Expensive Shit: History Repeats Itself

November 4, 2011 Leave a comment

Nollywood star Baba Suwe (above, in white) was arrested mid-October at Lagos airport by anti-narcotics agents claiming x-ray scans showed images “consistent with large amount of drug ingestion”. The accusation lead to a three-week spectacle in which Nigerian officials, and the entire country, kept tabs on the detained Suwe’s bowel movements — looking out for discharged bags of cocaine. The bags never came.

The ordeal recalls the infamous incident in which Fela Kuti swallowed a joint planted on him by Nigerian police, who then awaited for the afrobeat pioneer to produce the excrement. Popular opinion has it that Fela somehow used another inmate’s feces to beat the charge. Other, more superstitious. specators believe both him and Baba Suwe invoked the same powerful juju. The event inspired Fela’s legendary 1975 Expensive Shit LP.

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Film: Fela Lives! Elder’s Corner Tribute To Fela Kuti

October 17, 2011 Leave a comment

Our friend Siji, filmmaker behind the Nigerian music documentary Elder’s Coner, put together this video tribute to afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti as an ode to the man’s birthday last Saturday, October 15. Fela would’ve turned 73. In Siji’s own words:

Fela meant many things to those who knew him both up close and from afar. To some he was a rebel, rabble-rouser, lady killer, human rights activist, musical pioneer, GENIUS! His music and philosophies continue to inspire and astound listeners many years after his untimely passing. Here’s what a few of his many peers and admirers [including Roy Ayres, Rich Medina, Osunlade, and Wunmi] had to say about the man, his myth and of course, his music.

You can still lend your support to the historical documentary on Nigerian music Elder’s Corner over at their Kickstarter.

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LA: Fela Kuti Tribute Party with Rich Medina

October 6, 2011 Leave a comment

“Jump N Funk,” the original Fela tribute party is taking place this Saturday at The Front at The Vanguard in Los Angeles. Destroyer gets the party started and DJ Rich Medina takes it through the night. In the battle of the coasts, the west is certainly going to be the best this weekend.

The party is from 9pm to 2am, 21+ $10 BEFORE 11:30pm RSVP on Facebook. The inside scoop: if you mention to the parking attendant that you’re there for the Jump N Funk Party you’ll get a reduced parking price.

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Audio + Video: ‘Fela Soul’ Fela Kuti x De La Soul

September 14, 2011 2 Comments

Gummy Soul artist Amerigo Gazaway put together two towering greats in this 8-track, 33 minute, blend of afrobeat rhythms and hip-hop gems. The Nashville-based producer handpicked dozens of samples from Fela Kuti‘s illustrious catalog and combined them with 8 acapellas that span over a decade of De La Soul classics.

Watch a found-footage preview clip for Fela Soul above, stream and download the album in its entirety below. Redman, MF Doom, and Gorillaz also made the cut. Pretty dope hearing the L.I. trio’s raps over Fela’s sax and Tony Allen beats. For more head over to Gummy Soul.

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Video: Exclusive Interview with TeeKlef

August 4, 2011 Leave a comment

Check out this exclusive interview with Nigerian artist TeeKlef conducted by Klef Records. With a series of bangin remixes including a remake of “Oleku,” the R&B rapper and producer is influenced by a wide array of artists from Sade to Linkin Park to Fela Kuti. His music is real, relatable, and true. What does hip-hop mean to TeeKlef? What motivates him? How does he view his fans? What’s he working on now? Watch the video to find out for yourself. And don’t forget to listen to his EP, On a C-Rius Note, which you can download FREE right here.

Check out his version of “Oleku” below:

For more TeeKlef, check out his website.

 

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Video: Beyonce Influenced By Fela Kuti + Performs W The Roots!

July 29, 2011 Leave a comment

 

Last night Beyonce made a visit to Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.  Check out the interview, above, where Yonce reveals that she was heavily influenced by Fela Kuti (we know she loved the Broadway hit FELA!, which her hubby Jay Z co-produced) and Africa in general for her latest album, 4.  Then peep the performance vid, below, where B is backed up by the Legendary Roots Crew for a stunning version of “Best Thing I Never Had.”

