We Plug 2 You... Kahli Abdu - Ministry of Corruption

Happy NEW Year you! Hope you're having a good one so far... 2010 was really good for GOOD Emerging Music and it seems like 2011 is picking right off from where last year ended and long may the year go on as it's started...

I really DO not have much background info about what I'm about to share with you other than 'Ministry Of Corruption', the new mixtape from Emerging Nigerian Hip-Hop artist Kahli Abdu is a mixtape inspired by the King of Afrobeat and one of the most political musicians we've ever witnessed, the late GREAT Fela Anikulapo-Kuti... Now at this point, any trepidation would be understandable! I mean its Hip-Hop mixed with Afrobeat? It's FELA-inspired? You're thinking this has all the ingredients to go wrong BUT you'd be wrong and we'll just have to let the music do all the talking.

Upon first listen, not a lot of the songs immediately leap out at you on this 13-track mixtape BUT you cannot help but fall in love with the Afrobeat infused musical backdrop upon which Kahli Abdu laces his politically charged & hard-hitting lyrics. From the first song, 'Fear Fear Factor', which begins with an indelible Fela vocal sample & those unmistakable drum patterns before leading into glorious horn riffs trademark of that sweet Afrobeat sound, you are (dare I say it) hooked and the short introductory track certainly leaves you wanting more (it sort of tails off after the 2:15 mark which almost ruins it for me) up until the last song, 'Wonderful Material Property', which is a mellowed down Afrobeat song with a great Soul Music touch that Kahli Abdu raps over with absolute precision and finesse to ride this tape out and then half way through the song, you hear the final of many great Fela vocal samples saying...

"Music is a spiritual thing. You don't play with Music. If you play with Music, you will die young, you see because when the Higher forces give you the gift of music, musicianship, it must be well used, for the good of humanity. If you use it for your own self by deceiving people and doing this, you will die young. I've told people this many times so I'm gonna prove them wrong and prove myself right..."

Ok NOW let's get into a few of my favourite songs from the mixtape...

This next song has gotta be one of, if not my most enjoyable song on the mixtape. It's called 'Categori' and everything from the beats produced by Charlie X to Kahli Abdu's lyrics just work for me quite frankly. I guess on this one, Kahli chooses to show some versatility and instead of giving a message as with most of the songs on 'Ministry of Corruption', he sorta introduces himself to his audience with clever punchlines and a dope flow as he lays into this one hell of a beat. It's Hip-Hop at it's cocky best if I do say so myself with the vocal sample on the hook saying...

"You can't touch my style!"

This next track is called 'Kpako' and it features Yung El on the hook and if you thought this mixtape was gonna be overly political from front to back then this song serves as a ample detour. On this one, Kahli Abdu shows that he can have a good time with his music (although NOT diverting from the main theme of the mixtape too much) and he spits very witty bars filled with much braggadocio, audaciousness and 'partying with girls at the party' on this Chopsticks-produced thumping Hip-Hop beat with Yung El delivering the covert message of the song at the bridge (they just couldn't resist), what do you think?

This next one is the Charlie X-produced song titled 'Demo Crazy' which samples the hook from the very popular Fela record, 'Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense' and on this one, Kahli Abdu drops some thought-provoking lyrics about the history (if you will) and deceit that's rife in Nigerian politics. You will not want this head-bopping production from Charlie-X to throw you off Kahli's words on this one so please listen carefully and understand the message. Listen below...

SO what do we think so far???

In conclusion, I think this is a very stellar body of work as far as Hip-Hop Music goes... The music treads experimental boundaries of merging Afrobeat with Hip-Hop and succeeds (where others have failed) while still remaining traditionally Hip-Hop in my opinion... The lyrics, flow and wordplay are fresh, they're sharp and I quite enjoy Kahli Abdu as a rapper... And as far as African Hip-Hop goes, this is really cutting edge and refreshing to listen to from Mr. Abdu. I like that he's sticking to his lane and NOT tryna be commercial or popular BUT I must have said the same thing about a certain M.I and his 'Illegal Music' mixtape but alas I digress...

I must warn you though, this is Hip-Hop with a message! I have NOT heard any African body of work that's this politically charged in recent times and some of it might leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth BUT isn't music meant to do that? Incite a feeling, whatever that feeling is? 'Ministry of Corruption' does that (quite A LOT!) and I highly recommend that you download it.

Download: Kahli Abdu - Ministry of Corruption // Alternative Link

Until the Next Time...

Peace, Love & Good Music