31108

    Fela Kuti The Best Of Black President (Deluxe Edition)

    Knitting Factory Records
      • 1. Lady
      • 2. Shakara
      • 3. Gentleman (Edit Version)
      • 4. Water No Get Enemy (Edit Version)
      • 5. Zombie
      • 6. Sorrow Tears And Blood
      • 7. No Agreement (Part 2)
      • 8. Roforofo Fight
      • 9. Shuffering And Shmiling (Part 2)
      • 10. Coffin For Head Of State (Part 2)
      • 11. I T T (Part 2)
      • 12. Army Arrangement (Part 2)
      • 13. O.D.O.O. (Edit Version)

      Fela Anikulapo Kuti was a transformational figure not only in Africa, but throughout the world. Very few individuals can lay claim to being the creator of a genre, yet Fela’s Afrobeat, a fusion of jazz and funk fundamentals with traditional African music, is one who can be deemed at the forefront and creator of the medium. 

       

      Best of the Black President is a window into the world of Fela Kuti and his expansive songwriting career. With over 45 albums available, it is hard to pinpoint an individual who wrote hours upon hours of songs, many of which were never recorded, yet Best of the Black President is truly one of the best snapshots at the prolific life and output of one of Africa’s most beloved musicians. Some of Fela’s most popular and controversial tracks are covered in this collection, giving those who need an introduction to the man a first glimpse into his epic life and storytelling style. 

       

      This double-CD collection also includes a compiled DVD of excerpts from documentaries, live concerts and interviews


