Keinan Abdi Warsame (born 1 February 1978) ( so, Keynaan Cabdi Warsame, ar, كَينَان عَبدِ وَرسَمَ ''Kaynān ʿAbdi Warsama''), better known by his stage name K'naan (), is a
Somali-Canadian
Somali Canadians are Canadians of Somali origin or are dual Somali and Canadian nationality.
Overview
Most Somalis arrived in Canada between the late 1980s from Somalia and early 1990s as refugees, with some secondary migration from the United S ...
musician. He rose to prominence with the success of his single "
Wavin' Flag
"Wavin' Flag" is a song by Somali-Canadian artist K'naan from his album ''Troubadour''. The song was originally written for Somalia and aspirations of its people for freedom. The original single was a hit in Canada and reached number two on the ...
", which was chosen as
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta ...
's promotional anthem for the
2010 FIFA World Cup
, image = 2010 FIFA World Cup.svg
, size = 200px
, caption = ''Ke Nako. (Tswana and Sotho for "It's time") Celebrate Africa's Humanity'It's time. Celebrate Africa's Humanity'' (English)''Dis tyd. Vier Afrika se mensd ...
. Besides hip hop, K'naan's sound is influenced by elements of
Somali music
The Music of the Somali people () is music following the musical styles, techniques and sounds of the Somali people.
Overview
Traditional Somali music
Somali people have a rich musical heritage centered on traditional Somali folklore.
Soma ...
and
world music. He is also involved in various philanthropic initiatives.
Personal life
K'naan was born 1 February 1978 in
Mogadishu
Mogadishu (, also ; so, Muqdisho or ; ar, مقديشو ; it, Mogadiscio ), locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port ...
, situated in the southeastern
Banaadir
Banaadir ( so, Banaadir, ar, بنادر, it, Benadir) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in southeastern Somalia. It covers the same area as the city of Mogadishu, which serves as the capital. It is bordered to the northwest by the Shabel ...
province of
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
. K'naan's family was from an artistic background. His grandfather was a famous poet, and his aunt
Magool
Magool ( so, Xaliimo Khaliif Cumar, (May 2, 1948 – March 19, 2004), born Halima Khaliif Omar, was a Somali singer.
Early years
Magool was born in the city of Dhuusamareeb the capital of the Galgaduud region in central Somalia to Cayr, Hawiy ...
was a renowned singer.
His name, ''Keynaan'' (), means "traveller" in the
Somali language
Somali (Latin script: ; Wadaad writing, Wadaad: ; Osmanya: 𐒖𐒍 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘 ) is an Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language belonging to the Cushitic languages, Cushitic branch. It is spoken as a mother tongue by Somalis in ...
.
K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu. His father, Abdi, left earlier when he was still a boy to work as a taxi driver in New York City.
K'naan's early years were idyllic and enveloped in poetry and song, with his aunt Magool often singing to him.
This changed following the start of the
civil war
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
, when at the age of 12, three of his friends were shot by an older adolescent gunman.
K'naan also narrowly escaped death one day at his school, when he mistook a grenade that he found in the dirt for a potato and threw it away just before it detonated. These incidents and the general escalation in violence prompted his mother to seek a visa so that the family could join his father in New York. When he was 13, K'naan and his mother and two siblings, older brother Liban and younger sister Sagal, moved to the United States. They stayed in New York for half a year, before relocating to
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
, Ontario, Canada,
his family still resides there.
In his new environment, K'naan began learning English, partly by listening to hip hop albums by artists like
Nas
Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones.
Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to:
Aviation
* Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea
* National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia
** Nas Air ( ...
and
Rakim
William Michael Griffin Jr. (born January 28, 1968), better known by his stage name Rakim Allah or simply Rakim (), is an American rapper and record producer. One half of golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, he is widely regarded as one of t ...
. Despite the fact that he could not yet speak the language, he taught himself hip-hop and rap diction, copying the lyrics and style
phonetic
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies how humans produce and perceive sounds, or in the case of sign languages, the equivalent aspects of sign. Linguists who specialize in studying the physical properties of speech are phoneticians. ...
ally.
He then also began
rapping
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
.
While growing up in Toronto's
Rexdale
Rexdale is a neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located north-west of the central core, in the district of Etobicoke. Rexdale defines an area of several official neighbourhoods north of Highway 401 and east of Highway 427. Rexdale was orig ...
neighbourhood, K'naan lost many friends to murder, suicide, prison, and deportation.
In 2006, K'naan moved back to New York City, where his father still resided.
K'naan was married to Deqa, a pharmacy technician, with whom he has two sons, born in 2005 and 2007.
The couple divorced before K'naan started touring for the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Coca-Cola.
Career
![Knaan in Ottawa 2007](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Knaan_in_Ottawa_2007.jpg)
K'naan became a friend and associate of Canadian promoter Sol Guy, who helped him secure a speaking engagement before the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integrati ...
in 1999, where K'naan performed a
spoken word
Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of ...
piece criticizing the UN for its failed
peacekeeping missions to Somalia.
