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The AfroBeatles Manning Marable Tribute - Nowhere Man vs Fear Not For Man

Wednesday, April 06, 2011 12:12:00 -700

Nowhere Man vs Fear Not For Man by AfroBeatles

The AfroBeatles tribute to Black Scholar and Activist Manning Marable.

Manning Marable, one of the leading scholars of African-American history in the United States, has died at age 60. He had been hospitalized with pneumonia last month, according to reports.

"He would want to be remembered for being both a scholar and an activist and as someone who saw the two as not being separated," Manning's widow, Leith Mullings Marable, told The Root.

For Newscast, Karen Grigsby Bates reports:

Marable, professor of history and African-American Studies at Columbia University, is known for his well-regarded books on the American Civil Rights movement, the meaning of race in America, and the tension between race and democracy.

Marable had suffered from the lung disease sarcoidosis for much of his adult life; he had a a double lung transplant last summer.

In 2003, Marable told a reporter for the Columbia Record how he thought about the civil rights movement:

Slaves couldn't free themselves by themselves, so it had to be a movement. It comes from a group of people deciding, 'We will sacrifice individual choice for the benefit of the group.' That's the logic of trade unions, the women's rights movement and the lesbian and gay movement.

In other words, emancipatory freedom is group freedom. Freedom is not found through multiple choices, but goals for all. Everyone should be able to eat, everyone should be able to vote and have decent schools.

Marable appeared on Democracy Now in 2007, to discuss his work on a biography of Malcolm X. That book, titled Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention, is coming out Monday (4/12).

by BILL CHAPPELL, NPR News

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It's Spring! Here Comes The SUN! The AfroBeatles meet Ocote Soul Sounds

Monday, March 21, 2011 11:54:00 -700

Here Comes The Sun vs La Primavera by AfroBeatles

The AfroBeatles celebrate the release of our brothers, Ocote Soul Sounds', new album "Taurus" dropping soon on ESL Music.

Yes, AfroBeatles is traditionally Fela Kuti and Beatles mashes but, we will occasionally explore the recordings of bands that are heavily influenced by Baba (Fela).Heading up that list is the mighty Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra which has been for years preserving the riddims established by Fela Kuti, Tony Allen and others.

One of the founding members of Antibalas, Martin Perna (Sax, Flute, Vocals, Composition, Arrangement, Production) has a dope, dare I say, side-group, Ocote Soul Sounds with his production partner Adrian Quesada.These cats have been dropping dope original afro-latin-soul-funk grooves since '06 and you need to cop ALL their records.

If you aren't hip to these dudes, The AfroBeatles are happy to introduce, Ocote Soul Sounds with a cut off their new album "Taurus" entitled "La Primavera" or "The Spring" for the latino-challenged amongst us.How perfect to find a song about the winter ending and the spring beginning right when we are pining for that exact transition to occur."La Primavera" is the perfect conceptual groove-vehicle to smash with The Beatles' "Here Comes The Sun" which is, after all, roughly the same lyrical concept.

"La Primavera" lyrics M. Perna

Despues del invierno, (After the Winter)

Llega la primavera (Comes the Spring)

Llega la primavera

Dulce primavera (Sweet Spring)

"Here Comes The Sun" lyrics G. Harrison

Here comes the sun

and, I say, it's alright

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter

Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun

and I say, it's alright

Little darling, the smiles returning to their faces

Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun

and I say, it's alright

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

A Day In The Life vs. Egbe Mi O (Carry Me I Want To Die)

Friday, February 18, 2011 09:56:00 -700

Here we are. Just another day in the life of The AfroBeatles, literally. Today we smash-up John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "A Day In The Life" with Fela Kuti's "Egbe Mio" which means Carry me, I want to die.

Strangely enough, while working on this. we stumbled upon this entire sub-culture that we had no idea existed. I told you from the beginning I knew very little about The Beatles before starting this project, but really, do all the fans out there know about this "Paul McCartney is dead" business???

B, I'm sayin that there is an entire set of people walking this planet who believe that Paul McCartney died in a car-accident in 1966 and that the dude we have been living with all these years is not at all Paul McCartney. The progenitors of this belief system weave an intense web of British Secret service involvement, assassination, and deception to maintain the cash cow that is the Beatles brand and, as exemplified in www.ispauldead.com, go to extreme lengths to document the extensive evidence supporting this theory. There is even a flick called Paul McCartney Really Is Dead which supposedly features recordings George Martin made on his deathbed admitting that Paul was indeed killed and that our Paul is this dude Billy Shears. The cover of SGT. PEPPERS is supposed to have some of the most blatant clues from John, George and Ringo that Paul is no longer with us, along with a backmastered run-out groove on the original vinyl that some interpret as the Beatles saying "Paul Is Dead, Paul Is Dead". The rabbit hole is DEEP on this one folks so decide if you want to take the blue pill or the red pill. Happy listening!

