The HighLife

In case you didn't know...

Today, afrobeat pioneer and music legend, Fela Kuti, would have been turning 70.  To commemorate the day i've put together a very short (trust me, i wanted to go nuts on this) playlist of some of this great man's prolific output.  So here you have it.  It's a Felabration bitches! Welcome to the Kalakuta Republic...

Selections from the mashup of Jay-Z's American Gangster album with various Fela Kuti afrobeat selections.  Courtesy of  Mike Love.

Party Life

American Dreamin'

Sweet

Roc Boys

American Gangster

If you like what you're hearing, get the entire album here. Suppport independent music.

First edition Daily Track here.  I'll keep it simple.  The track suggestions are courtesy of some of the finer musical minds out there.  This first post is specifically dedicated to the Afrobeat.  A genre created by a Nigerian music legend, Fela Kuti, and carried on by his sons and many other talented artists out there. 

But we're not here to focus on the old, but the new.  So the first track is a Fela Kuti song performed live by his son, Seun Kuti - Gba mi l'eti kin d'olowo (slap me so i can get rich)

Continuing the theme these next artists also perform a Fela Kuti cover.  Rhythm Roots Allstars - JJD (Johnny Just Drop)

the next track is by a Boston based group, The Superpowers. which i think is one of the sweetest band names ever. They used to be known as the Boston Afrobeat Society, but have since upgraded monikers. I saw their first live show as The Superpowers at Matt Murphy's, i spent most of the show dancing on a bench because there was no space on the floor!  The Superpowers - S.L.D.R

That's it for the daily track. til' the next time. Be easy.

Afolabi