One of the audience members, Senegalese singer
Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour (, wo, Yuusu Nduur; also known as Youssou Madjiguène Ndour; born 1 October 1959) is a Senegalese singer, songwriter, musician, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and politician. In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' magazine describe ...
, was so impressed by the young MC's performance and courage that he invited him to contribute to his 2001 album ''Building Bridges'', a project through which K'naan was able to tour the world.
This project led to his work at other UN events, as well as the
Montreal Jazz Festival
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal ( en, Montreal International Jazz Festival) is an annual jazz festival held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Jazz Fest holds the 2004 Guinness World Record as the world's largest jazz fest ...
and the
Halifax Pop Explosion
The Halifax Pop Explosion was a music festival and conference that occurred every fall, typically two weeks after Thanksgiving, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The term "Halifax Pop Explosion" also came to be adopted in the 1990s as the name o ...
. It also helped him meet Canadian producer
Brian West and
Jarvis Church
Gerald Eaton (born November 22, 1971) is a Canadian R&B singer-songwriter and music producer, also known by his stage name Jarvis Church.
Career
Eaton is the lead singer for the R&B-pop group The Philosopher Kings, which reached its peak popula ...
and his Track & Field team in 2002, who produced his debut album ''
The Dusty Foot Philosopher'', which was released in 2005 to critical acclaim. In 2006, it won the
Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year The Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year was introduced in 1991, and awarded for the best rap album in Canada. It was formerly known as Best Rap Recording from 1993 to 2002.
Before 1999, because of the relatively limited commercial visibility ...
, and was nominated for the
2006 Polaris Music Prize. It also won the BBC Radio 3 Award for
World Music in the newcomer category for 2007.
''The Dusty Foot Philosopher'' was re-released and repackaged as a "Deluxe Edition" featuring new mixes and a bonus DVD in the United States (and various international territories) by the emerging media company and record label iM (Interdependent Media, Inc.) in 2008.
K'naan toured and collaborated with artists like
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado (; ; born December 2, 1978) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Furtado has sold over 40 million records worldwide making her one of the most successful Canadian artists.
She first gained fame with her trip hop-inspired deb ...
,
Mos Def
Yasiin Bey (; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the s ...
,
will.i.am
William James Adams Jr. (born March 15, 1975), known professionally as will.i.am (pronounced "Will-I-am"), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is the founding and lead member of the musical group Black Eyed Peas.
...
,
The Roots
The Roots are an American hip hop band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's ''The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy F ...
,
Dead Prez
Dead Prez, often stylized as dead prez, is an American hip hop duo composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with lyrics focused on both militant social justice, sel ...
, and
Pharoahe Monch
Troy Donald Jamerson (born October 31, 1972), better known by his stage name Pharoahe Monch, is an American rapper from South Jamaica, Queens, New York. He is known for his complex lyrics, intricate delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhy ...
on tours such as
Live 8
Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland, from 6–8 July 200 ...
and Breedlove Odyssey.
He also collaborated with
Damian Marley
Damian Robert Nesta "Jr. Gong" Marley (born 21 July 1978) is a Jamaican DJ, singer, lyricist and rapper. He is the recipient of four Grammy Awards.
Early life, education and family
Damian Marley is the youngest son of reggae musician Bob Marle ...
on the "
Welcome to Jamrock
''Welcome to Jamrock'' is the third studio album by Jamaican reggae/dancehall artist Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley. The album was released on September 12, 2005, in the United Kingdom, and one day later in the United States.
Marley won two 2006 Gram ...
" touring session.
K'naan released ''
The Dusty Foot on the Road'', a collection of recordings made during his world tour on
Wrasse Records
Wrasse Records is a British record label based in Ashtead, Surrey. It was started in 1998 by Ian and Jo Ashbridge. Both had been involved in the music industry prior to them starting up their own company. Its offices are based in the UK, but it d ...
.
K'naan rose to mainstream popularity by participating in the 2008 BET Awards Cypher. This was his first appearance on American television. His second studio album, ''
Troubadour
A troubadour (, ; oc, trobador ) was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). Since the word ''troubadour'' is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a ''trobairit ...
'', was released on 24 February 2009, on
A&M/Octone Records
A&M Octone Records was an American record label owned as a joint venture between Universal Music Group and Octone Records. A full-service artist development label, it was founded in 2007 as a merger between Octone and Interscope Geffen A&M's defu ...
, and distributed through
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...
worldwide. The album's first single, "ABC's", was released in late 2008. K'naan's music has featured in several video games such as
Madden NFL 09
''Madden NFL 09'' is an American football video game based on the NFL that was published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the 20th annual installment in the ''Madden NFL'' video game franchise. The game was released for the Ninten ...
(with his song "ABC's") and
FIFA 06
''FIFA 06'', known as ''FIFA Soccer 06'' in North America, is a football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label. It was released in the United States on 4 October 2005 for the Play ...
