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Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana
World · 1975

Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana

Fela Kuti

Fela Kuti's 1975 Afrobeat masterpiece. Relentless grooves, searing horns, and defiant political commentary. Hypnotic and essential.

1975 · Factory Records Australasia

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Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana is a quintessential Fela Kuti experience, an electrifying plunge into the heart of Afrobeat. Released in 1975, this album pulsates with the genre's signature extended grooves, driven by a formidable rhythm section, intricate percussion, and the searing, often improvisational, horn arrangements of the Africa 70 band. It's a sound that is both deeply rooted in West African musical traditions and boldly infused with jazz and funk, creating a dense, hypnotic tapestry of sound that demands full immersion.

Moments Worth Listening For
The moment the call-and-response vocals ignite after a long instrumental build-up, around the middle of the longest track.
A particularly searing saxophone solo that cuts through the dense rhythm section, reaching a fever pitch.
The way the bassline subtly shifts its pattern, re-energizing the entire groove around the five-minute mark of a track.
The collective chant that emerges, unifying the band and vocalists in a powerful, defiant statement.
Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana sound next to the rest of Fela Kuti's catalogue?

Hand Played+0.7σ

The production is pushed a touch harder into hand played than this artist usually allows.

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