Valentine's Day The AfroBeatles Way... Can't Buy Me Love

Monday, February 14, 2011 08:46:00 -700

The Beatles never picked up many Grammys on their comeup, but yesterday, they won for best historical album at the 2011 Grammy Awards, just as The Beatles / Cirque Du Soliel "LOVE" album makes its digital release debut exclusively on the iTunes Store. Seems like there is still ALOT of LOVE for The Beatles. But, when it comes to The Beatles and FELA, however, there is an interesting twist.

According to The Observer's Peter Culshaw:

Paul McCartney found himself in Lagos in August 1972. The plan had been to record a new record - the record that became Band on the Run - at somewhere other than Abbey Road and EMI had offered one of its studios in Rio de Janeiro or Peking. Instead, the former Beatle insisted on the Nigerian capital, picturing himself 'lying on the beach all day doing nothing and recording at night'.

As he drily noted later, 'it didn't turn out quite like that', what with being held up at knife point, the lepers in the streets, the omnipresent military, the corruption and the lack of security. Still, Lagos had its attractions. Chief among these was the chance to check out Fela Ransome-Kuti's band - 'the best band I've ever seen live ... When Fela and his band eventually began to play, after a long, crazy build-up, I just couldn't stop weeping with joy. It was a very moving experience.'

Thrilled by his experience, McCartney thought of recording with some of the musicians. When Fela caught wind of the plan he denounced McCartney from the stage of The Shrine and then arrived unannounced at the studio to berate him for 'stealing black man's music'.

As McCartney said at the time: 'We were gonna use African musicians, but when we were told we were about to pinch the music we thought, "Well, up to you, we'll do it ourselves." Fela thought we were stealing black African music, the Lagos sound. So I had to say, "Do us a favour, Fela, we do OK. We're all right as it is. We sell a couple of records here and there."

Wow... so, Paul McCartney of The Beatles LOVED FELA and FELA showed NO LOVE BACK!!!

When venturing down the path to do this mashup, I NEVER considered the possibility that Fela Kuti and The Beatles might have crossed paths. About a month ago @thisisjohnbook hit us with this tweet:

"If Fela Kuti did not threaten Paul McCartney in 1973 for suspicions of musical theft, it might have lead to@AfroBeatles afrobeatles.com"

I didn't know quite what that meant but it was my first clue that Fela and The Beatles had indeed mixed it up. After stumbling upon Culshaw's article from 2004, I got the full rundown which made working on this project even more precious. We are putting together greats that could have rocked together but didn't. This experiment shows what might have come from this collabo. But let's explore why Fela dissed Paul with the smashup of Can't Buy Me Love and Expensive Shit.

"Can't Buy Me".. meaning it's too expensive or priceless.

Thinking about the pairing from a race and colonialism perspective which constantly fueled Fela Kuti's music, i think specifically of the Diamond Industry and how the British, amongst other European nations, have pillaged and exploited the lands, resources and peoples of Africa so literally that the trade is often called Blood Diamonds due to the toll on human life to retrieve the precious stones from African mines and sell them in the World market. The Beatles and the "British Invasion" were so emblematic of the that White world power, Fela's response is essentially 'i don't care who you are, you can't buy my love.' The lyrics themselves say it most plainly. Happy Valentine's Day, The AfroBeatles way.

Can't buy me love, love

Can't buy me love

I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel alright

I'll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel alright

'Cause I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you love me too

I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you

I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love, everybody tells me so

Can't buy me love, no no no, no

Say you don't need no diamond ring and I'll be satisfied

Tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can't buy

I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Jules Verne Especiale- The AfroBeatles Octopus's Garden vs. Yellow Submarine vs. Who No Know Go Know

Tuesday, February 08, 2011 18:33:00 -700

The AfroBeatles celebrate the pioneering imagination of Jules Verne and go 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea in their Yellow Submarine to visit an Octopus's Garden in the shade.

The AfroBeatles have maintained a pretty heavy political mood for the last few releases. Today, on Jules Verne's birthday, we take some time to celebrate the fanciful, playful, imaginative vibes of the writer, Fela Kuti, and The Beatles.

Join us on an epic, "trip" around the world and below it's surface aboard this mash of "Yellow Submarine", "Octopus' Garden" & Fela's "Who No Know Go Know"

Music Is The Weapon of The Future

Jules Verne

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jules Gabriel Verne; February 8, 1828 – March 24, 1905) was a French author from Brittany who pioneered the science-fiction genre. He is best known for novels such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870), A Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864), and Around the World in Eighty Days (1873). Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before air travel and practical submarines were invented, and before practical means of space travel had been devised. He is the third most translated individual author in the world, according to Index Translationum. Some of his books have also been made into films. Verne, along with Hugo Gernsback and H. G. Wells, is often popularly referred to as the "Father of Science Fiction".[1]

Yellow Submarine (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yellow Submarine is a 1968 British animated feature film based on the music of The Beatles. It is also the title for the soundtrack album to the feature film, released as part of the Beatles' music catalogue. The film was directed by animation producer George Dunning, and produced by United Artists (UA) and King Features Syndicate.