      Other Releases by Fela Kuti

      Fela KutiIkoyi BlindnessKnitting Factory Records
      Fela used the cover of ‘Ikoyi Blindness’ to announce his change of middle name from Ransome, which he now considered a slave name, to Anikulapo, which...
      • – Ikoyi Blindness
      • – Gba Mi Leti Ki N'Dolowo (Slap Me Make I Get Money)
      Fela KutiOriginal SufferheadKnitting Factory Records
      This edition of ‘Original Sufferhead’ is a major event. With the release of ‘Box Set #5’, and now on this reissue, the title track of this magnificent...
      • – Original Sufferhead
      • – Power Show
      Fela KutiOriginal SufferheadKnitting Factory Records
      This edition of ‘Original Sufferhead’ is a major event. With the release of ‘Box Set #5’, and now on this reissue, the title track of this magnificent...
      • – Original Sufferhead
      • – Power Show
      Fela KutiO.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake)Knitting Factory Records
      ‘Overtake Don Overtake Overtake’ was the penultimate album of newly recorded studio material released by Fela before he passed in 1997.Like its immediate...
        Fela KutiKalakuta ShowKnitting Factory Records
        The ‘Kalakuta Show’ album was Fela Kuti’s undaunted manner of extracting revenge on the military regime that attacked and brutalized him in 1974....
        • – Kalakuta Show
        • – Don't Make Garan Garan
        • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2020-3£20.99
          In stockAdd to Bag
        Fela KutiNoise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
        The Nigerian establishment labelled Kalakuta Republic inhabitants as ‘hooligans’, ‘hemp smokers’, etc. ‘Noise For Vendor Mouth’ is Fela’s...
        • – Noise For Vendor Mouth
        • – Mattress
        • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2019-3£20.99
          In stockAdd to Bag
        Fela KutiWhy Black Man They SufferKnitting Factory Records
        ‘Why Black Man Dey Suffer’, recorded in 1971, was originally deemed too controversial for release by EMI, his label at the time. Having recently been...
        • – Why Black Man Dey Suffer
        • – Ikoyi Mentality vs Mushin Mentality
        • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2012-3£20.99
          In stockAdd to Bag
        Fela KutiOpen & CloseKnitting Factory Records
        Reissue of Fela's highly sought-after 1971 album, 'Open & Close'! Super-funky Afrobeat featuring the incredible title track!
        • – Open And Close
        • – Suegbe And Pako
        • – Gbagada Gbogodo
        Fela KutiArmy ArrangementKnitting Factory Records
        Fela Kuti stories Nigeria’s attempt at ‘democracy’ in 1979 after more than a decade ofmilitary rule told through this album, originally released...
        • – Army arrangement (vocal)
        Fela KutiJ.J.D (Johnny Just Drop!!) Live!! At Kalakuta RepublikKnitting Factory Records
        Originally released in 1977, ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ features Fela lampooning Nigeria’s ‘been-tos’, people who had been to Europe or America...
          • LP + Download Code KFR2026-1£20.99
            In stockAdd to Bag
          Fela KutiNo AgreementKnitting Factory Records
          ‘No Agreement’ is sometimes overlooked among Fela’s 1977 releases, eclipsed by albums such as ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ and ‘Sorrow Tears...
          • – No Agreement
          • – Dog Eat Dog
            Fela KutiUnderground SystemKnitting Factory Records
            Reissue of one of Fela's later recordings, comprised of two extended tracks, the title cut and the classic, 'Pansa Pansa'.
            • – Underground System
            • – Pansa Pansa
            Fela KutiAfrodisiacKnitting Factory Records
            1973 Nigerian afro beat funk at it's best from the master - Fela Kuti 
            • – Alu Jon Jonki Jon
            • – Eko Ile
            • LP + Download Code KFR2008-1£20.99
              In stockAdd to Bag
            Fela KutiI.T.T.Knitting Factory Records
            'International Thief Thief' classic Fela from 1979
              Fela KutiUp Side DownKnitting Factory Records
              Upside Down’ and ‘Zombie’, both released in 1976, were made at the midpoint of an extraordinary three-year purple period during which Fela recorded...
