Antibalas (spanish for bulletproof) is an afrobeat ensemble with a dozen members that feels like a modern Fela Kuti’s Africa 70. The Brooklyn based band has been spreading their tribal funk for nearly 20 years.

A couple of weeks ago, Antibalas gigged at one my personal favorite venues-The Paradise Rock Club, right outside of Boston, MA. Among original songs, Antibalas threw in a couple of covers including Bob Marley’s “Rat Race.” The origins of “Rat Race” date back to Marley’s Rastaman Vibration, his most popular album during his lifetime. “Rat Race” was the last track on the classic Marley album and was penned with the help of his wife, Rita. The track was a social commentary between the economic roles of Bob’s home country of Jamaica and the U.S. Antibalas does “Rat Race” justice with this absolutely hypnotizing cover.

Thanks to Bob Hundertmark for the awesome recording.

Photo credit: ultrajamzilla