By Odeisel
It’s always good to see music used as a vehicle to further something positive or to address a human need. These days there is an overabundance of dance music and some music that while entertaining doesn’t necesarily fortify our souls or address anything socially. Fear not. The (RED) organization has teamed up with the Red Hot Organization to release a compilation of music originally by the immortal Fela Kuti in an attempt to wage war against the AIDS epidemic, which despite Magic’s 20th year anniversary, is still cutting down lives in the hundreds of thousands.
The album is called Red Hot + FELA and this track, featuring tUnE-yArDs, vocalist Angelique Kidjo, The Roots bandleader ?uestlove and spokenword/MC Akua Naru is a remake of Kuti’s “Lady,” which orginally addressed the damage done to African culture by the feminist movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s. The criticism of Africans for abandoning their native cultures was one of the many constants of his musical message.
Fela Kuti died from Kaposi’s Sarcoma, a skin cancer brought on as a side effect from AIDS, a tragic ending which of course rounds the tribute album together with added meaning. The song is dope and the closing performance by rhymer Naru is legitimately boss. You need some of her in your life. Get yourself some of this “Lady.”
The original
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