Seun Kuti teams up with Black Thought for EP 'African Dreams'

Seun Kuti has shared his latest release following a huge year of international touring and the recent 'Live at Cult Studios' EP.

A collaboration with Black Thought, the three-tracker entitled 'African Dreams' is a re-imagination of Kuti's Grammy nominated album 'Black Times' which moulds a hand-picked selection of the album's tracks to form a hybrid of afrobeat and hip-hop.

The pair share a synergy found on Common's single 'When We Move', which seeps into 'African Dreams', as the title and lead track ignites driving bass which lays a foundation for Black Thought's powerful lyricism.

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Following the upright lead track, 'Badman Lighter' is groove-laden with electric piano and horns overlaying a swinging afrobear bass line, before final cut 'Ku Ku Kee Mee' is opened with a blistering verse from Black Thought, embodying the project through opening line 'We are our ancestors' wildest dreams' before pivoting between the exploration of past hardships and future hopes of liberation.

“Black Thought delivers a message that connects us to the future, understanding that present and knowing that past," says Kuti, who is the youngest son of afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, on the MC's feature. "Everytime he speaks, he shows this connection and it means that he is a great artist, able to help the people to be at the right point in history. This is what makes Black Thought super.”

"This EP is something new. I don't think that something like this has been done before," he continues. "Many people used to remix songs, hip hop songs, but I think that this EP is the beginning of a new wave: afrobeat and hip hop, a new beginning of a musical relationship.”

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'Seun Kuti and Black Thought - African Dreams EP' is available now. Check it out here.

Niamh Ingram is Mixmag's Weekend Editor, follow her on Twitter