Troubadour [PA]

Performer: K'NAAN
Artist: Chubb Rock; Damian Marley; Adam Levine; Kirk Hammett; Mos Def; Chali 2NA
Producer: K'naan; Manny Marroquin; Ben Berkman; Sol Guy; James Diener
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: On the follow-up to his acclaimed 2006 debut, THE DUSTY FOOT PHILOSOPHER, the Somali-born, Toronto-based hip-hop artist presents another solid collection of thought-provoking tracks. Often juxtaposing the realities of his former home with the concerns and struggle of North American ghetto communities, K'Naan successfully composes compelling narratives without surrendering any of the joyous, party-oriented spirit. (As he puts it succinctly on "Dreamer," "We got problems but we love to fun.") Stylistically, TROUBADOUR reflects K'Naan's panorama of musical influences--he rhymes over samples of Ethiopian jazz, rocks with Damian Marley on the Dancehall-flavored "I Come Prepared," kicks it old-school alongside Chubb Rock on "ABC's," and ventures into rock-rap crossover territory with Metallica's Kirk Hammet on "If Rap Gets Jealous." Still, it's K'Naan's powerful storytelling that carries the most weight as he flashes back to his childhood on "Somalia" and relates stories of his favorite cousin on "People Like Me." Mos Def, Chali 2na, and Adam Levine of Maroon 5 are also featured.

Rolling Stone (p.68) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Over the timely upbeat funk of 'Dreamer,' he sees the utopia of John Lennon's 'Imagine' through a hip-hop lens: TROUBADOUR is K'naan's unique vision made real." Entertainment Weekly (p.59) - "[K'naan is] a rising-star rapper from Somalia (by way of Toronto)....His richly detailed rhymes are part of a more pop-centric stew..."

K'Naan Warsame was fortunate to arrive in New York City during his teenage years, as the Somali Civil War was reaching its peak of bloodshed. After spending some time in Harlem, he and his family eventually settled in Toronto, where he began to develop his voice as a poet, which was heavily influenced by the cadences of the early rappers. K'Naan soon sparked attention, most of all from Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour, who was moved by the young poet's performance in front of a U.N. refugees committee. While THE DUSTY FOOT PHILOSOPHER first saw release and acclaim (including a Juno award) in 2005/06, it was widely reissued in 2008. In the intervening period, artists ranging from Nelly Furtado to Mos Def began collaborating with K'Naan as he prepared new material and toured the world, spreading his message about the injustices against the Somali people.

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