Seun Kuti Claims Fela Pioneered Rap Music

Seun Kuti claims his father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, pioneered rap music with Afrobeat vocals decades before the genre emerged

Lagos-based musician Seun Kuti has claimed that his late father, Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, not only created Afrobeat but also pioneered rap music decades before the genre’s formal recognition.

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Kuti made the assertion during a recent episode of the Hits Don’t Lie podcast.

Seun Kuti pointed to Fela’s 1980 album Authority Stealing, suggesting that the album’s vocal delivery mirrors modern rap techniques.

“Fela was the first person to rap. He did a bit of rapping on the album Authority Stealing,” Seun said. “When he did it, we didn’t know it was going to be called ‘Rap’.”

While Fela’s influence on Afrobeat is globally undisputed, Seun’s statement has sparked debate because it challenges the established history of hip-hop.

Most music historians trace the origins of rap to early 1970s New York, crediting DJs such as Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash with laying the foundations of hip-hop culture.

Kool Herc, for instance, pioneered the breakbeat technique in 1973, seven years before the release of Authority Stealing.

Despite the controversy, Fela Kuti’s enduring legacy in music remains unquestioned.

Scholars and fans alike recognise his revolutionary approach to rhythm, lyrics, and social commentary, which has inspired countless artists worldwide.

Online reactions to Seun Kuti’s remarks have been mixed.

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Some argue that Fela’s vocal style did anticipate elements of rap, while others maintain that the genre’s roots are firmly planted in the early hip-hop scene of the United States.