Fela KutiBest Fela Kuti Albums Ranked

Expensive Shit

pitchfork

8.5

“Afro-beat pioneer Fela Kuti was never more pissed off at his homeland's military government than in 1974. In that year, the Nigerian police persistently raided his compound, the Kalkuta Republic, as a result of Kuti's growing public opposition to the ruling junta. Having beaten a narcotics charge, the Lagos police swarmed Kuti's home in an attempt to plant a big fat joint on the premises and arres”

The Underground Spiritual Game

pitchfork

8.4

“Blackalicious DJ/producer Chief Xcel seamlessly melds 11 of the Afrobeat pioneer's best tracks into one continuous mix.”

The Best of The Black President

pitchfork

8.1

“With a full reissue campaign coming-- and a show in his honor on Broadway-- Fela's re-examination year kicks off with this comp.”

Fela With Ginger Baker Live!

pastemagazine

8.0

“While the album helped launch Fela Kuti’s career in Europe and elsewhere, assisted, in part, by the crossover attention given to Baker and Kuti’s collaboration by the English press, the real star of this recording session is the Africa ‘70.”

Live In Detroit 1986

rollingstone

7.0

“When Fela Kuti played this 1986 gig, he’d just spent 20 months in prison on charges brought by a Nigerian dictator. So the Afrobeat godfather’s always-present indignation has particular bite on this live LP, as he and a band of 27 unspool powerful jams that mix funk, jazz and traditional African music. The sound quality […]”