Influence Tracing Demo
Fela Kuti → Beyoncé
How Crate traces artistic influence across continents, decades, and genres — using co-mentions from 26 music publications instead of listening data.
This is a real output from Crate's influence tracing engine. Every connection is sourced from music criticism, not algorithms.
$ Trace the influence path from Fela Kuti to Beyoncé
Searching 26 publications for co-mentions... Found 4 paths with cited evidence.
Direct Path
Fela Kuti → Beyoncé
Strength
0.80
Fela Kuti
Afrobeat Pioneer
Zombie (1977)
1938 – 1997
Afrobeat Pioneer · 1977
Beyoncé
Contemporary Icon
4 (2011)
b. 1981
Contemporary Icon · 2011
Fela Kuti
Afrobeat Pioneer
1977
1970s
Beyoncé
Contemporary Icon
2011
2010s
Cited Evidence
Producer The Dream revealed Beyoncé recorded a 20-track album inspired by Fela Kuti prior to her album "4" (2011). The track "End of Time" directly channels Fela's Afrobeat bass line aesthetic.
All Paths Discovered
Four routes across
continents and decades.
The Common Thread
Political, spiritual,
Black music.
Element
Fela Kuti
Beyoncé
Politics
Resisted Nigerian military dictatorship
Black Is King, Lemonade, Cowboy Carter — reclaiming Black power
Spirituality
Shaman/spiritual leader; Afrokan spirituality
HBCU traditions, marching bands, sacred Black spaces
Rhythm
"Polyrhythmic grooves; groove as liberation"
Clubs, ball houses; dance as freedom
Collaboration
African collective (Africa 70)
Black diaspora (Afrobeats artists, global collaborators)
Message
"Music is the weapon"
Music as celebration of Black identity and autonomy
Key Influence Moments
The moments that
connected them.
1969
The LA Meeting
Fela Kuti meets James Brown's band in Los Angeles, absorbing funk methodology and Black Panther political consciousness. Returns to Nigeria and transforms his band into Africa 70.
2011
The Direct Sample
Producer The Dream reveals Beyoncé recorded a 20-track album inspired by Fela Kuti. "End of Time" from 4 channels Fela's Afrobeat bass line aesthetic.
2017
The Spiritual Inheritance
Erykah Badu curates Fela Kuti Box Set #4, positioning herself as his contemporary heir — interpreting his music through a neo-soul lens that Beyoncé absorbs.
2019
The Genre Bridge
Beyoncé recruits Afrobeats artists — Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tekno, Yemi Alade — for The Lion King: The Gift, completing the continent-spanning cycle Fela started.
Why This Path Matters
Not algorithms.
Criticism.
Fela Kuti → Beyoncé shows how African musical traditions remain foundational to contemporary Black global pop — even when continents separate them, decades pass between them, and genres evolve dramatically.
Streaming algorithms would never surface this connection. Crate finds it because music critics have been writing about it for decades.
8
Edges cached
New connections added to the local knowledge graph
0.95
Strongest signal
Fela Kuti → James Brown (direct apprenticeship, 1969)
26
Publications searched
From Pitchfork and The Wire to NPR and The Guardian
4
Paths discovered
Direct, Neo-Soul, Funk Lineage, and Genre Bridge
Try It Yourself
Trace any connection.
From any artist to any artist.
Crate is free and open source. Install it and ask: “Trace the influence path from Sun Ra to Radiohead” — or any connection you're curious about.