Ethiopian Review

“I learn the English language just to share this few observations. /probably get a Grammy without a gram of education/ So fuck your school and fuck your immigration.”

A lyric from Toronto based Somalian rapper k’naan’s second album,Troubadour which was recorded in Kingston and Los Angeles by Track and Field. The album features Kirk Hammett of the Metallica, Adam Levine of Maron 5, Damien Marley and Chubb Rock.

K’naan is a truly wonderful rapper who deservedly is getting enormous popularity in many parts of the world. Perhaps what makes his work so appealing is his straightforwardness and down to earth style.
Not all his songs are originals, though. One is a remake of Bob Marley’s ‘Simmer Down” and two of Ethiopian music giant’s Getachew Mekuarya and Mulatu Astatke, for which some say the rapper has failed to give full credit. Excellent works, all the same and lots of credit should go for his for his catchy and eclectic collections of hip hop, reggae, pop and metal.

The Toronto Life chronicles how K’naan escaped Somali’s bloodbath, ran with a Toronto gang and spent time in jail and became a rap royalty.Read it here .

(Addis Journal)