With the ongoing re-issue of Fela Kuti's entire discography on Knitting Factory Records and the critically successful Broadway run of 'Fela!' showing no signs of going anywhere, the Nigerian Godfather of Afrobeat is enjoying what might be his third wave of public recognition and adulation in America.Questlove, ubiquitous drummer of the Philadelphia-based live rap outfit The Roots, (and 'Fela!' associate producer), is the latest to offer his take on Fela's ongoing relevance in not only world music, but more specifically, its parallels with the hip hop experience in America.
"It's the story of taking nothing and making it into something," he said in a recent video interview. "Hip hop is very familiar with opposition to the police. Hip hop is extremely familiar with polygamy of sorts. Hip hop is extremely familiar with talking back to authority and the government and being that of a rebel spirit."
See the sit-down video with Questlove after the jump.
1. This is a farce.To compare Fela Kuti to the current state of hip hop is misleading.Hip hop promotes self hating and self destructive behavior.The hatred for the police in hip hop is rooted in criminal behavior.Fela Kuti was talking against corrupt police and a complacent people.He was against a brutal government.
Posted at 3:07AM on Feb 27th 2010 by Kalagenesis