              • – Up Side Down
              • – Go Slow
              Fela KutiZombieKnitting Factory Records
              On the title track Fela and the backup singers ridicule the mindset of men in uniform over an urgent, quick-march accompaniment from Afrika 70. The album...
              • – Zombie
              • – Mr. Follow Follow (Mister Follow Follow)
              Fela KutiAlagbon Close Knitting Factory
              Unmissable classic afro-beat! Alagbon Close represents one of the first times anyone had directly taken on the Nigerian authorities in such a brash manner!   
              • – alagbon close
              Fela KutiRoforofo Fight (2015 Reissue)Knitting Factory
              Essential afro beat! A dancefloor bomb! You need this!! KILLER REISSUE of Fela Kuti's 1972 album Roforofo Fight! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
              • – Roforofo Fight
              • – Go Slow
              Fela KutiNa PoiKnitting Factory Records
              Hypnotic afrobeat bullet from 1972 - recorded in Lagos. Sprited percussion, tight horns, and pure funk! As with most of the great man's albums, this is...
              • – na poi (part 1)
              • – na poi (part 2)
              • – you no go die...unless
              • LP + Download Code KFR2021-1£20.99
                In stockAdd to Bag
              Fela KutiExpensive ShitKnitting Factory Records
              'Expensive Shit' is one of Fela's most notorious albums! This killer afro-beat LP was originally release in 1975 and now gets a reissue on Brooklyn-based...
              • – Expensive Shit
              • – Water No Get Enemy
              • LP + Download Code KFR2015-1£20.99
                In stockAdd to Bag
              Fela KutiSorrow Tears & Blood (2014 Vinyl Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
              Originally released in 1977, Fela and Afrika 70 rise to their peak with rowsing, radical stuff as espoused by 'Colonial Mentality'.
                Fela KutiHe Miss Road (2014 Vinyl Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
                He Miss Road', also 1975, was produced by Ginger Baker. A deep and darker shade of afro-beat that is one of Fela's best.
                • – He Miss Road
                • – Monday Morning In Lagos
                • – It's No Possible
                Fela KutiBeasts Of No Nation / O.D.O.OKnitting Factory Records
                After helping Fela Anikulapo Kuti with Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense, Wally Badarou then produced Beasts of No Nation. Another album that has been combined...
                • – Beasts Of No Nation
                Fela KutiAlagbon Close / Why Black Man Dey SufferKnitting Factory
                Alagbon Close represents one of the first times anyone had directly taken on the Nigerian authorities in such a brash manner. Why Black Man Dey Suffer:...
                • – Alagbon Close
                Fela KutiStalemate / Fear Not For ManKnitting Factory Records
                The two titles from these 1977 albums are fiercely anti-authoritarian blasts at the Nigerian governmental regime while on 'Don't Worry About My Mouth O',...
                  Fela KutiExpensive Shit / He Miss RoadKnitting Factory Records
                  'Expensive Shit', from 1975, is one of Fela's most notorious albums. The title track recounts being framed by the police and his comical escape from certain...
                  • – Expensive Shit
                  Fela KutiOriginal Suffer Head And I.T.TKnitting Factory Records
                  Yet more essential afrobeat from the African equivalent of James Brown! All his albums are great!
                  • – I T T
                  Fela KutiEverything Scatter / Noise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
                  The king of afro beat does it again! Two essential classic albums on one budget CD!
                    Fela KutiYellow FeverKnitting Factory Records
                    Yellow Fever’ was originally released in 1976, during Fela’s extraordinarily prolific 1975-77 purple period, when he released 24 albums in Nigeria...
                    • – Yellow Fever
                    • – Na Poi ‘75