Revolution vs. Water No Get Enemy: The AfroBeatles support our African brothers and sisters in Cairo

Sunday, January 30, 2011 07:01:00 -700

If you're late and you didn't know it's going DOWN in Egypt… it's going DOWN. Citizens are challenging the despotic rule of President Hosni Mubarak. Since the 25th of January, unrest has engulfed the city of Cairo as protesters demonstrate for freedom, civil rights, and relief from poverty. You can get the official journalist rundown on the state of affairs at the Huffignton Post , but the scenario is unprecedented with events such as internet & phone service being shut down throughout Egypt as the drama continues to unfold.

Fela Kuti and The Beatles are icons that stand for revolution in word and deed, and with common people battling for justice in the here and now, we share this video in support of the fighting and fallen (100 reported dead so far).

Watch "Revolution" vs. "Water No Get Enemy"

"Revolution" Lyrics by John Lennon

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
Ah

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
all right, all right
all right, all right, all right
all right, all right, all right

"Water No Get Enemy Lyrics" by Fela Kui

T'o ba fe lo we omi l'o ma'lo
If you wan to go wash, na water you go use

T'o ba fe se'be omi l'o ma'lo
If you wan cook soup, na water you go use

T'o ri ba n'gbona o omi l'ero re
If your head dey hot, na water go cool am

T'omo ba n'dagba omi l'o ma'lo
If your child dey grow, na water he go use

If water kill your child, na water you go use
T'omi ba p'omo e o omi na lo ma'lo

Ko s'ohun to'le se k'o ma lo'mi o
Nothing without water
Ko s'ohun to'le se k'o ma lo'mi o
Omi o l'ota o

[Chorus]
Water, him no get enemy!

Omi o l'ota o
If you fight am, unless you wan die
I say water no get enemy
If you fight am, unless you wan die
Omi o l'ota o
I dey talk of Black man power
I dey talk of Black power, I say
I say water no get enemy
If you fight am, unless you wan die
I say water no get enemy
I say water no get enemy
Omi o l'ota o
Omi o l'ota o

Song Meaning by The Anarchitect

Water is essential to human life. Only a fool would dare go without it.

Likewise, the people and the body politic are a nation's lifeblood. They populate the land, power the economy, and preserve its culture. Only a foolish government would fight or antagonize its citizens. Trample on your own people, and your nation will die of thirst.

The AfroBeatles Celebrate MLK Day: Come Together

Monday, January 17, 2011 13:48:00 -700

Fela, John, Paul, George & Ringo, The AfroBeatles, come together once again; this time to pay homage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the celebration of his life and work.

Fela offers "Beasts of No Nation" as the groove; a perfect sonic backdrop for the 1963 March on Washington where King delivers his iconic "I Have A Dream" speech.

"We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Ironically "Come Together" was the last song The Beatles cut in the studio together.

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"Come Together" Lyrics

Here come old flattop

He come groovin' up slowly

He got joo-joo eyeball

He one holy roller

He got hair down to his knees

Got to be a joker

He just do what he please

He wear no shoeshine

He got toe jam football

He got monkey finger

He shoot Coca Cola

He say I know you, you know me

One thing I can tell you is

You got to be free

Come together, right now

Over me

He bag production

He got walrus gumboot

He got Ono sideboard

He one spinal cracker

He got feet down below his knees

Hold you in his armchair

You can feel his disease

Come together, right now

Over me

He roller coaster

He got early warning

He got muddy water

He one mojo filter

He say one and one and one is three

Got to be good looking

'Cause he's so hard to see

Come together, right now

Over me

Come together, yeah

Beatles Bongos...

Monday, January 03, 2011 18:21:00 -700

Perfect for your interactive afrobeatle experience. Cop that! only $6.95 (in 1960!)

The Beginning

Monday, January 03, 2011 11:10:00 -700

The afroBeatles concept came out of an IM conversation between myself and my good writer-firend, Kris Ex (50 Cent Book, Rolling Stone, XXL, The Source, Deus Machina Ex). Kris popped up one morning in the last week of 2010 and said, "I'd really love to hear Beatles melodies over Fela grooves". Despite my own many wranglings with remixes, reinterpretations, and mashups of Fela's works (Fela! The Musical Zombie Remix, Michael Jackson vs. Fela Kuti: The King Meets The President In Africa), I was surprised that I hadn't at least thought of the idea of a Beatles and Fela pairing.

But how could I not have? After all, the classic "with the beatles" cover had been "comped" early in hip-hop via Public Enemy / The Bomb Squad's release of Young Teenagers featuring my Marksmen brother, Kamron. And the MJFELA.com project had me considering the juxtaposition of genre Kings. In any case, I hadn't but, given Kris' point of inspiration, the cover concept for afroBeatles fell into place.

Exo, big ups for the idea homie.

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