LAGOS THUGS-CHAOS.

dereksmusicblog ♦ October 18, 2023 ♦ Leave a comment

Lagos Thugs-Chaos.

Label: Immensum Music.

Format: Digital Album.

Three years ago, Lagos Thugs, a twelve piece Afrobeat band, was formed in Lagos, the capital of Nigeria. That was the start of three year journey that has resulted in the recent release of their debut album Chaos, on Immensum Music. It’s a tantalising taste of a truly talented band with a big future ahead of them.

The Lagos-based Afrobeat band is led by vocalist and saxophonist Adetunji Adeyemi, a young and talented multi-instrumentalist. He and the rest of the band are responsible for Afrobeat with a difference. They incorporate elements of dub and jazz as well as traditional drumming from both Cuba and West Africa. The result is a potent, genre-melting sound that from the early days of the group proved popular.

It wasn’t until the ’29th’ of January 2021 that the band made their debut at Lagos’ Bature Brewery Vi. The event was organised by Nigerian trumpeter Etuk Ubong, and allowed the group to showcase their unique and inimitable take on Afrobeat. However, soon changes were afoot within the band.

Just a few weeks later, there were fifteen members of the group, who by then, had written new material. This they showcased when they secured their first residency.

In March 2021, just two months after making their live debut, the Lagos Thugs started a Friday night residency where it all began for them, the Bature Brewery. Each Friday night, the up-and-coming Afrobeat band were the headliners. Soon, though, they were playing further afield, and reaching a new and wider audience.

This happened after the band played a concert on the Sofar Sounds website in June 2021.  Suddenly, Lagos Thugs’ music was being heard worldwide.

Meanwhile, the band continued to play clubs and were regulars at Nigerian jazz festivals. Lagos Thugs were also chosen to open for Seun Kuti. This introduced their music to a wider audience. The group had a come a long way in a relatively short space of time. However, there was one thing that they still had to do, record a single.

This was something they wanted to do. So in late-2021, the band contacted DJ Ness, of Ness Radio, and the result was their debut single Innocent Blood (Let It Be Known). So happy were they with the single that soon, plans were afoot to record an album.

2022 was a busy year for Lagos Thugs. The band began work on their highly anticipated debut album.

That year, Lagos Thugs won the Movement Of The People Award. The award was named after the political party formed by Fela Kuti in 1979, and revived by his son Seun in November 2021. When the band went to collect their award at the Felabration festival they had a fortuitous meeting.

That night, Lagos Thugs met Duke Amayo of the Brooklyn-based Afrobeat band Antibalas. He was so impressed with the award-winner’s music that he decided to feature their music in a Netflix documentary about Antibalas. This was a huge boost for Lagos Thugs, who were planning to release their debut album in 2023.

That album is Chaos, which was co-produced by DJ Ness and the Lagos Thugs. They showcase their unique and innovative take on Afrobeat on four genre-melting tracks that lasts thirty-six magical minutes.

Opening Chaos is Kalakuta President, an impassioned, uplifting and sometimes mesmeric tribute to the founding father of Afrobeat, Felt Kuti.

The band’s sophomore single is New Improved Elephant (N.I.E). Straight away, the brass section and bass are to the fore as Afrobeat and jazz combine as the arrangement meanders melodically along. Soon, beautiful, soulful, heartfelt vocals are sung in a call and response style are added to this joyous genre-melting track as it sashays along showcasing Lagos Thugs’ unique sound.  

Wetin I See features Congolese singer, guitarist, composer and Afrobeat master Kiala Nzavotunga. Again, Lagos Thugs fuse Afrobeat as blazing, scorching and soaring horns combine with the rhythm section and percussion. They set the scene for a vocal masterclass which is is accompanied by female backing vocalists. They combine soulfulness and emotion with a sense of urgency before this powerful and moving track reaches a crescendo and leaves a lasting impression.

However, Lagos Thugs have kept the best until last. Innocent Blood (Let It Be Known) was their debut single, and initially, is understated as elements of Afrobeat and jazz melt melodically into one. Blazing horns kick in as the journey continues and the band stretch their legs, and showcase their considerable skills. When the vocal enters it’s emotive and heartfelt as it delivers powerful lyrics that are full of social comment. Just like previous tracks, the female backing vocalists play a huge part in the sound and success of twelve minute Magnus Opus that closes Chaos on a resounding high.

For anyone who has even a passing interest in Afrobeat, Lagos Thugs’ much-anticipated debut album Chaos is an album they must hear. It showcases a truly talented and versatile band who honed their sound playing live in Nigeria. This has paid off.

Lagos Thugs are a multitalented band  have recorded an album that’s variously powerful, poignant, uplifting, emotive, joyous and melodic. During the four genre-melting tracks on Chaos the band take the listener on a musical journey that lasts thirty-six magical minutes.

Chaos is a tantalising taste of the multitalented Lagos Thugs as they seamlessly fuse disparate genres to create their own unique, inimitable and irresistible take on Afrobeat. Hopefully, it won’t be long before Lagos Thugs return with the followup to Chaos.

Lagos Thugs-Chaos.