(with his song "Soobax"). The song "If Rap Gets Jealous", a re-recording of a track of the same name – with different verses – from ''The Dusty Foot Philosopher'', features
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...
lead guitarist
Kirk Hammett
Kirk Lee Hammett (born November 18, 1962) is an American musician who has been the lead guitarist and a contributing songwriter for heavy metal band Metallica since 1983. Before joining Metallica, he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, ...
. K'naan was also the first featured artist on X3, a collaborative project between
CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3 is a Canadian digital radio station operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which plays a relatively freeform mix of indie rock, indie pop, alternative hip hop, folk, country and electronic music.
The service, which la ...
, ''
Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...
'' magazine and
aux.tv to promote new Canadian music. In July 2010, he performed a cover of
U2's "
Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" for
iHeartRadio
iHeartRadio (often shortened to just "iHeart") is an American freemium broadcast, podcast and radio streaming Computing platform, platform owned by iHeartMedia. It was founded in August 2008. , iHeartRadio was functioning as the national umbr ...
. On 24 January 2012, K'naan released a 5-song EP under the title ''
More Beautiful Than Silence'' including songs such as "Nothing to Lose", "Better", "
Is Anybody Out There Is Anybody Out There? may refer to:
* Is Anybody Out There? (song)
"Is Anybody Out There?" is a song co-written and performed by Somalia-born rapper K'naan, featuring Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, from his first extended play ''More B ...
?". The songs also include collaborations with Nas and Nelly Furtado.
K'naan's 2012 album, ''
Country, God or the Girl
''Country, God or the Girl'' is the fourth studio album by Somali-Canadian hip hop artist K'naan. It was released worldwide on October 16, 2012.
Background and development
The album was first announced in February 2012, with a release date of M ...
'', was met with little of the critical acclaim and success that ''Troubadour'' received. Unlike ''Troubadour'', which was produced almost entirely by production team Track and Field, ''
Country, God or the Girl
''Country, God or the Girl'' is the fourth studio album by Somali-Canadian hip hop artist K'naan. It was released worldwide on October 16, 2012.
Background and development
The album was first announced in February 2012, with a release date of M ...
'' featured a wide range of different producers, many of whom work on more mainstream projects. After the release of the album, K'naan published an article in the
New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
explaining and apologizing for the change in his sound. "My lyrics should change, my label's executives said; radio programmers avoid subjects too far from fun and self-absorption," recounts K'naan. "So I began to say yes. Yes to trying out songs with A-list producers. Yes to moving production from Kingston to Los Angeles." In the end, K'naan states "I had not made my Marley or my Dylan, or even my K'naan; I had made an album in which a few genuine songs are all but drowned out by the loud siren of ambition. Fatima had become Mary, and Mohamed, Adam."
In 2012, K'naan published a children's book, ''When I Get Older: The Story Behind Wavin' Flag''.
He is featured along with Howard Shore in the ''
Cosmopolis (2012)'' soundtrack.
Political involvement
K'Naan has remained committed to his Somali roots and continues to be outspoken in the geopolitics of his home country. He is often regarded as a spokesperson for the Toronto Somali community. In 2007, he was invited by Canadian Broadcast Corporation to reflect on changes in the Somali courts, including the removal of the Islamic Courts Union. K'Naan renounced this act by Somalia and indicated his support for the Islamic Courts Union, pushing back on the Western critiques of Muslim governing systems. Furthermore, he has spoken out against the clan system used in Somalia and particularly its use in immigrant communities in Canada.
K'Naan's engagement with his Somali roots dates back to his first hit "Soobax," which in his native Somali language means "come out." The song critiques the warlords that held power in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. The song gained popularity in Somalia, Canada and the United States. Additionally, K'Naan goes beyond reflecting on his Somali roots in his lyrics as he often raps in both English and Somali rather than one language. His choice to blend both languages has made him a standout among hip hop artists.
K'Naan's involvement in rap and hip hop in North America has expanded the discussion on both Somali and the Black Diaspora in the West. Both his music and appearances on television and radio shows have grown the conversation on what it means to be Black in Canada. In addition to Black communities that have been residing in the country for over a century there are large Black immigrant communities from the Caribbean and Africa.
Rather than speaking for a larger Black diaspora, K'Naan speaks on his own personal experience including being Somali in Canada. K'Naan continues to be a voice of the Toronto Somali communities.
K'naan's cover of the Bob Dylan song "
With God on Our Side" is the closing song on Michael Moore's movie ''
Fahrenheit 11/9
''Fahrenheit 11/9'' is a 2018 American documentary by filmmaker Michael Moore about the 2016 United States presidential election and presidency of Donald Trump up to the time of the film's release. The film is a follow-up to Moore's '' Fahren ...
''.
