Son & grandson of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti have teamed up to present us with a joint project that contains two albums in one. Femi’s “Stop The Hate” and Made’s “For(e)ward”.
Femi Kuti’s output on Stop The Hate is relentlessly fierce and funky, and for his eleventh album, he shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Like most of his albums, the central theme of the album is focused on the corruption in the Nigerian government as well as calling for an end to police brutality faced by black people.
On Made’s ‘For(e)ward’ album, we’re presented with a wealth of influences added to the Kuti Afrobeat formula, with the talented musician also playing every musical instrument on the record. While the hypnotic basslines, rhythms and horns inherited from previous generations are vital ingredients, Made takes more than enough turns to make this record his own. He studied at the famed Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (the same place his grandfather Fela studied, back when it was known as Trinity College), while also soaking up the riches in London’s underground scene, and the city’s diverse influences of club music, dub, hip hop, punk, jazz and other improvisational disciplines are audible in his music.
Fela would no doubt be proud of what the next generations have delivered here – one continuing to play at the top of his game, the other emerging with promise, both still fighting for the people.
Listen to Legacy + below:
