Editorial

12 International Artistes Who Sampled & Drew Inspiration From Afrobeat Legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti

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Legenday musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti popularly known as ‘Abami Eda’ is one of the biggest Nigerian names ever to make music and his music continues to inspire several years after he’s passed on.

Fela was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music which has inspired a lot of local and international artistes.

Without further ado, we take a look at some international acts who have sampled the work of the Afrobeat legend.

 

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1. J. Cole– “Let Nas Down” (2013)
“Let Nas Down” is a song from J. Cole’s 2013 album Born Sinner that takes after the Fela Kuti & The Afrika 70 track titled, “Gentleman.”

The Fela Kuti influence on this track is heavily felt, but doesn’t yet boast enough evidence to be officially labeled as a sample. Did J. Cole use a direct rip from Fela Kuti & Afrika 70’s track.

The Yoruba phrase ‘Mi Gbo’ is resounded all over track.

2. Drake (Please Forgive Me) Movie

Nigerian afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti is one of the most infuential Nigerian musicians of all time and even though long dead, his music and style continues to inspire several Nigerian and International acts today including Wizkid, D’banj, 2Face and now Drake.
One of the more notable parts of the short film is when Fela Kuti’s “Colonial Mentality” makes an appearance at the 13:20 mark. The track is off of his Sorrow, Tears and Blood album, which was released in 1977 and was written as a response to the Soweto Uprising of 1976.

During the uprising, thousands of South African students protested the forced teaching of Afrikaans, the colonial language of Apartheid. The ominous sounds play as we get a look at the villain’s compound.

Drake, of course, is not the only major artist today influenced by Fela, the late Nigerian saxophonist and vocalist behind the genre known as Afrobeat.
Watch the video below:

Kindly click on the next page to continue with the rest of the list.. .. .. ..

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