Heavier Yet (Lays the Crownless Head)

Becoming leader of Egypt 80, his legendary father Fela’s band, at the tender age of 14, Seun Kuti has always existed within the shadow of that extraordinary musical legacy. His skill as a saxophonist and singer has, however, led to a much-lauded career of his own. Heavier Yet (Lays the Crownless Head) comes equipped with the synchronised horn lines, call-and-response vocals and funky grooves synonymous with Afrobeat. Produced by Fela’s original engineer Sodi Marciszewer and executive producer Lenny Kravitz, it has a timeless yet contemporary feel. Kuti retains the political fire of classic Afrobeat. Stirring vocal features come courtesy of Damian Marley and rapper Sampa The Great. Marley adds a cross-cultural flavour to the empowerment anthem ‘Dey’, while the Zambian MC lends her trademark flows to ‘Emi Aluta’, a tribute to history’s great revolutionaries. Heavier Yet (Lays the Crownless Head) honours Afrobeat’s past while having one eye firmly on the future and, crucially, considering how it can be improved.