Whether it was the driving beat of his Afrobeat music or his outspokenness on political issues, Fela Kuti made a statement. Having made such an impact, the fact that a decade after his death from AIDS–related complications he’s still revered shouldn’t be a surprise. His son, Femi, has done his part to keep his father’s work alive and so have numerous other artists. One of those artists, DJ Rich Medina, will deliver his own tribute during the “Fela for President” celebration which takes place the day prior to what would have been the pioneer’s 69th birthday.

For the Philly and NYC-based Medina, Kuti’s music is particularly attractive due to the fact “it’s undeniably funky and even more undeniably black.” Medina should know what constitutes funky, having spent years as a both a deejay and producer. His love of music began in the 1970s through an older sister who’d already developed a keen ear. Couple this with an upbringing in a Baptist church, where music was central to worship, and the solid foundation that has influenced his present-day work is clear.