This Nigerian artist has been gaining renewed attention in the last few years. With bands like the Antibalas and the Budos Band copying the funky, layered, horn heavy Afro-Beat sound, as well as a recent musical on his life and an upcoming biopic by one of America's premier production companies (Focus Features), the so called father of afro-beat is finally getting the recognition he deserves for influencing a modern music worldwide. Though I have little empirical evidence of this fact, his sound and his personality (He was also a prominent political activist figure, and at one point was husband to twelve wives) make him, in my opinion, one of the most influential and global musicians to have perhaps ever been. Here is an example of his cross genre influence with a track from rapper Wale (pronounced:Wah-Lay, who also happens to be of Nigerian descent), shown to me by DJ Cal Tek that is heavily influenced by afro-beat. Also I am including one of my favorite Fela songs "Lady" and an older Fela tune (before he fully developed his style) as soon as I get the link to work.
Wale - Freestyle (roc boys) (this track is courtesy of DJ Cal Tek)
The link for Ololufe Mi is now up and working, it is a really cool track check it out.
ReplyDelete