Review:

on 2009-04-18 Zachh Said:

If you were to just pick this album up (or in most cases just download it) and listen to it you might just be as confused as I was when I did the same. Who is this guy? What the hell is he talking about? Google his name and you'll learn about one of the most interesting recording artists to emerge in the last 5 years. Translated into English his name is Somalian for "Traveler" and was born in Laasqoray, Somalia, but was raised in Wardhiigleey or as its better known "the lake of blood. During the height of the Somali Civil War his father; a poet left to work as a cab driver in New York City in order to make enough money to send back to K'naan and his mother to get them to America. K'naan experienced and witnessed firsthand from the ages of 12-15 the horrors of religious fueled warfare. On the last day the United States Embassy stayed open in Wardhiigleey he and his mother were granted an exit visa to the United States, there they meet the family in Harlem, New York City from there the family moved to Toronto ,Canada were K'naan started to flourish in later years as a writer and later a performer.

Why know this? Simply because this album is a conical of his life thus far, the music has an elegant feel to it; he talks about what he has seen and how the World's hypocrisy has turned a blind eye to places like Wardhiigleey. Every track is completely different from the last; he has influences from every genre of music. This is refreshing because it shows that he is willing to evolve or change to get message across. Although I do have to say that some tracks on the album feel rushed and thrown together (blues from the horn, till we get there) while the others songs on the album seemed well thought out and lovingly written. He plays a wide array of instruments (the guitar work he does on hobable is amazing) and the unique voice that he has always makes every track interesting. The Dusty Foot Philosopher is a must listen, its one of those albums that everybody can at least enjoy once.

Rating: 7/10