Sorry To Bother You
by The Coup
  • Record Label: Anti
  • Release Date: Oct 30, 2012
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
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  1. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    Nov 2, 2012
    91
    Boots Riley has at his disposal a rich, seldom-tapped seam of scathing rhetoric and concrete metaphor and fleshes out leftist analysis with humanist muscle and poetic integument.
  2. The A.V. Club
    Oct 31, 2012
    91
    It's a concept album, a bold provocation, a statement, a riot, and a hell of a party to boot.
  3. Chicago Tribune
    Nov 5, 2012
    88
    WAVIP closes the album with an anti-climatic "we are all V.I.P." chant, the only dud on an album that otherwise makes even the hardest-hitting messages sound care-free and danceable.
  5. Q Magazine
    Nov 21, 2012
    80
    The Coup's sixth album recalls OutKast or The Roots at their boldest, and Riley's an engaging host. [Dec 2012, p.103]
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  6. RapReviews.com
    Nov 20, 2012
    80
    What makes this record successful, is exactly what Lupe refused to do on "The Great American Rap Album:" make enjoyable songs first and spread a message second.
  7. The Independent (UK)
    Nov 9, 2012
    80
    The Coup [has a] breadth of musical settings, which range from indie guitar riffs to itchy techno pulses to a string quartet and French horns.
  8. The New York Times
    Nov 5, 2012
    80
    The tracks are songs first, not manifestoes. The music is largely upbeat, even zany, with more than a hint of Outkast at its peak.
  9. AllMusic
    Oct 31, 2012
    80
    It might take some time for older fans to adjust--its punk energy aims for the calves more frequently than the neck--but Sorry to Bother You contains some of the Coup's most vehement and focused output.
  10. Under The Radar
    Dec 6, 2012
    75
    With only a couple weak tracks, Sorry to Bother You is a better-than-solid effort; more hip-hop albums should be this ridiculously fun.
  11. Magnet
    Dec 4, 2012
    75
    It's a powerhouse collection. [No. 93, p.53]
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  12. Pitchfork
    Nov 1, 2012
    72
    Holding all of this together, as always, is Riley's sharp humor.
  13. PopMatters
    Nov 21, 2012
    70
    Riley's got the hooks and musical chops to make this a pretty good record.
  14. Spin
    Nov 1, 2012
    70
    Music remains the Coup's ultimate sweetener, and here the jams hit hard like the words--from the big beat of opener "The Magic Clap" to the grimy guitar on "Land of 7 Billion Dances," departures from the smooth, soothing funk that was once this outfit's specialty.
  15. Consequence
    Oct 31, 2012
    70
    He [Boots Riley] validates his beliefs while simultaneously crafting an inspired rap-fusion record. In that respect, Sorry to Bother You is both a musical and argumentative success.
  16. Rolling Stone
    Oct 31, 2012
    60
    It's an admirably ambitious mix, often a bit too unruly.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. drizzt
    Nov 5, 2012
    10
    Along with K.Lamar and Killer Mike, my favourite hip hop album of the year! Really good.
  2. rydermusic
    Dec 14, 2012
    7
    Sorry to Bother You is a fantastic mix of Outkast and Public Enemy's style. Beautiful, engaging and fun. After twenty years of history of theSorry to Bother You is a fantastic mix of Outkast and Public Enemy's style. Beautiful, engaging and fun. After twenty years of history of the group, The Coup are still manage to surprise. Great!… Full Review »
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