Style and influences
![K'Naan Osheaga Festival 2009 (4620355874)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/K%27Naan_Osheaga_Festival_2009_%284620355874%29.jpg)
Jim Welte has said K'naan has "a sound that fuses Bob Marley, conscious American hip-hop, and brilliant protest poetry."
His voice and style has been compared to
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
,
but his subject matter is very different; according to K'naan, he makes "urgent music with a message", talking about the situation in his homeland of Somalia and calling for an end to violence and bloodshed. He specifically tries to avoid
gangsta rap
Gangsta rap or gangster rap, initially called reality rap, emerged in the mid- to late 1980s as a controversial hip-hop subgenre whose lyrics assert the culture and values typical of American street gangs and street hustlers. Many gangsta rappe ...
clichés and posturing, saying:
This statement was made to explain his position on the world of difference which exists between where he grew up, and the ghettos of the
first world
The concept of First World originated during the Cold War and comprised countries that were under the influence of the United States and the rest of NATO and opposed the Soviet Union and/or communism during the Cold War. Since the collapse of ...
.
Nonetheless, K'naan denies that he is overtly political, instead explaining that he "
howsthe state of the world
ndif you call it like it is you're being political."
His own opinion of his music is that it's a "mix of tradition and
kind of articulation of my own life and
.my past experiences."
K'naan has said that he is influenced by
Somali music
The Music of the Somali people () is music following the musical styles, techniques and sounds of the Somali people.
Overview
Traditional Somali music
Somali people have a rich musical heritage centered on traditional Somali folklore.
Soma ...
and the traditional instruments of Somalia. His 2009 album, ''Troubadour'', also draws heavily from Ethiopian sources, particularly
Ethio-Jazz
Ethio-jazz is a blend of jazz music with traditional Ethiopian music, combining the pentatonic scale-based melodies of Ethiopian music with the 12-tone scale and instrumentation of Western jazz music. Other elements in this genre include Afrofu ...
by
Alemayehu Eshete
Alemayehu Eshete Andarge ( am, ዓለማየሁ እሸቴ አንዳርጌ; French pronunciation: Alèmayèhu Eshèté; June 1941 – 2 September 2021) was an Ethiopian singer. He had performed since the 1960s and primarily in Amharic. He had been ...
and
Tilahun Gessesse
Tilahun Gessesse ( am, ጥላሁን ገሠሠ; 27 September 1940 – 19 April 2009) was an Ethiopian singer regarded as one of the most popular Ethiopian artist of the 20th century. Noted by his tenor voice, he was nicknamed "The Voice" during hi ...
.
K'naan's single "Fatima" is about his childhood friend who was killed in the
Somali civil war
The Somali Civil War ( so, Dagaalkii Sokeeye ee Soomaaliya; ar, الحرب الأهلية الصومالية ) is an ongoing civil war that is taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the Military dictatorship, military junta wh ...
.
Notable live performances
With a small acoustic band, consisting of Rayzak (back-up vocals), Kierscey Rand (acoustic guitar) and UDOGG-The Funky Drummer (djembe and drums). This style was an essential element of what set K'naan apart from most hip-hop acts. More than that, it reflected K'naan's value of meaningful lyrics over shallow theatrics. One of the last performances of this band was on 16 March 2009, when K'naan rendered four songs from the newly launched album for CBC's program ''
Q'' with
Jian Ghomeshi
Jian Ghomeshi (born June 9, 1967) is a British-born Persian-Canadian broadcaster, writer, musician, producer and former CBC personality. From 1990 to 2000, he was a vocalist and drummer in the Thornhill-based folk-pop band Moxy Früvous. In ...
, although Rayzak continued to join his subsequent shows and Kierscey Rand made occasional appearances, such as his World Cup Trophy Tour.
Since ''Troubadour'', K'naan has toured almost exclusively with a larger electric ensemble – consisting of drums, bass, electric guitar, and keyboards – and his performances now also feature elaborate lighting. This change in showmanship, along with his collaborations with such high-profile artists as
Adam Levine and
Mos Def
Yasiin Bey (; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the s ...
, has helped to shift K'naan more into the mainstream flow of the music industry and has helped him gain exposure to a wider audience.
2010 FIFA World Cup tour
![World-cup-knaan](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/World-cup-knaan.JPG)
A remixed version of K'naan's single, "
Wavin' Flag
"Wavin' Flag" is a song by Somali-Canadian artist K'naan from his album ''Troubadour''. The song was originally written for Somalia and aspirations of its people for freedom. The original single was a hit in Canada and reached number two on the ...
", was chosen as
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta ...
's anthem for the
2010 FIFA World Cup
, image = 2010 FIFA World Cup.svg
, size = 200px
, caption = ''Ke Nako. (Tswana and Sotho for "It's time") Celebrate Africa's Humanity'It's time. Celebrate Africa's Humanity'' (English)''Dis tyd. Vier Afrika se mensd ...
