Grammy-nominated artist Seun Kuti has released his electrifying new song “Dey” featuring iconic four-time Grammy Award-winner Damian Marley. The track is available now on streaming platforms via Milan-based label Record Kicks. “Dey” is the first single from Seun Kuti & Egypt 80’s upcoming album Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head), dropping October 4, 2024.
“Dey” combines the raw energy of Afrobeat with the rhythmic vibes of reggae for a dynamic track that is sure to captivate audiences worldwide. The collaboration holds deep significance, symbolizing the rebuilding of a bridge between Nigeria and Jamaica. This special sentiment is emphasized by Seun.
He says, “I’m very honoured to have Damian on this track; it’s a historical moment. This is the first time that Kutis and Marleys have recorded together. We are two performers, both from the dynasty of Africa, with a huge continental divide, singing about similar struggles. To have the legacies of these great movements that represent African people is an amazing thing. It shows the similarities between the experiences of black people all over the world. I think this collaboration is an affirmation of the righteousness of our messages.”
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“The song depicts African unity and African art,” Seun continues. “It doesn’t matter where we are positioned in this world, very few African people receive notability; we are for the most part seen as the underdog. Therefore, this song is all about embracing and championing who we are. It is about human beings not having to be special, to be special. As African people, one thing that I hate about the way the world relates to us is that only special Africans are human. We can’t just be humans. That is removed from the black African experience. So, this song is about how we are special and how we should not feel the need to constantly prove ourselves to anybody.”
Produced by a dream team of top tier artists, including superstar Lenny Kravitz (executive producer) and original Fela Kuti and Egypt 80 producer Sodi Marciszewer (artistic producer), “Dey” pays homage to the rich traditions of both Nigeria and Jamaica while pushing the boundaries of contemporary music. With its fusion of pulsating rhythms and infectious melodies, “Dey” is set to become a timeless anthem that transcends borders and resonates with listeners from all walks of life. This innovative track is a cultural celebration showcasing the tapestry of sounds that define African and Caribbean music.
Seun is a musician, singer, and songwriter based in Lagos, Nigeria who is renowned for his captivating global performances and socially conscious music. He is the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and has spent most of his life preserving and extending his father’s political and musical legacy. He entered the ranks of Fela’s band Egypt 80 as a developing saxophonist and percussionist before the age of 12, and, in fulfilment of his father’s wishes, he assumed the mantle as head of the band when Fela passed in 1997. Seun has led them ever since; they rehearse at Fela’s former home, which is now the Kalakuta Museum.
Seun has also made his mark as a political activist and voice for the people of Nigeria, primarily via social media platforms. He was a participant in the Occupy Nigeria and #EndSARS protests and has revived Movement of the People (M.O.P.), a political party established by his father in 1979 that was quashed by the military government shortly after Fela’s failed presidential bid.
Seun has released four albums during his career with Egypt 80: Many Things (2008); From Africa With Fury: Rise (2011), which was co-produced by Brian Eno and John Reynolds; A Long Way Beginning (2014); and Grammy-nominated Black Times (2018), which includes a feature from Carlos Santana. He has also joined forces with countless notable artists, including Janelle Monae on the singles “Float” and “Knows Better” from her Grammy-nominated album The Age of Pleasure (2023); Talib Kweli and Madlib on the song “Nat Turner,” which features Cassper Nyovest, from their album Liberation 2 (2023); The Roots’ co-founder and emcee Black Thought on their EP African Dreams (2022); and Vic Mensa on the record “Bad Man Lighter 2.0,” which is a new version of Seun and Black Thought’s hip-hop remix of a single from Black Times.
The second half of Seun Kuti & Egypt 80’s North American “Dey” Tour kicks off July 12—following a series of dates in June—and will hit 11 cities through July 28.
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