When legendary Nigerian bandleader Fela Kuti toured the US in the '70s, he was blown away by the funk, soul, disco and other African-American music forms he heard here. So he took them with him back to Nigeria, threw them in the blender with some African dance highlife and traditional Yoruba music, and came up with Afrobeat.
Whether you're listening to hip-hop, R&B, house, or even dubstep at the club, you're getting down to one of Afrobeat's sonic brothers from another mother. You're an Afrobeat fan whether you know it or not.
And nobody knows that better than Rich Medina.
The seminal chameleonic Philly DJ who introduced the American noughties generation to Afrobeat with Jump N' Funk, the foremost US party devoted to Fela Kuti's musical legacy.
Of course, Mr. Medina's musical offerings span the full spectrum of floor-friendly sounds, from hip-hop to Latin and everything in between. Expect a veritable melting pot of world dance when Medina throws down at the Electric Pickle on Saturday. And if you prefer your dance music with a techier futurist edge, UK DJ-producer Tim Green of Get Physical and Dirtybird fame will be onboard as well.
Rich Medina and Tim Green with DJ Lumin and Electric Pickle residents. Saturday, February 25. Electric Pickle, 2826 N. Miami Ave., Miami. The show starts at 10 p.m. Call 305-456-5613 or visit electricpicklemiami.com.
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