Seun Kuti Claims Fela Anikulapo-Kuti Pioneered Rap Music

In a recent appearance on the Hits Don’t Lie podcast, Seun Kuti, son of the legendary Afrobeat musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, made a bold claim that his father was a pioneer of rap music. He pointed to Fela's 1980 album 'Authority Stealing,' asserting that it contained rap-like elements, although at the time, the style was not recognized as rap. Seun stated, "When he did it, we didn’t know it was going to be called 'Rap.'" However, this assertion is contested by historical records which credit DJ Kool Herc with introducing breakbeat in 1973, a full seven years before Fela's album release. While Fela Kuti is celebrated for his contributions to Afrobeat and his activism, Kool Herc, along with Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash, are acknowledged as foundational figures in the development of hip-hop. This discussion highlights the complex interplay between different musical genres and their historical contexts, as Seun Kuti seeks to position his father's legacy within the broader narrative of rap music's evolution.