Legacy+ is a 2021 double album by Femi Kuti and Made Kuti.[1] The album is made up of Femi Kuti's Stop the Hate and Made Kuti's For(e)ward.[2] It was released on 5 February 2021.[3]

Legacy+
Studio album by
Released5 February 2021 (2021-02-05)
GenreAfrobeat
Length88:18
LabelPartisan Records
PTKF 21892
ProducerSodi Marciszewer
Femi Kuti albums chronology
One People One World
(2018)
Stop the Hate
(2021)
Made Kuti albums chronology
For(e)ward
(2021)

Background

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The title represents a tribute to Fela Kuti as the pioneering afrobeat musician and also to the future of afrobeat music in general.[1][4] It has also been referred to as an immortalisation of Fela Kuti and the afrobeat genre.[5] Femi Kuti's Stop the Hate album occupies the first 10 tracks of the album while Made Kuti's For(e)ward album occupies the last 8 tracks.[3] The cover art is a portrait art of Femi Kuti and Made Kuti by Delphine Desane.[2]

Femi Kuti's 10th studio album, Stop the Hate is described as a sociopolitical recording which proffers solutions to perennial problems highlighted in his previous recordings. He encourages youth participation in politics and urges a quick resolution to problems.[3]

Made Kuti's For(e)ward addresses national unity, sexual harassment as well as issues relating to police brutality and End SARS.[3] He also chronicles how Nigeria's problems have remained the same since the 1970s.[6]

The music video for Femi Kuti's "As We Struggle Everyday" was released on the same day as the album release. The video was filmed by Optimus Dammy, edited by Audrey Hurtis, and illustrated by Kiki Picasso.[7]

Production and release

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The album was produced by Sodi Marciszewer who had worked with Fela Kuti in the past and was released under Partisan Records.[8] All the instrumentats on For(e)ward were composed, arranged and played by Made Kuti.[9]

Tracklist

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No.TitleLength
1."Pà Pá Pà"3:22
2."As We Struggle Everyday"4:29
3."Stop The Hate"5:19
4."Land Grab"2:32
5."Na Bigmanism Spoil Government"4:04
6."You Can't Fight Corruption With Corruption"5:19
7."Show of Shame"3:22
8."Privatisation"4:41
9."Young Boy/Young Girl"7:56
10."Set Your minds and Souls Free"6:04
11."Free Your Mind"5;20
12."Your Enemy"4:48
13."Blood"4:06
14."Different Streets"7:42
15."Higher You'll Find"5:03
16."Hymn"2:48
17."Young Lady"7:13
18."We Are Strong"4:05
Total length:88:18

Reception

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Ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
And It Don't StopB+[10]
The Arts Desk     [5]
The Guardian     
Pitchfork7.8[4]
Pulse Nigeria7.7/10[3]
The Scotsman     [9]

A reviewer for The Guardian noted that Femi Kuti's Stop the Hate is "an unremarkable continuation of the Afrobeat canon" and serves as a springboard for Made Kuti's For(e)ward. It was then rated 4 stars out of 5.[1] The album was rated 7.7/10 by a Pulse Nigeria reviewer who said "it’s another accomplished show of musicianship - as you would expect from a coalition of the Kutis on a ‘Legacy’ project."[3] A reviewer for The Quietus described the album as afrobeat being adapted for a "western palette".[6]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Work Result Ref
2022 Grammy Awards Best Global Music Album Femi and Made Kuti Legacy+ Nominated [11]
Best Global Music Performance Femi Kuti "Pà Pá Pà" Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kalia, Ammar (2021-02-05). "Femi/Made Kuti: Legacy+ review | Ammar Kalia's global album of the month". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  2. ^ a b "Femi Kuti, Son, Made Kuti release Joint Album 'Legacy'". Vanguard News. 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Alake, Motolani (2021-02-18). "'Legacy+' is a double dose of astute musicianship by Femi Kuti and Made Kuti [Pulse Album Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  4. ^ a b Akan, Joey. "Femi Kuti / Made Kuti: Legacy +". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  5. ^ a b Kidel, Mark (2021-01-30). "Album: Femi Kuti and Made Kuti - Legacy+". theartsdesk.com. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  6. ^ a b Gehzawi, Kareem. "The Quietus | Reviews | Femi & Made Kuti". The Quietus. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  7. ^ Kenechukwu, Stephen (2021-02-05). "Made, Femi Kuti deliver two-album project 'Legacy Plus'". TheCable Lifestyle. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  8. ^ Hutchinson, Kate (2021-01-31). "Different beat: how Fela Kuti's son and grandson are modernising the dynasty". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  9. ^ a b "Album reviews: Foo Fighters | Slowthai | Femi Kuti | Made Kuti". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  10. ^ Christgau, Robert (May 9, 2022). "Consumer Guide: March, 2022". And It Don't Stop. Substack. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  11. ^ "Wizkid, Burnaboy, oda Nigerian artists wey dey 2022 Grammy nomination". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2021-11-23.