. It was also used in the commercials for the pre-game, which was held in South Africa. Additionally, the track is in the soundtrack for the official
EA Sports
EA Sports is a division of Electronic Arts that develops and publishes sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to imitate real-life sports networks by calling themselves the "EA Sports Network" ...
2010 FIFA World Cup video game. In December 2009, K'naan performed the song live during the sponsor's FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, which took him to 86 countries around the world. His performance of "Wavin' Flag" was featured in the Top 10 hits in 11 countries across the world. This also included number one hits in Mexico, Austria, China, Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. In order to appeal to different people around the world, K'naan also recorded the song with various local artists such as David Bisbal, Jacky Cheung, Jane Zhang,
Nancy Ajram
Nancy Nabil Ajram ( ar, نانسي نبيل عجرم, born May 16, 1983) is a Lebanese singer, television personality and businesswoman. Dubbed by Spotify as the " Queen of Arab Pop". With the support of her father, she began performing as ...
, and
Tattoo Colour.
No Show at Simon Fraser University
On 21 September 2010, K'naan was scheduled as the headlining act of a student organised concert for World Peace Day which was to benefit girls' education in rural Ghana. At 11pm, K'naan cancelled for reasons that have been reported as relating to finances. His manager stated that, "this is the first time in K'naan's seven-year career that he has pulled out of a performance for such a reason". K'naan announced on his Twitter following the concert "amazing how human beings need a bogeyman. It's even better when they can turn their heroes to foes. SFU, check your own back yard for faults."
Coke's 125th Anniversary
On 8 May 2011, K'naan performed live at
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
's
Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park is a public park located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, owned and operated by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. It was built by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) as part of the infrastructu ...
for Coca-Cola's employees in light of Coke's 125th anniversary.
"Decade of Difference" Clinton Concert
On 15 October 2011, at the
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is an amphitheatre in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It was named one of the 10 best live music venues in America by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine in 2018.
The Hollywood Bowl is known for its distin ...
in Los Angeles, K'naan was one of eight performers at th
"Decade of Difference" concert The concert celebrated former US President
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
's 65th birthday and the 10-year anniversary of the
Clinton Foundation. K'naan was the third performer of the evening, following sets by
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...
and
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has recorded more than 20 albums and has produced more than 40 Top 10 singles on the US ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Hot Coun ...
and preceding sets by
Juanes
file:Juanes ZMF 2015 jm49108.jpg, Juanes at the Zelt Musik Festival 2015 in Freiburg, Germany
file:Juanes ZMF 2015 jm49211.jpg, Juanes at the Zelt Musik Festival 2015 in Freiburg, Germany
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez (born 9 August 19 ...
,
Usher,
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
, and
The Edge
David Howell Evans (born 8 August 1961), better known as the Edge or simply Edge,McCormick (2006), pp. 21, 23–24 is an English-born Irish musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist, keyboardist, and backing voca ...
, and
Bono
Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by his stage name Bono (), is an Irish singer-songwriter, activist, and philanthropist. He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2.
Born and raised in Dublin, he attended M ...
of
U2. K'naan performed three songs – "Bulletproof Pride," "America," and "Wavin' Flag." Toward the end of "Bulletproof Pride," K'naan surprised the audience by bringing Bono onstage for a duet. K'naan also spoke about his childhood in Somalia and how President Clinton's efforts overseas positively impacted his youth.
Musical feud
In 2005, the Canadian music scene featured a low-key feud between K'naan and
k-os
Kevin Brereton (born February 20, 1972), better known by his stage name k-os (; "chaos"), is a Canadian alternative rapper, singer, songwriter and producer. His given name may also be cited as Kheaven, a spelling he later adopted.
The alias "k ...
, one of the most prominent Canadian hip-hop artists. Following the release of the music video for the song "Soobax", which was shot by K'naan and a film crew in
Kenya
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, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
, k-os released a track "B-Boy Stance" attacking K'naan: "They took cameras to Africa for pictures to rhyme / Over; Oh, yes, the great pretenders
..Religious entertainers who want to be life savers." Though the feud never became high-profile, with K'naan expressing confusion at the attack and respect for k-os, he nonetheless responded with the mixtape track "Revolutionary Avocado" which argued "You the all-knowing with a beer bottle / Wishing you was
Plato
Plato ( ; grc-gre, Πλάτων ; 428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BC) was a Greek philosopher born in Athens during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. He founded the Platonist school of thought and the Academy, the first institution ...
and me
Aristotle
Aristotle (; grc-gre, Ἀριστοτέλης ''Aristotélēs'', ; 384–322 BC) was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. Taught by Plato, he was the founder of the Peripatetic school of phil ...
? / ...Suburban negro turned hip-hop hero / Is there a reason he really hates me, though?" – a rebuttal
CBC's Matthew McKinnon called "cold-cocking the champ".
