Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 Heavier Yet (Lays the Crownless Head)
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80's Heavier Yet (Lays the Crownless Head) arrives as a rallying cry rooted in heritage, with critics pointing to struggle, revolution and love as driving forces across the record. The critical consensus is cautious rather than celebratory: across 2 professional reviews the album carries a 37.5/100 consensus score, yet reviewers consistently single out songs that spark the strongest reactions.
Reviewers note that the album's strengths are performance-focused and thematically direct. Bearded Gentlemen Music praises “T.O.P.” and “Love & Revolution” as immediate crowd-movers that merge dance-floor energy with political urgency, portraying the collection as both tribute and forward push of Afrobeat. Tinnitist highlights “Dey” and “Emi Aluta” as keystones of the record, framing “Dey” as a celebration of identity and “Emi Aluta” as an homage to struggle; both reviews emphasize continuity with Fela Kuti's legacy while acknowledging fresh collaborations and production choices. Critics consistently return to themes of resistance, heritage and love as motivation, and they praise tracks that foreground those ideas.
Yet the low consensus score signals reservations: while certain songs are heralded as standout tracks, reviewers imply uneven execution elsewhere, making the album feel more potent in live or urgent moments than as a uniformly strong studio statement. For readers wondering whether Heavier Yet (Lays the Crownless Head) is worth listening to, the consensus suggests selective engagement—seek out “T.O.P.”, “Love & Revolution”, “Dey” and “Emi Aluta” for the record's most compelling expressions of revolution and resilience. This review roundup sets the stage for deeper critiques below.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
T.O.P.
2 mentions
"T.O.P. is about how society values money and success more than people."— Tinnitist
Love & Revolution
2 mentions
"In Love and Revolution , he expresses his love for his wife and believes that true love can inspire people to make the world a better place."— Tinnitist
Dey
2 mentions
"Dey (featuring reggae icon Damian Marley ) is “a song about embracing and championing who we are.”"— Tinnitist
T.O.P. is about how society values money and success more than people.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
T.O.P.
Dey
Stand Well Well
Emi Aluta
Love & Revolution
Move
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
In a review that reads like a live dispatch, Seun Kuti’s Heavier Yet (Lays the Crownless Head) is presented as a bold, movement-minded record whose best songs ignite the room — notably “T.O.P.” and “Love & Revolution”. The writer leans on vivid concert detail and clear admiration, praising how those tracks translated to standout performances at Space in Evanston. There is a steady throughline of legacy and urgency, with the reviewer framing the album as both tribute and forward push of Afrobeat. The piece sells the idea that the best tracks on the album are ones that compel dancing and political attention in equal measure.
Key Points
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The best song is energetic and political, with “T.O.P.” singled out as the night's standout for driving the biggest moments.
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The album's core strengths are its fusion of legacy-minded Afrobeat with urgent, danceable protest and communal joy.
Th
Critic's Take
In his characteristically informative and reverent tone, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 deliver on Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) with songs that foreground resistance and resilience. The review highlights the potency of “Dey” and “Emi Aluta” as keystones - “Dey” as a celebration of identity and “Emi Aluta” as a homage to struggle. The writer emphasizes the record's continuity with Fela's legacy while noting collaborations and production that expand its reach. Overall, the best tracks on Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) are presented as both politically urgent and musically assured.
Key Points
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Dey stands out as the best song for its identity-affirming message and the high-profile Damian Marley feature.
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The album's core strengths are its political conviction, continuation of Fela's legacy, and collaborative production that broadens Afrobeat.