Kuti is really the only name in Afro-funk, and Fela Kuti, long hailed the father/creator/badass of the genre is now being hailed as Obama’s predecessor (sorta) on the “hits” collection, Best of The Black President. The disc compiles 13 songs from Kuti’s years with Nigeria 70, Egypt 80, and his other bands, for a solid introduction to the genre he created and his sons – notably Femi but also Saun – are still championing today. This disc is also the relaunch of Knitting Factory Records, which somehow got its hands on the Fela catalog, which it’s releasing remasters of over the next two years. We’re not sure how that plays as a business model, but it’s great for the public archives of music! Black President is currently streaming for free via AOL Music (really, what would Fela think of that kind corporate partnership?) and you can download the classic “Water No Get Enemy” below.
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