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The Boondocks went off the air in 2011, and in its departure left a hole in pop culture that no other adult cartoon could fill, or even challenge. At its best, it was politically radical, incisive and subversive, equal parts thoughtful and shocking. In the often colorblind world of television, The Boondocks wasn’t afraid to challenge the viewer and offer a social critique of race in America.
Next week, it returns to Adult Swim for its fourth and final season, but the series creator, Aaron McGruder, won’t be returning with it. The man who meticulously crafted the show’s pugnacious characters, social commentary, and political criticism, is deep at work on another series for Adult Swim, Black Jesus.
Without McGruder it’s impossible to tell what direction the show will take or if his presence will continue to reverberate, albeit from a distance. The Boondocks, historically, has challenged core values of hip-hop culture, such as braggadocio, homophobia, and misogyny, with irreverence and biting satire, often with hilarious results. Beyond that, The Boondocks shamed individuals, and society, into self-improvement. That’s important and difficult work. When the show returns on April 21, it can only be hoped that it continues on in this tradition, blurring the lines and pushing us forward.
The Trial of R. Kelly (Season 1, Episode 2)
This episode cleverly tackles the debate surrounding R. Kelly’s allegations, reaching the unfortunate but accurate conclusion that often in high-profile legal cases celebrity and wealth trump reason and justice. In the episode, just as in actuality, R. Kelly is freed, though we’re left to wonder why…
A Date With The Health Inspector (Season 1, Episode 5)
GZA and Mobb Deep are each referenced in this episode, when Rummy tells Ed, “I gotcha back, you watch my front.” The line is a nod to GZA’s “I Gotcha Back,” and Prodigy’s ad-lib in Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones, Pt. 2.”
Wingmen (Season 1, Episode 13)
Dewey questions Huey with “Where are your sandals? Where are your capris?” Referencing the 2003 track “The Yo Yo” by Little Brother, where Phonte rhymes, “Try to battle me with sandals and capris on?/Come on dog.”
Thank You for Not Snitching (Season 2, Episode 3)
Gangstalicious appears on TRL, bragging about committing an assault, which gets him arrested. This alludes to a 1993 episode of “Yo! MTV Raps” where Tupac Shakur boasted about assaulting the Hughes Brothers. Shakur was later arrested and convicted on his own statements.
Stinkmeaner Strikes Back (Season 2, Episode 4)
The ill-tempered Stinkmeaner makes his second appearance on the show and in both cases Wu-Tang Clan is referenced. In the first instance, in the episode Granddad’s Fight, the song “Guillotine [Swordz]” by Raekwon is heard. In this episode it’s more direct, as Ghostface Killah himself appears, though as an apparition, in Huey’s dreams.
Attack of the Killer Kung-Fu Wolf Bitch (Season 2, Episode 6)
Luna, a beautiful but hot-tempered woman Granddad has met online, drops a Ghostface Killah reference, quoting the introduction to the track “Mighty Healthy,” from his 2000 release Supreme Clientele. Also noteworthy, during the opening credits a satirical rendition of “Temperature” by Sean Paul can be heard.
Shinin' (Season 2, Episode 7)
Riley becomes determined to join Thugnificent’s Lethal Interjection crew (a play on Ice Cube’s album, Lethal Injection) after watching an episode of “Cribs,” which portrays Thugnificent’s opulent lifestyle. He approaches the crew with a line from 50 Cent’s “Your Life’s On The Line,” saying, “If this rap shit don’t work we go and...”
The Hunger Strike (Season 2, Episode 14)
This episode, which was originally set to be called BET Sucks, aired in Canada but not the U.S. Huey starts a hunger strike to boycott BET and is joined in his cause by Reverend Rollo Goodlove, who dances to Soulja Boy Tell 'Em and later sings “Go-Go Gadget Gospel” by Gnarls Barkley during his protest.
The Story of Gangstalicious Part 2 (Season 2, Episode 15)
Gangstalicious returns and his homosexuality is revealed in a tell-all book from Jessica “Wonder Cheeks” Ethelburg, a former dancer and video vixen. An allusion to Karrine “Superhead” Steffans, a dancer who published an autobiography about the secret lives of rappers, including Big Tigger’s alleged homosexuality.
It's a Black President, Huey Freeman (Season 3, Episode 1)
In a 2008 interview with XXL, DMX revealed that he had not been following the presidential race, nor had he ever heard of Barack Obama. The interview is parodied when Thugnificent reveals he has no knowledge of Barack Obama or his political ambitions but hops on the bandwagon in hopes of increasing exposure for his rap career.
Bitches to Rags (Season 3, Episode 2)
In an episode heavily focused on parodying the pitfalls of a gangsta rap lifestyle, a new character, Sgt. Gutter, is introduced as a parody of teenage rapper Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, with his song “Crank That (Artichoke).” Sgt. Gutter feuds with Thugnificent, a play on the beef between Soulja Boy and Ice-T. Meanwhile, Thugnificent’s latest album, Mo Bitches Mo Problems, is a reference to Notorious B.I.G.’s single “Mo Money Mo Problems.”
Smokin' with Cigarettes (Season 3, Episode 6)
This episode is basically a remake of Juice. Lamilton confronts Riley at school, mirroring a scene in Juice where Bishop intimidates Q. Later Riley throws Lamilton’s gun off the edge of the school, mimicking when Q throws his gun into the river. There’s also rooftop fight scene, which parallels the fight scene in Juice, as well as a song similar to Eric B. & Rakim’s “Know the Ledge,” which was produced for the film as well.