Collaborations
![KNaan at Osheaga 2010-07-31 Montreal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/KNaan_at_Osheaga_2010-07-31_Montreal.jpg)
*In 2006, he collaborated with
Dead Prez's M-1 on the song "'Till We Get There" from the album ''
Confidential
Confidentiality involves a set of rules or a promise usually executed through confidentiality agreements that limits the access or places restrictions on certain types of information.
Legal confidentiality
By law, lawyers are often required ...
''.
*In 2008, K'naan collaborated with the Malian duo
Amadou & Mariam
Amadou & Mariam are a musical duo from Mali, composed of the Bamako-born couple Amadou Bagayoko (guitar and vocals) (born 24 October 1954) and Mariam Doumbia (vocals) (born 15 April 1958).
Their album '' Welcome To Mali'' (2008) was nominated ...
on the song "Africa" from their album ''
Welcome to Mali''.
*In 2009, he collaborated with British rock band
Keane on two songs from their EP ''
Night Train'' including the single "Stop for a Minute", and "Looking Back".
*In 2009, he also collaborated with American rapper
Wale on the song "Um'Ricka" from the mixtape ''Back to the Feature'', and on the song "TV in the Radio" from Wale's debut album ''
Attention Deficit''.
*In September 2009, K'naan teamed up with
J.Period, an L.A.-born DJ/producer, and released ''The Messengers'', a three volume remix project. Each volume pays tribute to one music icon:
Fela Kuti,
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...
and
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
. It was released and is hosted online for free a
Jperiod.com/knaan
*K'naan also toured with
Jason Mraz
Jason Thomas Mraz (; born June 23, 1977) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence with the release of his debut studio album, ''Waiting for My Rocket to Come'' (2002), which spawned the single " The Remedy (I Won't ...
during the summer of 2009 for Mraz's Gratitude Cafe Tour. He also toured with
Lenny Kravitz on the LLR tour in 2009.
*In 2010, during the Vancouver Olympics, 50 other Canadian musicians and artists came together with K'naan under the collaboration name of
Young Artists for Haiti Young Artists for Haiti was a movement to engage Canada's young musicians to continue to inspire an ongoing effort and contribution to Canadian charities for their work to help the people of Haiti overcome the devastation from the 7.1 magnitude ea ...
at the
Bryan Adams
Bryan Guy Adams (born 5 November 1959) is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and photographer. He has been cited as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and is estimated to have sold between 75 million and mor ...
Vancouver studios to produce a charity version of his song "
Wavin' Flag
"Wavin' Flag" is a song by Somali-Canadian artist K'naan from his album ''Troubadour''. The song was originally written for Somalia and aspirations of its people for freedom. The original single was a hit in Canada and reached number two on the ...
". The music video was released 1 March 2010. String students from Lord Byng Secondary and Magee Secondary joined together momentarily and formed an orchestra which accompanied the song. It was released for
digital download on 12 March 2010.
*In 2010, K'naan featured on the first unofficial single, "Mask on My Face", from
Chin Injeti
Pranam "Chin" Injeti (born April 9, 1973 in India) is a Canadian singer, musician, and music producer. He got his start as a founding member of Juno Award-winning group Bass is Base. He frequently collaborates with producer DJ Khalil; together th ...
's album, ''D'tach''.
*In 2010, a remixed bilingual English/Spanish version of "Wavin' Flag" was made under the title "Wavin' Flag (Coca Cola Spanish Celebration Mix)" with Spanish pop artist
David Bisbal
David Bisbal Ferre (born 5 June 1979) is a Spanish singer, songwriter, and actor. He gained his initial fame as a runner-up on the interactive reality television show ''Operación Triunfo''.
He has since released five studio albums, all of whi ...
after the song was chosen as the Coca-Cola anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, to be held in South Africa. K'naan sings the English lyrics and Bisbal the Spanish lyrics. He also featured Banky W. and M.I in the Nigerian version of the song "Wavin' Flag",
Nancy Ajram
Nancy Nabil Ajram ( ar, نانسي نبيل عجرم, born May 16, 1983) is a Lebanese singer, television personality and businesswoman. Dubbed by Spotify as the " Queen of Arab Pop". With the support of her father, she began performing as ...
for the Arabic version of the song,
féfé
Samuël Adebiyi, better known by his stage name Féfé (formerly Féniksi), is a French singer and rapper.
Early life and career
Féfé was born in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France on 18 January 1976 to Yoruba parents from Nigeria. He formed the r ...
for the French version,
Skank for the Brazilian version, and
will.i.am
William James Adams Jr. (born March 15, 1975), known professionally as will.i.am (pronounced "Will-I-am"), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is the founding and lead member of the musical group Black Eyed Peas.
