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LAGOS THUGS is an Nigerian, Lagos-based afrobeat band that is a band consist of 12 young talented
musicians led by singer & saxophonist Adetunji Adeyemi, a young talented multi-instrumentalist.
Although their music generally follows the musical architecture and language of afrobeat, it incorporates
elements of jazz, dub, and traditional drumming from Cuba and West Africa.
Founded in 2020 by Adetunji Adeyemi under the name « The Lagos Thugs Afrobeat », the group
performed for the first time on 29 January 2021 at the Bature Brewery in Lagos during a musical evening
organized by the famous Nigerian trumpet player ETUK UBONG. In the following weeks, the group
consolidated with a core of fifteen members and expanded its repertoire of original compositions. In the
first year of the band’s existence, they managed to secure a Friday night residency at Bature Brewery Vi
in March 2021; the residency lasted from March until the opening ceremony, which they always
headlined.
They also played a gig for the famous Sofar Sounds website and very quickly got the attention of all the
Afrobeat music band across the world. This Afro Beat band was already praised by Fela Kuti’s trumpeter,
Muyiwa Kunnuji, when he discovered a short video taken live: » Fifteen musicians, in their twenties,
playing exactly as we did. The same energy! They’re playing proper Afrobeat » enthuses the forty-year-
old trumpeter, who accompanied the iconic Fela during the last years of his career.
Lagos Thugs have been touring Nigerian Jazz Festivals and have been chosen as the opening band for
many of Seun Kuti's gigs from The Shrine to The Alliance Francaise. New Year’s Eve gig with Seun Kuti
whom recently collaborated with Common & Black Thought from The Roots was even broadcasted on
MTV Africa. After winning the MOP (Movement of the People) Award, they met with Amayo & Antibalas
in Nigeria during the Felabration last year. The Brooklyn based band was so impressed with their music
that they decided to feature Lagos Thugs in the upcoming Netflix Antibalas documentary, they did
interviews and you will also l see live footage of the band during Felabration.
After contacting DJ Ness Afro ( Ness Radio / Afrodiziak) on social media late 2021 for their very first
single 'INNOCENT BLOOD ( Let it be known)' , they decided to co-produce a full album with him and
work with his team in France and also in the UK with Lee Bright from Tangential Music . The album was
mixed and mastered in Paris by Kino Doscun, Opera Garnier & Youthie's outstanding sound engineer &
multi-instrumentalist. Together with Kino Doscun & DJ Ness Afro, Lagos Thugs wanted an analogic
warm 70's unique raw sound away from most contemporary Afrobeat productions. The Artwork for their
second single 'New Improved Elephant' was created by Sonia Bela.
Out of this album 4 tracks are featuring on this debut album, debut singles INNOCENT BLOOD ( Let it
be known) and NEW IMPROVED ELEPHANT already released and 2 new tracks never heard before.
Those new songs are very powerful, KALAKUTA PRESIDENT, the opening track is their tribute to the
originator of the genre that they represent “AFROBEAT” Fela Anikulapo Kuti aka Kalakuta President is a
song to always pay their homages to the black president of Africa.
The beautiful nostalgic emotional voice of Adetunji Adeyemi is full of love, sincerity and endless respect
for Fela with the sweet backing Female vocals match perfectly that special atmosphere that could easily
bring tears to the listeners' eyes. It's a perfect pure Afrobeat blend between that heavy bass and the
powerful horn section with that epic trumpet solo which will give you goosebump. Artwork of the album
was done in Lagos by Austncre8tive and the photo taken by Bruce iv.
Lagos Thugs connection with Guts was bound to happened for his latest compilation STRAIGHT FROM
THE DECKS 3 on Heavenly Sweetness. After many messages on social media between Guts and DJ
Ness Afro a big step was on the way for the band. " They're a young incredible band from Nigeria called
Lagos Thugs, and this track, "Innocent Blood", in the great Afrobeat tradition, was their first
composition. But it's impossible to find the unmastered studio version, so as it's inconceivable for me to
press a vinyl with a mastered digital version, thanks to the precious help of their producer Ness
Errahmani aka DJ Ness Afro, the band agreed to re-record this track in Nigeria, and a big thank you to
Mr Gib Lfe for the mixing "So here's the only version of my compilation of the track "Innocent Blood"
GUTS
Lagos Thugs have been supported by the following national radios across the world, Jazz FM in
London, Radio Nova in France, Couleurs 3 in Switzerland, Radio Antena 3 in Lisbon, Ness Radio in
Moroco & worlwide , Totally Wired & BTN in the UK , 102.7FM, 3RRR in Melbourne by Systa BB, who
presented the band during the press conference of WOMADelaide Festival back in 2022
Now international artist like Ezra Collective mention them on national TV and PAM articles. , K.O.G or
Protoje are discovering Lagos Thugs
