Photo Credit — buzznet.com
“Where rocket-propelled grenades are fired around you on a daily … a guy bragging on TV talking about how gangster he is? For us, it’s more a source of entertainment. It’s more like a comedy or something we watch and say, ‘Oh wow, that’s kind of cute of American gangsters.’ But it isn’t hardcore, it isn’t that bad. Let’s get things in perspective, you know?”
I came across the above quote a couple months ago on the Verbatim page of the Time magazine. Not only did the comical quote grab my attention, but the unusual juxtaposition of the artist’s bohemian attire with his label as a hip-hop artist instantly piqued my curiosity; indeed, K’naan is not the typical gangster rapper with the bling-bling and a condescending swagger. Born in Mongadishu, Somalia, K’naan escaped to Canada when he was a young boy. Now, as an established and renowned hip-hop artist, his music echoes the haunting cries from his mother-country ravaged by poverty, violence, and anarchy.
Although his music is labeled as hip-hop, there is a soulful and ethnic touch to his beats. His poetic lyrics and witty rhymes (“Our roads have seen electric hate//and Our women labor beneath stubborn fate“) strike an uncomfortable yet poignant note that makes the listener wonder about the future of humanity. His latest album Troudabour–featuring legendary artists Mos Def and Damian Marley–has been critically acclaimed by L.A. Times and The Guardian. The album particularly verges on reggae with dominant drum melodies.
For starters, I suggest my favorite songs–I Came Prepared, America, What’s Hardcore?, Smile, If Rap Gets Jealous.
Original Muse 