Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30305 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Amazon.co.uk Review
Never has there been a more appropriate Red Hot tribute than this one dedicated to the music of Afrobeat founder Fela Kuti, the Nigerian legend who died from AIDS-related complications in 1997. The artists and groups heard here, nearly 40 all told, cover the musical spectrum: hip-hop (Blackalicious, Roots), jazz (Roy Hargrove, Archie Shepp); soul (Sade, D'Angelo), Afrobeat (Tony Allen, Femi Kuti), world music (Baaba Maal, Jorge Ben), electronic music (Mixmaster Mike, Money Mark) and rock (Nile Rodgers). They have come together to raise money for the 25 million Africans now infected with the AIDS/HIV virus. Red Hot efforts often pair different artists together on the same song, and this album features many once-in-a-lifetime collaborations. Fela's music has been refashioned and mixed together here according to the styles of the artists, rendering several of the 20 songs barely recognisable in comparison with the originals. But such is the strength of Fela's music that even such singular-sounding artists as Macy Gray and Dead Prez get into the Afrobeat spirit of things. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

FELA LIVES!
I am a big Fela fan but for some reason I ignored this album for some time. Maybe I though that it would be a collection of pale imitations of Fela tunes, not worthy of the man and his music. When he was alive Fela hated the idea of anyone 'stealing' his music. Bill Laswell was once on the receiving end of Fela's wrath when he remixed some of Fela's music while Fela was in prison. If Fela heard this album though I think he'd love it!

The artists here have shown respect to Fela's spirit while really putting something new into the tunes. This is a supremely funky album and which is full of highlights but the versions of 'Expensive Sh*t' and 'No Agreement' are amazing.

Make sure you buy the original to support AIDS charities in Africa. Anyone with a interest in funky black music MUST own this album.

RIP Fela and all other AIDS victims
An excellent CD that truly encaptures the spirit of Fela's music. A great range of artists from Cheikh Lo to Taj Mahal to Les Nubians and then the 'conscious' rap artists Common, Talib Kweli, the Roots, Dead Prez. All tracks great, my personal favourites being 'No agreement' and 'Shuffering and Shmiling'. Net profits from this album will support Red Hot's awareness activities. Buy it.