...
and
David Guetta
Pierre David Guetta ( , ; born 7 November 1967) is a French DJ and music producer. He has over 10 million album and 65 million single sales globally, with more than 10 billion streams. In 2011, 2020 and 2021, Guetta was voted the number one D ...
for the English version of the song. He also featured
Ai (singer)
, known mononymously as Ai (, stylized as AI or A.I. ), is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, spokeswoman, and actress. Born in Los Angeles, California, Ai moved to Kagoshima, at age 4. Motivated to become a singer, ...
in the Japanese version of the song under the title "Wavin' Flag (Coca Cola Japanese Celebration Mix)". He also featured
Jacky Cheung
Jacky Cheung Hok-yau (born 10 July 1961) is a Hong Kong singer and actor. Dubbed the "God of Songs", he is regarded as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Hong Kong pop music. Cheung is known for his technically skilled vocals, lengthy tours, and m ...
and
Jane Zhang
Jane Zhang (; born October 11, 1984) is a Chinese singer-songwriter. She is known for her signature whistle register and has been dubbed the " Dolphin Princess" (). Zhang began performing as a teenager by singing in pubs to help earn money for ...
in the Chinese version of the song, entitled "旗開得勝".
*In 2010, he collaborated with
Damian Marley
Damian Robert Nesta "Jr. Gong" Marley (born 21 July 1978) is a Jamaican DJ, singer, lyricist and rapper. He is the recipient of four Grammy Awards.
Early life, education and family
Damian Marley is the youngest son of reggae musician Bob Marle ...
and
Nas
Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones.
Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to:
Aviation
* Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea
* National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia
** Nas Air ( ...
on the album ''
Distant Relatives'', appearing on the songs "Tribes at War" and "Africa Must Wake Up". He also helped come up with the "sound" of certain songs such as ''
As We Enter
"As We Enter" is the first single from Nas and Damian Marley's collaboration album, ''Distant Relatives''. The track is produced by Damian Marley. There are no full verses in the song, but rather Nas and Damian Marley rap in call-and-response fas ...
''. The album was released on 18 May 2010.
*In 2010, K'naan's song "Wavin' Flag" is featured in the documentary ''
Bouncing Cats
''Bouncing Cats'' is a 2010 documentary film written and directed by Australian-American director and photographer Nabil Elderkin. The film follows the efforts of Abraham "Abramz" Tekya and Breakdance Project Uganda (BPU) to use dance to empower ...
'' by the filmmaker
Nabil Elderkin
Nabil Elderkin is an American-born Australian film and music video director and photographer, who is of Iranian and American descent. He is mononymously credited as Nabil in his videos. Elderkin has directed videos for musical artists such as: ...
, starring
Crazy Legs. The singer also appears in an interview.
*In 2011, K'naan is featured as a guest singer on
Simple Plan
Simple Plan is a Canadian rock band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 1999. The band's lineup consists of Pierre Bouvier (lead vocals, studio bass guitar), Chuck Comeau (drums), Jeff Stinco (lead guitar), and Sébastien Lefebvre (rhythm guita ...
album ''
Get Your Heart On!
''Get Your Heart On!'' is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Simple Plan, released on 21 June 2011. In some countries such as Australia and the Netherlands, the album was released on 17 June 2011.
Background and production
Simple Pl ...
'' on a track called "Summer Paradise".
*In 2011, he is featured with
KRS-One
Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from New York City. He rose to prominence as part of ...
on the soundtrack to the film ''
Beat the World
''Beat the World'' (also known as ''You Got Served: Beat the World'') is a 2011 Canadian dance film written and directed by Robert Adetuyi. It is a loose sequel to the American film ''You Got Served'' (2004). It was produced by InnerCity Films and ...
'' on a track called "Hip Hop Nation", produced by
Frank Fitzpatrick
Francis Edward Fitzpatrick (born April 13, 1961), more commonly known as Frank Fitzpatrick, is an American composer, music producer, author, filmmaker and social entrepreneur.
Fitzpatrick is best known for his career in the film and music in ...
.
*In 2012, K'naan released a single titled "Nothing to Lose" featuring
Nas
Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones.
Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to:
Aviation
* Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea
* National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia
** Nas Air ( ...
.
*In 2012, he collaborated with Howard Shore and Don DeLillo in the Cosmopolis soundtrack.
*K'naan also released "Bang, Bang" featuring
Adam Levine from
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. It currently consists of lead vocalist Adam Levine, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Jesse Carmichael, lead guitarist James Valentine (musician), James Valentine, drummer Matt ...
on his album ''Troubadour''.
*In 2017, K'naan performed in a music video titled "
Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)" with
Residente
René Pérez Joglar (born February 23, 1978), known professionally as Residente (often stylized as Resīdɛntə), is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as one of the founders of the alternative rap band Calle 13. ...
,
Riz MC and
Snow Tha Product
Claudia Alexandra Madriz Meza (born June 24, 1987) known professionally as Snow Tha Product, is an American rapper, singer, actress, youtuber, and podcaster. She was signed to Atlantic Records from 2012 until November 2018. Since then, she has ...
. The song is part of
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda (; born January 16, 1980) is an American songwriter, actor, playwright and filmmaker. He is known for creating the Broadway musicals ''Hamilton'' (2015) and ''In the Heights'' (2005), and the soundtracks for the Disney animate ...
