post 9/11 America. plenty of 'em, actually. zach's newfound (and honestly, quite misplaced) hatred of arizona might at some point eventually result in a new Rage record, which will only be a shadow of the first 3 essential albums in all likelihood. dont get me wrong: i LOVE RATM, still rock 'em quite regularly, and my Rage tapestry still hangs on my wall. but SSSC is not Rage, and they are not even trying to be! i dont hear u hating on Tom Morello's Nightwatchman albums, which are both outstanding on their own, and are acoustic and have absolutely nothing to do with Rage. or Audioslave. or SSSC. Tom is a master musician, top shelf guitarist, and superior live performance---no matter what project or genre he is working with. bottom line, SSSC kicks some serious ass. end of story.
- Posted By the observer
07.28.10 4:18 PM
Un-****ing-believable. I said it once, and I'll say it again. Tom Morello is the "riff-meister".
- Posted By Jugular
07.28.10 4:15 PM
Boots Riley is one of the best songwriter's/lyricists out there. Some his songs are sad, some are angry, some are sexy, some are funny, some are flexing his skills and technique as a lyricist, some showcase a flow. They all seem to talk about the human condition and changing the world. He doesn't just come one way, like some two-dimensional cartoon artists that are out there. On this song there is humor, sadness, humility, and anger. I love it. Obviously, I'm getting this EP.
- Posted By Anonymous
07.28.10 3:58 PM
I think the biggest mistake that people make is thinking that SSSC will be like Rage and then they are disappointed.. SSSC is not Rage and Boots Riley is not Zach de la Rocha. So if you don't like SSSC then go listen to Rage and quit hatin on an awesome band just because it contains ONE member of Rage.
- Posted By JEN_andjuice
07.27.10 10:57 PM
I can't wait to see "Scars" performed live!
- Posted By matt volpe
07.27.10 1:41 PM
Awesome! Sounds like they're doin' it again! Blasting the roof off of the house of rock normalcy! GO SSSC!!!
- Posted By bankrobber
07.27.10 1:19 PM
This song is crazy! I have to find some big speakers immediately and blast the f**k out of this. "It's only funny cuz you don't see where the scar's at!" Brilliant.
- Posted By fydo fyderson
07.27.10 1:16 PM
Guys, when you tag a news article as "MP3," I assume that means that I can DOWNLOAD THE SONG. If I can only stream the song, then it's misleading to tag it "MP3."
08.09.10 8:06 PM
SCARS IS THE ****!!! SSSC 4 LIFE!!!