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
      • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2039-3£23.99
        In stockAdd to Bag
      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 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 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 KutiCoffin For Head Of StateKnitting Factory Records
        Fela Kuti made some frantic albums in his career--ones that popped with his enthusiastic political disobedience and ones that roared with fury at the Nigerian...
        • – Coffin For Head Of State part 1
        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£23.99
            In stockAdd to Bag
          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
          Fela KutiFela's London SceneKnitting Factory Records
          Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 1971. Essential Fela Kuti, featuring Tony Allen on drums!
          • – J'Ehin J'Ehin
          • – Who're You?
          • – Buy Africa
          Fela KutiI.T.T.Knitting Factory Records
          'International Thief Thief' classic Fela from 1979
            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 KutiEverything Scatter (2015 Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
            Another killer gem from the undisputed 'King Of Afrobeat' Fela Kuti! Originally released in 1975. Expect nothing less than perfection. Sweet locked-in...
            • – Everything Scatter
            • – Who No Know Go How
            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
            Fela KutiHe Miss RoadKnitting 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 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 KutiFela With Ginger Baker Live!Knitting Factory Records
            'Let's Start' - Seriously killer tune! and loads more. It's hard to go wrong with Fela Kuti's work from the 1970s, and LIVE!, which features the Afrobeat...
            • – Let's Start
            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
            • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) KFR2039-3£23.99
              In stockAdd to Bag
            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 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 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 KutiCoffin For Head Of StateKnitting Factory Records
              Fela Kuti made some frantic albums in his career--ones that popped with his enthusiastic political disobedience and ones that roared with fury at the Nigerian...
              • – Coffin For Head Of State part 1
              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£23.99
                  In stockAdd to Bag
                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
                Fela KutiFela's London SceneKnitting Factory Records
                Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 1971. Essential Fela Kuti, featuring Tony Allen on drums!
                • – J'Ehin J'Ehin
                • – Who're You?
                • – Buy Africa
                Fela KutiI.T.T.Knitting Factory Records
                'International Thief Thief' classic Fela from 1979
                  Fela KutiEverything Scatter (2015 Reissue)Knitting Factory Records
                  Another killer gem from the undisputed 'King Of Afrobeat' Fela Kuti! Originally released in 1975. Expect nothing less than perfection. Sweet locked-in...
                  • – Everything Scatter
                  • – Who No Know Go How
                  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
                  Fela KutiHe Miss RoadKnitting 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 KutiFela With Ginger Baker Live!Knitting Factory Records
                  'Let's Start' - Seriously killer tune! and loads more. It's hard to go wrong with Fela Kuti's work from the 1970s, and LIVE!, which features the Afrobeat...
                  • – Let's Start
                  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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