Fela Kuti & Africa 70 – Expensive Shit

Fela Kuti & Africa 70’s Expensive Shit is one of the defining statements of Afrobeat, blending hypnotic grooves, intricate musicianship, and sharp political commentary into a powerful and deeply infectious whole. Built around extended compositions, the album layers driving percussion, elastic bass lines, punchy horn arrangements, and interlocking rhythms that gradually build momentum without ever losing their sense of flow. Fela’s charismatic vocals and spoken passages sit at the centre of the music, delivering biting observations on corruption, authority, and everyday life with a mixture of wit, defiance, and conviction. The lengthy performances allow the band to stretch out and develop ideas organically, creating a trance-like energy that is both danceable and intellectually engaging. Africa 70’s playing is extraordinary throughout, with every musician contributing to the dense yet remarkably cohesive sound. Energetic, politically charged, and endlessly rhythmic, Expensive Shit remains one of the essential recordings in Fela Kuti’s catalogue and a landmark achievement in African music.