Femi Kuti: The Definitive Collection

Album Review

Femi Kuti has the unenviable position of being an excellent musician and the undisputed king of Afro-beat, while also being the son of the greatest. Of course, that has tempered his sound over the years to some degree as he distanced himself by adding newer influences such as hip-hop to the classic soul-funk-jazz sound. As time progressed, he has moved into a more "traditional" Afro-beat sound with excellent results. Here, some of the best tracks from his three albums are presented. Two tracks come from the little-known eponymous debut, and a handful from each of his following releases. This is Femi at his best, crossing the divides between classic and modern, contemplative and energetic, hypnotic and pounding. The music is top-notch and the song selection equally excellent, picking out a couple of relative rarities for good measure in "Ala Jalkoum" with Rachid Taha and a star-studded cover of Fela's "Water No Get Enemy" from the Red Hot + series. It's the sheer power of the groove that will get you every time, though — saxes wailing, drums thumping, and call-and-response vocals forcing everyone to stay in the groove. As an added bonus, a disc of remixes is included; there are fewer vocals but the grooves are extended, if that's possible.