Alagbon Close/Why Black Man Dey Suffer - Fela Kuti

Advantages: Brilliant lyrics, relaxing, takes you back to the roots of Hip Hop, Inspirational piece of work!!
Disadvantages: mmmmm.......

..., Relativity. 1997's One Day It'll All Make Sense boasted guest appearances by Lauryn Hill, Q-Tip, De La Soul, Erykah Badu, Cee-Lo, and the Roots' Black Thought and epitomized the movement of "intelligent hip-hop" that saw its peak around that time. Known as the most well-known underground rapper, Common signed a major record with MCA. 2000's Like Water for Chocolate featured production by Roots drummer ?uestlove and, because of more extensive marketing resources, introduced Common to the mainstream. The album was a huge critical and commercial success and featured the Grammy-nominated "The Light." Guests included Macy Gray, MC Lyte, Cee-Lo, Mos Def, D'Angelo, jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, and international star Femi Kuti (on a tribute to his legendary father Fela Kuti). Common followed up with a well-received guest appearance on Mary J. Blige... Read review

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Advantages: Great triple CD
Disadvantages: None

...Essential Afroboeat is essential if you are in any way interested in Afrobeat music. The CD sleeve notes bake a somewhat bold claim. "This is Afrobeat: The past, the present and the future. Contributions to this compilation come from all the corners of the Earth, with influences from every culture of the world. Fela said that Africa was "The centre of the world." This compilation has proved him right: Afrobeat is afrian and Africa is at the centre. The contribution of each artist to this compilation is testimony to the fact that Afrobeat is universal." But are these sleeve notes right? Yeah. I guess they are, pretty much. There's a glittering array of some of the best of the most talented musicians from Africa. There's Fela Kuti himself, with his super-eclectic style, which combines elements of R&B, Reggae, Ska and some hard pushing... Read review

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Advantages: Intelligent and Poetic Lyrics, Deep Production, Creativity, Variety, Guest Appearances
Disadvantages: A Few Less than Excellent Tracks

...to Erykah Badu, who is Common's boo, and it probably is. I never call you my b*tch or even my boo There's so much in a name and so much more in you Few understand the union of woman and man And sex and a tingle is where they assume that it land But that's fly by night for you and the sky I write For in these cold Chi night's moon, you my light If heaven had a height, you would be that tall Ghetto to coffee shop, through you I see that all Let's stick to understandin and we won't fall For better or worse times, I hope to me you call So I pray everyday more than anything friends will stay as we begin to lay this foundation for a family - love ain't simple Why can't it be anything worth having you work at annually Granted we known each other for some time It don't take a whole day to recognize sunshine "Dooinint" was Common... Read review

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