                    Other Releases on Knitting Factory Records

                    Fela KutiIkoyi BlindnessKnitting Factory Records
                    Fela used the cover of ‘Ikoyi Blindness’ to announce his change of middle name from Ransome, which he now considered a slave name, to Anikulapo, which...
                    • – Ikoyi Blindness
                    • – Gba Mi Leti Ki N'Dolowo (Slap Me Make I Get Money)
                    Fela KutiOriginal SufferheadKnitting Factory Records
                    This edition of ‘Original Sufferhead’ is a major event. With the release of ‘Box Set #5’, and now on this reissue, the title track of this magnificent...
                    • – Original Sufferhead
                    • – Power Show
                    Fela KutiOriginal SufferheadKnitting Factory Records
                    This edition of ‘Original Sufferhead’ is a major event. With the release of ‘Box Set #5’, and now on this reissue, the title track of this magnificent...
                    • – Original Sufferhead
                    • – Power Show
                    Fela KutiO.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake)Knitting Factory Records
                    ‘Overtake Don Overtake Overtake’ was the penultimate album of newly recorded studio material released by Fela before he passed in 1997.Like its immediate...
                      Fela KutiKalakuta ShowKnitting Factory Records
                      The ‘Kalakuta Show’ album was Fela Kuti’s undaunted manner of extracting revenge on the military regime that attacked and brutalized him in 1974....
                      • – Kalakuta Show
                      • – Don't Make Garan Garan
                      • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2020-3£20.99
                        In stockAdd to Bag
                      Fela KutiNoise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
                      The Nigerian establishment labelled Kalakuta Republic inhabitants as ‘hooligans’, ‘hemp smokers’, etc. ‘Noise For Vendor Mouth’ is Fela’s...
                      • – Noise For Vendor Mouth
                      • – Mattress
                      • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2019-3£20.99
                        In stockAdd to Bag
                      Fela KutiWhy Black Man They SufferKnitting Factory Records
                      ‘Why Black Man Dey Suffer’, recorded in 1971, was originally deemed too controversial for release by EMI, his label at the time. Having recently been...
                      • – Why Black Man Dey Suffer
                      • – Ikoyi Mentality vs Mushin Mentality
                      • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2012-3£20.99
                        In stockAdd to Bag
                      Fela KutiOpen & CloseKnitting Factory Records
                      Reissue of Fela's highly sought-after 1971 album, 'Open & Close'! Super-funky Afrobeat featuring the incredible title track!
                      • – Open And Close
                      • – Suegbe And Pako
                      • – Gbagada Gbogodo
                      Fela KutiArmy ArrangementKnitting Factory Records
                      Fela Kuti stories Nigeria’s attempt at ‘democracy’ in 1979 after more than a decade ofmilitary rule told through this album, originally released...
                      • – Army arrangement (vocal)
                      Fela KutiJ.J.D (Johnny Just Drop!!) Live!! At Kalakuta RepublikKnitting Factory Records
                      Originally released in 1977, ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ features Fela lampooning Nigeria’s ‘been-tos’, people who had been to Europe or America...
                        • LP + Download Code KFR2026-1£20.99
                          In stockAdd to Bag
                        Fela Kuti & Roy AyersMusic Of Many ColoursKnitting Factory Records
                        Reissue of the classic ‘Music Of Many Colours’, the joint album between Roy Ayers and Fela Kuti, recorded after a three week tour of Nigeria’s major...
                        • – 2000 Blacks Got To Be Free
                        • – Africa-Center Of The World
                        Fela KutiNo AgreementKnitting Factory Records
                        ‘No Agreement’ is sometimes overlooked among Fela’s 1977 releases, eclipsed by albums such as ‘Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.)’ and ‘Sorrow Tears...
                        • – No Agreement
                        • – Dog Eat Dog
                          Fela KutiUnderground SystemKnitting Factory Records
                          Reissue of one of Fela's later recordings, comprised of two extended tracks, the title cut and the classic, 'Pansa Pansa'.
                          • – Underground System
                          • – Pansa Pansa
                          Fela KutiAfrodisiacKnitting Factory Records
                          1973 Nigerian afro beat funk at it's best from the master - Fela Kuti 
                          • – Alu Jon Jonki Jon
                          • – Eko Ile
                          • LP + Download Code KFR2008-1£20.99
                            In stockAdd to Bag
                          Fela KutiI.T.T.Knitting Factory Records
                          'International Thief Thief' classic Fela from 1979
                            Fela KutiUp Side DownKnitting Factory Records
                            Upside Down’ and ‘Zombie’, both released in 1976, were made at the midpoint of an extraordinary three-year purple period during which Fela recorded...
                            • – Up Side Down
                            • – Go Slow
                            Fela KutiZombieKnitting Factory Records
                            On the title track Fela and the backup singers ridicule the mindset of men in uniform over an urgent, quick-march accompaniment from Afrika 70. The album...
                            • – Zombie
                            • – Mr. Follow Follow (Mister Follow Follow)
                            Fela KutiNa PoiKnitting Factory Records
                            Hypnotic afrobeat bullet from 1972 - recorded in Lagos. Sprited percussion, tight horns, and pure funk! As with most of the great man's albums, this is...
                            • – na poi (part 1)
                            • – na poi (part 2)
                            • – you no go die...unless
                            • LP + Download Code KFR2021-1£20.99
                              In stockAdd to Bag
                            Fela KutiExpensive ShitKnitting Factory Records
                            'Expensive Shit' is one of Fela's most notorious albums! This killer afro-beat LP was originally release in 1975 and now gets a reissue on Brooklyn-based...
                            • – Expensive Shit
                            • – Water No Get Enemy
                            • LP + Download Code KFR2015-1£20.99
                              In stockAdd to Bag
                            Fela KutiSorrow Tears & Blood (2014 Vinyl Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
                            Originally released in 1977, Fela and Afrika 70 rise to their peak with rowsing, radical stuff as espoused by 'Colonial Mentality'.
                              Fela KutiHe Miss Road (2014 Vinyl Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
                              He Miss Road', also 1975, was produced by Ginger Baker. A deep and darker shade of afro-beat that is one of Fela's best.
                              • – He Miss Road
                              • – Monday Morning In Lagos
                              • – It's No Possible
                              Fela KutiBeasts Of No Nation / O.D.O.OKnitting Factory Records
                              After helping Fela Anikulapo Kuti with Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense, Wally Badarou then produced Beasts of No Nation. Another album that has been combined...
                              • – Beasts Of No Nation
                              Fela KutiStalemate / Fear Not For ManKnitting Factory Records
                              The two titles from these 1977 albums are fiercely anti-authoritarian blasts at the Nigerian governmental regime while on 'Don't Worry About My Mouth O',...
                                Fela KutiExpensive Shit / He Miss RoadKnitting Factory Records
                                'Expensive Shit', from 1975, is one of Fela's most notorious albums. The title track recounts being framed by the police and his comical escape from certain...
                                • – Expensive Shit
                                Fela KutiOriginal Suffer Head And I.T.TKnitting Factory Records
                                Yet more essential afrobeat from the African equivalent of James Brown! All his albums are great!
                                • – I T T
                                Fela KutiEverything Scatter / Noise For Vendor MouthKnitting Factory Records
                                The king of afro beat does it again! Two essential classic albums on one budget CD!
                                  Fela KutiYellow FeverKnitting Factory Records
                                  Yellow Fever’ was originally released in 1976, during Fela’s extraordinarily prolific 1975-77 purple period, when he released 24 albums in Nigeria...
                                  • – Yellow Fever
                                  • – Na Poi ‘75

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