Customer Reviews

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A smaller version of Fela Kuti's Egypt 80 band is currently fronted by the youngest son of the famed Afrobeat Creator. His name is Seun Kuti. Seun first played with Egypt 80 when he was 9 years old. But it is only now that Seun has released his first CD. And what a CD it is! This CD has everything that makes Afrobeat the unique style that it is: call and answer vocals, swirling hot rhythms, explosive horns and a certain repetitiveness that doesn't becomes irritating.

Here's my take on some of the songs. Many Things is an Afrobeat classic, if you can't get to like this song, you may give up on the genre altogether. Don't Give That Shit to Me is the closest thing to Fela Kuti's music to have been recorded since his death. Fire Dance is a party song with some studio programming touches. Mosquito Song has a fantastic imitation of a mosquito's buzzing with the trumpet. African Problems is a song with a decidedly Caribbean feel. It's also the lyrical high point of the album. While Seun's Pidgin is pretty heavy (some of the lyrics are partly intelligible) in this last song his message comes out loud and clear.

The musical tradition of Fela Kuti is continued by his two sons. This is Classic Afrobeat with a contemporary touch, if you're into Afrobeat this is a must buy. The CD comes with a booklet with lyrics.

Julio Punch (Webmaster of The Shrine: The Unofficial Website for Fela Kuti, Femi Kuti and Afrobeat Music)

I was a little skeptical when I first bought this album. I wasn't sure that faith in a last name would bring the funk, but this album delivers in a major kind of way. Every song is distinct in its own way. Buy this if you have any sort of attraction to anything even remotely resembling afrobeat. Its great stuff. "Many Things" starts the album off with a more chilled-out groove that picks up into some powerful rhythmic glory. The greatness keeps going until the very end. "Africa Problems" is, in my opinion, one of the best afrobeat songs that I have ever heard. Seun has a message and he's not afraid to deliver it. And the music is great. Buy it.

Seun Kuti the son of Fela Kuti has done honor to his father with this great album. Eqypt 80 who originally played with Fela Kuti brings the Afrofunk sound to this great work of Afrobeat.

Seun Kuti picks up where his father(Fela Kuti) left off. The young saxaphones,bandleader and vocalist has produced a self titled debut that totally jams. Fela's old band the Egypt 80 is present and in full effect.
Femi(Seun older brother half brother and the flag bearer for Afro Beat music.) is not featured,however this music is more straight Afro Beat. (Femi due to his rising popularity abroad at times performs afro beat hybrids with members of the Roots,Common and others while this music stays straight to the afro beat feel.)The future of afro beat shall thrive,just check out this disc.