Six years have passed since afrobeat torchbearer Seun Kuti released the grammy nominated Black Times with his band Egypt 80. In the interim he’s collaborated with Janelle Monáe on her album The Age of Pleasure and teamed up with TalibKweli and MadLib for the album Liberation 2. As an activist he was on the ground during the #EndSARS movement against police brutality in Nigeria and has also revived his late father’s political party the Movement of the People (M.O.P.) quashed by the military government not long after Fela’s presidential bid.

Back with Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) on Milan independent label Record Kicks , his return is cause for celebration.

To mark the record’s release we spoke to Seun from Lagos about the new album and the accompanying tour.

Hi Seun and thank you so much for granting this interview, it’s super appreciated. If it’s ok with you I’d like to approach it as a track by track. But to start off I’d like to ask about the title of the album Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head).What does it mean, and when did it come to you?

I’ve had the album title in my head for 6 years. I wanted to create a class conscious album about how we as the poor people of the world are oppressed on many fronts and are fighting for our survival. The global elites are waging environmental and economic warfare against the working class and poor people of the world (the crownless head) and I want this album to inspire people to engage with the struggle.

On a side note it’s a slang reference. When music is good you say that “it’s heavy”. After Black Times people were asking if I could drop something like that again? And so this album is Heavier Yet.

The album opens with “T.O.P” and what I immediately noticed is that though your message is as fierce as ever, melodically it’s a sweeter sound than I’ve heard from you before. On the making of video that accompanies the album you say “Monkeys need trees, lions need wildebeests, sharks need water, human beings need beauty, we need it.” Were you intentional about bringing a sweeter sound?

My albums always reflect where I am in my life. I wanted it to be optimistic, and that was deliberate. The album is a call to say that there is joy to be found in revolution. One of the reasons young people don’t want to engage in the struggle is the perception that it’s all joyless, thankless work. The revolution is not all doom and gloom.

The single “Dey” features Damian Marley. Did you know one another before teaming up, and what was your experience of collaboration?

We had met just one time, a long time ago, but we’ve always been like good peoples, and our managers know each other, so it was easy to make it happen.

Damian has something to say for the progress of humanity. The thing about conscious artists is that we only have each other, and so we must work together as a unit.

The album is executive produced by Lenny Kravitz. Could you tell me a little about Lenny’s input on the album, and anything about the track “Stand Well Well”

For all my albums I’ve always had someone in that role.

It’s always good to have someone in the studio with a great ear. Someone who can hear what can be added to create a different dynamic. He was there in the studio and he inputted too in terms of recording, microphones etc. Then about “Stand Well Well” my nephew Mádé Kuti plays the trumpet solo on it.

The album also includes a very refreshing love song “Love and Revolution.” Did you write it for the album or has it been around a while?

No, I wrote it for this album, all of the songs were written for this album. People always say I’m not romantic. My wife always says I’m not romantic, so yeah that’s the story

The album closes with the tune “Move.” When you finish an album do you feel that you have said everything you wanted to say (at that present moment)

No, no, no. Heavier Yet is a two-volume piece. If you listen closely or as I say “spiritualise” the album, you can tell that it’s a story that’s not complete because the victory for the people is not complete. So there will be a second part…

In parallel with the album you’ll shortly be setting off on a very intense world tour, what can we expect from the shows?

This is the first time a tour is really scaring the shit out of me! I’m looking at the dates and thinking, “You guys want to kill me!” So it will be a hectic 60 days. But we will be bringing the best afrobeat, the best live performance… Actually, I want to stop using comparative words like “best” or “better,” which come from capitalism.

It will be heavy…

Finally I wanted to ask you about the Lagos music scene today. Are there any musicians or bands we should have on our radar?

Yes, there is an artist dropping soon called Big Bird; maybe he’s my alter ego? So yeah, watch out.

Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head), Seun Kuti & Egypt 80's new album, drops on Friday via Records Kicks.
You can listen to and order your copy HERE


Seun Kuti will also embark on a two-month Euro-tour to promote the album, starting on the 10th of October.
Find the dates and get your tickets HERE