Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean
says he named his new single ‘Fela Kuti’ because he wants young ones to
know about the legendary progenitor of Afrobeat.
Wyclef Jean’s new song ‘Fela Kuti’ is the first single off his forthcoming album.
The musician/actor also said he shares many similarities with the late Fela Kuti – who died twenty years ago.
“I
decided to name it Fela Kuti because for me, I feel like we be thinking
of [Bob] Marley, we give a lot of people from our past props, so when
the kids hear Fela Kuti, I really want them to Google it,” he told XXL.
“Fela
Kuti studied jazz in England. Wyclef studied jazz at Vailsburg High
School. Fela Kuti then went back to his country and tried to help his
country by running for president. Wyclef, you know, did the same thing.
“Then,
Fela, through all his obstacles and all that, his music is what
pillared him right back to the top. He understood the strongest way to
help politically was to make sure the music was bangin.
“So
for me, the same way kids can have songs called “Wyclef Jean” who are
influenced by me, I want kids to know who Fela is and what he means.”
Jean’s ‘Fela Kuti’ was produced by Supah Mario who was responsible for the production of Young Thug‘s ‘Wyclef Jean’.
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