Fela’s brand continue to grow globally. Photo: Filed
As the annual Felabration comes to an end in Lagos, the Fela brand continues to make waves across the globe. According singer and Fela’s popular American girlfriend, Sandra Iszadore ‘while Nigerians are abandoning the ideals and philosophy Fela stood for, the international community are embracing it.’ Here is a focus on top music acts who have in the past been inspired by the late Abami Eda.
Jay Z
Leading the pack of globally acclaimed music acts who have been inspired by Fela is no other person than the Roc Nation boss himself, Jay Z. Long before Jay Z invested his money in the award winning production, Fela! On the Broadway, he has been a fan of Fela. His popular 2007 single, Roc Boys (And the winner is) although a sample of The Menahan Street Band’s Make The Road by Walking also has inspiration from Fela’s ‘Water no get enemy’.
Beyonce
Like her husband, Beyonce is also a huge fan of Fela and reports have it that she recorded an album in 2011 which was totally influenced by Fela. The producer, The Dream recently revealed that Bey was totally mesmerized by Fela’s style and wanted to do something similar to the music of Fela. ‘We did a whole Fela album that didn’t go up. It was right before we did 4 (Beyonce’s 4th album). We did a whole different sounding thing – about 20 songs. She said she wanted to do something that sounds like Fela,’ he disclosed.
J.Cole
In 2013, American rapper J. Cole dropped a song, ‘Let Nas Down’ a tribute to his idol, Nas which remains one of the biggest songs of his career. The track sampled 1973 popular hit, Gentleman and was produced by Kanye West’s mentor, NO I.D.
Nas
J. Cole’s sampling of Fela on his …Read More
Source:: The NET
