Seun Kuti is our Man Crush this Monday!

See why Seun Kuti is our MCM today!

Born on January 11, 1983, Seun Kuti is the youngest son of the music legend and Nigeria's biggest music export, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

While his father was still alive, Seun was known to always be around his father, his first steps to being a prodigy. His music career started when he was very young, as he began singing for his father's band, Egypt 80, at the tender age of 9. He would open shows for the band, singing a select group of songs with Egypt 80 before his dad took the stage. Not only did he sing, Seun was also a developing saxophonist and percussionist and he entered the formal ranks of the band before he was 12.

Seun Kuti playing with his band Pulse Nigeria

After Fela died in 1997, Seun Kuti, only 14 years old, took over the leadership of the band and has since led it to quite a number of its tours worldwide.

Since he took the reins, he spent the early parts of his musical career preserving and extending his father's political and musical legacy, but soon began adding his own twist to the music. He references various African traditions and uses them to reflect the continent's struggles and cultures.

Seun Kuti [Grimy Goods] Grimy Goods

He toured globally and played for enthusiastically receptive audiences in Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Paris, London, Tokyo, and especially Lagos.

His debut recording, Seun Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80, was initially issued by WM Recordings in 2008, and later picked up for distribution by Mr. Bongo. In 2011, he co-produced From Africa with Fury: Rise for Knitting Factory Records which gave him his breakthrough and landed him on both the Billboard and digital International Charts.

The Afrobeat singer just finally got notched his first Grammy nomination in December and was scheduled to perform at the event on Sunday.

We recognise his path to the legendary, so that is why he is our #MCM today!