's
The Hamilton Mixtape.
*On 19 September 2021, K'naan was featured on Sharma Boy's song "Waayo Waayo."
*On 20 December 2021, K'naan was featured on Sharma Boy's song "Somalia Somali Baa Leh."
Philanthropy
In addition to his artistic career, K'naan has been involved with various philanthropic initiatives. In 2011, he became a co-spokesman with
Bono
Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by his stage name Bono (), is an Irish singer-songwriter, activist, and philanthropist. He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2.
Born and raised in Dublin, he attended M ...
to raise awareness of that year's
drought
A drought is defined as drier than normal conditions.Douville, H., K. Raghavan, J. Renwick, R.P. Allan, P.A. Arias, M. Barlow, R. Cerezo-Mota, A. Cherchi, T.Y. Gan, J. Gergis, D. Jiang, A. Khan, W. Pokam Mba, D. Rosenfeld, J. Tierney, an ...
in Eastern Africa. Also teaming up with close associate Sol Guy, K'naan performed various concerts for the cause.
Additionally, K'naan was also active in promoting the Canadian Bill C-393 to help increase medical assistance to countries in Africa. He teamed up with
Stephen Lewis
Stephen Henry Lewis (born November 11, 1937) is a Canadian politician, public speaker, broadcaster, and diplomat. He was the leader of the social democratic Ontario New Democratic Party for most of the 1970s.
During many of those years as leade ...
,
James Orbinski
James Jude Orbinski, (born 1960 in England) is a Canadian physician, humanitarian activist, author and leading scholar in global health. Orbinski was the 2016-17 Fulbright Visiting professor at the University of California, Irvine, and as of ...
, and Richard Elliott, executive director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, but the bill was not passed by the Senate.
Awards and nominations
*
2006 Juno Awards
**
Rap Recording of the Year for ''The Dusty Foot Philosopher'' (Won)
*
2010 Juno Awards
**
Rap Recording of the Year for ''Troubadour'' (Nominated)
**
Artist of the Year
''Artist of the Year'' is a television competition shown on the Sky Arts channel (formerly known as Artsworld and Sky Arts 1) which aims to find the best portrait and landscape painter every year.
Overview
Through several rounds of regional comp ...
(Won)
**
Songwriter of the Year (Won)
*
2010 Mobo Awards
**
African Artist of the Year (Won)
*
2011 Juno Awards
**
Single of the Year (Won)
* 2011
SOCAN
The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) is a Canadian performance rights organization that represents the performing rights of more than 135,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. The organization collects ...
International Achievement Award
*
2012 MTV Music Video Awards
**Best Video With a Message (Nominated)
*2012
Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award Winner
*African Muzik Magazine Awards
**Best Male Diaspora (Pending)
Discography
;Studio albums
*2004: ''My Life Is a Movie''
*2005: ''
The Dusty Foot Philosopher''
*2009: ''
Troubadour
A troubadour (, ; oc, trobador ) was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). Since the word ''troubadour'' is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a ''trobairit ...
''
*2012: ''
Country, God or the Girl
''Country, God or the Girl'' is the fourth studio album by Somali-Canadian hip hop artist K'naan. It was released worldwide on October 16, 2012.
Background and development
The album was first announced in February 2012, with a release date of M ...
''
;Extended plays
*2012: ''More Beautiful than Silence'' (EP)
;Live albums
*2007: ''
The Dusty Foot on the Road''
See also
*
Canadian hip hop
The Canadian hip hop scene was established in the 1980s. Through a variety of factors, it developed much slower than Canada's popular rock music scene, and apart from a short-lived burst of mainstream popularity from 1989 to 1991, it remained l ...
*
Music of Canada
The music of Canada reflects the diverse influences that have shaped the country. Indigenous Peoples, the Irish, British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has also subsequently been ...
*
Music of Somalia
The Music of the Somali people () is music following the musical styles, techniques and sounds of the Somali people.
Overview
Traditional Somali music
Somali people have a rich musical heritage centered on traditional Somali folklore.
Soma ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knaan
1978 births
Living people
21st-century Black Canadian male singers
21st-century Canadian poets
21st-century Canadian rappers
21st-century Somalian male singers
A&M Records artists
Applicants for refugee status in Canada
Bertelsmann Music Group artists
Canadian children's writers
Canadian Film Centre alumni
Canadian male poets
Canadian male rappers
Canadian male singers
Canadian Muslims
Canadian people of Somali descent
Canadian philanthropists
Canadian Sunni Muslims
Hip hop activists
Juno Award for Artist of the Year winners
Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year winners
Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year winners
Naturalized citizens of Canada
People from Etobicoke
People from Mogadishu
Rappers from Toronto
Somalian emigrants to Canada
Somalian Muslims
Somalian Sunni Muslims
Universal Music Group artists
Wrasse Records artists
Writers from Toronto
York University alumni