Tune of the Week: Fela Kuti

On April 30, 2020 drummer Tony Allen passed away. According to Fela Kuti, who coined the phrase, Allen invented the rhythm of Afrobeat. While this genre was a hybrid of first world breakbeats and third world rhythms, Afrobeat would go on to influence a myriad of genres and their musicians. Even in his seventies, Tony Allen continued to stay relevant on the world’s music stage. His final recording session was for Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz project, featuring vocals by UK grimes’ Skepta:

Rest in Rhythm Mr. Allen.