Customer Reviews

Shoki Shoki

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a longtime fan of Fela Kuti (my nominee for Greatest African Musical Artist of All Time), I knew I'd have to eventually purchase the debut album by his son, Femi, but I'd never been willing to pay import prices. It would have been worth it, but by waiting for the US release you get the benefit of three extra remixed tracks along with with what is undoubtedly a great album. Femi takes his father's afrobeat sound (it's still there, and forcefully) and updates it with more percussion, more aggressive keyboard programming, and a more manageable song length (7 instead of 17 minutes). It sounds like Son of Fela in every conceivable good way, highly recommended to any fan of African music or even any fan of good dance music. Great party music.

Femi Kuti debut album is a shocking blast from the past since vocally he sounds so similar to his father the late Fela Kuti. However don't let this fool you into thinking that " Shoki Shoki" is nothing but a rehash of a familiar sound. Because it is way ,way removed from that. Femi Kuti has experimented and blended western musical styles especially jazz funk, and Salsa with Juju beats to create a Nigerian fusion album which will appeal to jazz and World Music lovers alike. The album is fast pasted and furiously upbeat racing from one song to the next. Femi Kuti sings in English as well as Yoruba about Nigeria's political crisis as well as sex and having a good time. Which led to his song "beng beng, beng" being banned in Nigeria. This album is a dance album rather than listening music and therefore should be considered in the same vain as Carlos Santanas music which it resembles greatly towards the more mellow finale.

Femi's sound is undeniable African and has a flavor similar to his father's music in that it has political messages and some similar instruments used in creating a lot of the music. However, his music is younger and definitely of this generation - more danceable, and in many ways more electronic/synthesized. The tracks are shorter and are structured towards today's music fan unlike his father who had 30 minute insturmental+vocal tracks. Most importantly, the sound establishes Femi as an artist in his own right! Comparing him to his father now, while inevitable, is simply a waste of time. His father stood for things that Femi may not stand for. If Femi stands for anything, let us discover this in his music, but not by trying to find the Fela in him.

Track 1, Truth Don Die, talks about the death of truth and Femi's belief that the world is upside down becos lies rule the world. Sounds simplsitic, but deserves some thought. Track 2, the highly danceable, funny and sexually motivated "Beng, Beng, Beng" is one of the album's highlights and is followed by a song "What will Tomorrow Bring?" that makes one briefly think of Fela's energy when listening to the introductory instumentation quality. "Blackman Know Yourself" reminds one of the black consciousness message songs that tried to instil people with black pride, but have dissappeared from today's music scene. My personal favorites are "Scata Your Head" and "Sorry Sorry", which will make Nigerians feel like they are in Lagos. THe remixes on the US albums are quite good too, though I Wonder why Dice Raw and not Black Thought did the honors on the Roots remix (Dice Raw is a very good lyricist, but Black Thought should have dropped something too) and the club remix of "Beng, Beng, Beng" sounds like there was no point in having Femi mixed over it since his vocals cannot be heard.

I give the album 5 stars becos I do not think of his father when I listen to this album. I think of an artist who has established that he can be great in his own right and not be a worse copy of his father. Two more albums like this and Fela will only be a footnote in Femi's career.

Femi Kuti's Shoki Shoki is a great album from start to finish, with 3 new remixes added for the U.S. release - including an amazing remix of "Blackman Know Yourself" by hip-hop's finest, the Roots.

Femi's style takes Afro-beat into new directions - his songs are of average length (Fela's often topped 30 minutes), and he has blended his own contemporary influences with his father's pioneering style, resulting in a sound that is at once timeless and right now. Media praise for Femi and Shoki Shoki includes Spin, Rolling Stone, GQ, People, Interview, Stuff, Mixer, Mean, The Source, Vibe, Paper, Raygun, Billboard, Straight No Chaser, CMJ, and CNN. Femi is an original, as his father before him.

I had never seen or heard of Femi Kuti until recently when he performed at the World Music Awards. His amazing performance of "Beng Beng Beng" was the highlight of the event! I was drawn to the amazing rhythmic afro beats in the instrumental aspects of his music and the sensuality in his voice. I bought this CD because of it and am truly impressed with it. "Shoki Shoki has several great tracks besides the above mentioned including, "Truth Don Die" and "Eregele". Femi's music is filled with so much energy that it's hard to stay still when listening to it.

Young Femi Kuti played sax is his legendary father's legendary band. You can see him take a little solo in the "Fela in Concert" video, filmed in Paris in 1981. He, better than any other, is well grounded in the Afrobeat tradition. But beginning with Shoki Shoki, he brings this great music into today's musical scene, keeping the rhythms that make this music and adding a completely contemporary sound. This CD is very hot, full of great dance numbers and politically aware lyrics that come across as much more heartfelt and bitter than his dad's. Fela suffered more than Femi, was burnt out of his house and imprisoned by the government, but he always maintained a sarcastic sense of humor. Femi is more urgent, and so is more thought provoking. This fire drives the music, infuses it with feeling and meaning and makes your heart beat stronger.

This album is outstanding, and yet . . . Every time I hear it I want to hear him live. And I did, two days after I heard this CD for the first time. The concert blew me through the wall. He must be heard live to be believed. If you can't make one of his few shows in this country, settle for this album. Otherwise, hie thee to a show and be prepared to get knocked out by his phenomenal beauty, power, and just damn grooviness. Outrageous.

This album is another prize in my collection. Each song seeps with the realism and brutal honesty of Nigeria's state, such as "Blackman Know Yourself" a song speaking to Africans and even African Americans, to come realize who they really are, "Sorry Sorry" blends catchy afro- beats with Femi's displeasure with the government, and the first track "Truth Don' Die" stands out as one of the best songs on the album. Of course most non-Nigerians may recognize Femi Kuti from his performance of "Beng, Beng, Beng" on the World Music Awards, another track on this album and is one of the only songs that talks about his relationship with a woman. "Beng, Beng Beng" delivers and is probably the best song in terms of music, on the CD in my opinion. Femi Kuti has really broken away from his father's shadow, but at the same time his jumpy, outspoken lyrics and Afro-beats payes homage to him. Buy this, you won't be disappointed.

I was lucky enough to mix this record, so you might think that I'd be biased but working on this album was a thoroughly enjoyable experience all round. I love Femi's songs and grooves, and the production by Sodi was really cool. Sodi added a lot of modern elements without losing the natural raw live afrobeat vibe of the band. Femi is a great, larger than life character. A truly talented artist and extremely nice guy. There was a lot of good vibes and fun around the making of this record and it shows in the outcome of the album.

I just saw Femi play in NY last week and he's really great live too.

This album not only has political views in it, carrying on his father's tradition, but the song Beng, Beng, Beng is really banging!!!!!!!!!! This is a great album that anyone who loves

african music. A must have!!!!!!