The Best of Femi Kuti

Performer: Femi Kuti
Distributor: Caroline Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Femi Kuti (vocals); Common, Mos Def (rap vocals). Liner Note Author: Jean Christophe Servant. Photographer: Thomas Dorn. The Best of Femi Kuti serves as a fine introduction to the Nigerian Afro-beat composer and bandleader, and the oldest son of the genre's founder, Fela Kuti. It's compiled from his two Barclay recordings, Shoki Shoki (1998) and Fight to Win (2001), and contains about half of each album. His Tabu/Motown album Wonder Wonder is inexplicably shut out despite some excellent tracks -- and the fact that Universal owns both labels! The latter half of the disc contains collaborations with Mos Def ("Do Your Best"), Common ("Missing Link"), and Jaguar Wright ("Fight to Win"). "Beng Beng Beng" is here, as are "Scatta Head" and the burning "'97." Unfortunately, none of the excellent 12" versions are included here, which makes it nonessential for fans. Given the deep influence of hip-hop and modern urban soul on Femi's music, this collection also serves as a sampler of the new, updated, and truly revitalized Afro-beat sound. ~ Thom Jurek

While the London-born Femi Kuti struggled to escape the shadow of his legendary father, the iconic Fela Kuti, Femi has developed a sound distinctly his own by incorporating forms like hip-hop and dancehall into the afrobeat framework. And while he may have expanded upon his father's musical blueprint, he has followed lock-step in Fela's fierce and outspoken political stances. A vocal critic of the Nigerian government and American imperialism, Femi has spoken out on AIDS relief, corruption, and the need for a strong black diaspora. He's a continuing reminder of music's liberating power.

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