Eddie “STATS” over at okayplayer says it best:

Holy hell. Do I really have to tell you anything other than what’s in the header to sell this one? Last night Beyonce joined the baddest MFs in late night on Jimmy Fallon for a rendition of her single “Best Thing I Never Had” which is proof that this woman can sing just about anything (‘suck to be you right now’) and give it the emotional weight of the Dream Girls finale. I’ll just add that Questlove gets the big bucks not because he’s the greatest drummer technically. He makes the big bucks cause he is the greatest drummer technically who can still think about time-signatures while Beyonce Knowles is writhing around and choking the soul out of a mic a few short feet away. Check out that game-face. If that was me you would be able to read my lips saying “look at the drums, look at the drums.” Beyonce’s LP 4 is in stores now.

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VIDEO: Seun Kuti Rips Hip-Hop A New One

July 27, 2011 9 Comments

Seun rips today’s commercial hip-hop artists a new one, talks about polygamy and monogamy (“one wife too many”), his dream collabo, and how he’ll keep the afrobeat flame alive forever. (As Seun and Fela’s  fans like to quote, the elder Kuti’s name  is an acronym for “For Ever Lives Afrobeat” – or “Africa” – you choose.)

According to Rolling Stone, Seun’s sophomore album, From Africa With Fury: Rise, co-produced with Brian Eno, simply “burns.” Backed by his father’s band Egypt 80, he’ll def be burning it up at the Propsect Park Bandshell tomorrow night (FREE!) and follows up with an  intimate set at S.O.B‘s next Wednesday.

More tour dates after the jump.

Read More »

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VIDEO: The Prince of Wales v. The King of Afrobeat

July 21, 2011 2 Comments

FELA! opened at Sadler’s Wells in London today – but who held a private reception for them? The Prince of Wales, of course. In this video you can see His Royal Highness can really shake it shake it with those FELA! Queens! The Tony Award-winning show is touring the world these days – lookout DC, Atlanta, New Haven, Detroit, Philly, and LA – tickets are selling fast.

Below, another awesomely awkward white-man-dances-with-Africans classic:

 

 

 

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NYC: Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 with Faaji Agba in Prospect Park this Friday!

July 21, 2011 Leave a comment

On Friday (7/22) Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 will be joining Faaji Agba for Celebrate Brooklyn! at the Prospect Park Bandshell. This multi-generational show is part of a yearlong celebration commemorating Nigeria’s 50th anniversary of independence. Seun, the son of Nigerian revolutionary and inventor of “afrobeat,” Fela Kuti, has been singing along side his father’s band, Egypt 80, since he was nine years old.  As a vocalist and saxophonist he uses his music to teach and bring awareness to African youth, blending contemporary sounds with traditional afrobeat rhythms to create afro-pop filled with fierce beats and dynamic, funky energy.

Faaji Agba’s roster includes prior members of Fatai Rolling Dollar, Prince ‘Eji’ Oyewole, and Chief Seni Tejuoso in addition to other Nigerian musicians. Together, they are bringing back traditional Nigerian sounds like juju, faaji and agidigbo.

Rain or shine, gates open at 6pm and the show starts at 7 pm.
And guess what? It’s FREE! (Though $3 donations are welcomed)

Deets:
Celebrate Brooklyn! @ The Prospect Park Bandshell
Location
9th Street & Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY 11215
CLICK HERE for more info.

Check out this video of Seun Kuti performing with Egypt 80 in Rio, below.

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“What Would Fela Think?” – Ghana’s Vice Prez Talks

June 10, 2011 1 Comment

In a fascinating article from The Root, John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s Vice President, speaks about seeing FELA! in Nigeria in April set against the backdrop of perhaps the freest and fairest elections Nigeria has ever had.  Listening to politically pointed songs such as “Gentleman” and “No Agreement”, Mahama explains what influence Fela had on the development of his own political consciousness and sense of cultural identity, and makes a guess as to what Fela would think of Nigeria – and Africa – today, ultimately conceding that Fela would still find a lot to sing about. A fascinating read.

     
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