Femi Kuti talks about his latest work, "Journey Through Life", his new Afrobeat album.
Rewritten Article:
YO, IT'S YOUR BOI, DON, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FRESH NEW ALBUM FROM AFROBEAT MAVEN, FEMI KUTI! IT'S CALLED "JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE," AND DAMN, IT'S A BANGER.
(SOUNDBITE OF FEMI KUTI SONG, "POLITICS DON EXPOSE THEM")
Alright, so this bad boy draws inspiration from jazz, funk, and West African vibes, and it pays homage to that Iconic Afrobeat sound created by Femi's OG, Fela Kuti, back in the sixties. Kuti dropped a few bars during our chat from his crib in Nigeria, and let me tell you, this dude's got some insightful shit to say.
He spoke about the inspiration behind the album, yo, and how he chose the title "Journey Through Life."
FEMI KUTI: I wanted to talk about things that have guided me throughout my life, so I came up with the title "Journey Through Life."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE")
He talks about keeping loved ones close, focusing on family and tolerance, and how to put it all in a catchy, yet meaningful way. Check out the tune below:
KUTI: (Singing) As you pass through your journey in life...
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) ...Remember it is just for a period of time.
KUTI: (Singing) Don't hold on to material things too tight.
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTISTS: (Singing) 'Cause you're going to have to let go after a while.
KUTI: (Singing) Keep all of your loved ones by your side.
There's another banger on the album called "Work On Myself."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WORK ON MYSELF")
KUTI: (Singing) Maybe we fit no change the world. But we can change the world within us. I'm going to work on myself. And bring out the very, very best.
Man, it's a reflection of the state of his mind right now, politically and socially. Frustrated with global politics and feeling helpless, he started thinking, "Maybe the problem isn't changing the world, but changing yourself."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WORK ON MYSELF")
KUTI: (Singing) Before I think, say the road to freedom dey near, as many great people don waka this e waka. I think say if I waka small, things go better, but now I see say the road to freedom dey far (ph).
You can't pick up a gun or be violent, but you can work on yourself, change, and become the best version of yourself. Right on, Femi!
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WORK ON MYSELF")
KUTI: (Singing) Yes, I'm going to work on myself. Yes, I'm going to work on myself. Yes, I'm going to work on myself.
GOTTA MENTION "AFTER 24 YEARS" - IT'S A SLOW JAM THAT HITS DIFFERENT. IT'S STOKED AT THE SHRINE RIGHT NOW, AND THAT HORN LINE IS SO DAMN, MELLOW, MAN. CHECK IT OUT:
KUTI: (Singing) Twenty-four years on, our government never perform. Dem just dey government dey chop. From 1999, with dey talk. They failed to repair our refineries. They pretend with their rivalries. They sit down together, they enjoy while the country, they destroy. Eleven thousand...
Man, it's a sing-along. Music like this, I like because when you sing about something serious, this sweet, melodious horn line catches the listener to want to listen. It's important to find a sweet melody, so consciously or subconsciously, the listener will hear the message.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "AFTER 24 YEARS")
That was musician Femi Kuti. You can cop his latest album, "Journey Through Life," now. Keep it locked!
(SOUNDBITE OF FEMI KUTI SONG, "AFTER 24 YEARS")
[1] Fela Kuti was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, composer, and activist who pioneered the Afrobeat music genre.[2] Kalakuta Republic was a commune in Lagos, Nigeria, established by Fela Kuti as a refusal of Nigerian government rule.[3] The album "Journey Through Life" explores themes of politics, personal growth, family legacy, and community engagement, continuing the socially-conscious legacy of Fela Kuti.[4] Femi Kuti's album critiques political corruption and oppression, continues the tradition of addressing social issues in his music, and explores themes of self-improvement and introspection, marking a new direction for Kuti.[5] Femi Kuti's album, "Journey Through Life," is a cohesive work (i.e., it has a central theme, focuses on both personal and political matters, emphasizes collective action/community participation, and uses melodic horn lines to convey complex messages).
- Fela Kuti, the Nigerian musician and activist, whose work inspired Femi Kuti in creating his latest album "Journey Through Life", pioneered the Afrobeat genre.
- The album explores themes of politics, personal growth, family legacy, and community engagement, continuing the socially-conscious legacy of Fela Kuti.
- Frustrated with global politics, Femi Kuti critiques political corruption and oppression in "Journey Through Life", offering themes of introspection and self-improvement as potential solutions.
- In the song "Work On Myself", Femi Kuti encourages listeners to focus on personal change and development as a means to effect change within society.
- The use of melodic horn lines in Femi Kuti's music, as demonstrated in "Journey Through Life", serves to subtly convey complex messages to listeners, making them more receptive to his social commentary.
