News & Notes:

The interview with Afrobeat artist, Femi Kuti, was enlightening and interesting.

But, you got something entirely wrong. The "News & Notes" website describes Kuti's music as a mixture of "Afrobeat with modern soul and hip-hop."

"Hip-hop" is easily the most over-used adjective used to describe the fixtures found in today's popular culture. "Hip-hop" and even "Soul" are not accurate descriptions of Kuti's music. Indeed, in addition to Afrobeats, Kuti's music is more akin to a Roots music (Reggae) sound. Kuti is more similar to Michael "Ibo" Cooper, original lead singer of the group--Third World; Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown [insert your favorite, Reggae great, here]. Kuti's music is heavy on politically and socially-based lyrics and a potent brass baseline. "Hip-hop" it is not.

Please, let's stop calling everything from apple-butter to peanut-butter: "Hip-hop"?!

Sent by Marcus | 6:34 PM ET | 07-30-2007

I've seen videos of his live shows, but never in person. Favorite song? Two favorites are "Beng Beng Beng" and "Look Around"

Sent by Oshun | 4:28 PM ET | 07-31-2007

My parents were fans of his father's (Fela Kuti) music. I never heard of his musician son till I heard the segment. But I found the segment to be enlightening.

To Marcus:

I know what we hear today of Hip-hop leaves something to be desired but Hip-hop started with fun and "politically and socially-based lyrics." Groups like Public Enemy had a lot to say about social issues and current rappers like Common and Mos-Def (to name a few) bring something different to the table.

Sent by Moji | 5:14 PM ET | 07-31-2007

A brilliant performance on the saxophone by Femi as usual.
In response to Marcus's comment:
Some of Femi's tracks have a root reggae influence; however the greatest influences in his sound come from the heavy percussions of Africa (Yoruba folk music in particular), the black jazz sound of yester-years from the New Orleans area and elements modern hip-hop. If you truly want to be enligtened about Femi's style of Afrobeat you would do well to listen to more of his music.

Ayo

Sent by Ayo | 1:34 PM ET | 08-10-2007