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K'NAAN CATCHES ON IN HIP-HOP >> SOMALIAN REFUGEE SHARES HIS GLOBAL MESSAGE, BUT STILL FACES INTOLERANCE

October 2, 2008 12:16 am

BY BASSEY ETIM-EDET

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

There is no disputing that, in the past two decades, hip-hop music has received quite the bad rap.

While critics wag their fingers at the promotion of violence and criminal activity often heard in lyrics, proponents of the genre claim the content is simply a reflection of reality for the disenfranchised.

Amid all the ruckus, it is easy to overlook the quieter voices in rap music; not every artist rhymes about guns and drugs. Having spent his early years in war-torn Somalia before seeking refuge in Canada, poet and hip-hop artist K'naan could easily take his place among today's most favored gangster rappers--and probably with more credibility. However, that's not his style.

Instead K'naan chooses to affiliate with more peaceful and intellectual-minded musicians, such as Mos Def and Bob Marley's sons Damian and Stephen. And he refuses to draw lines in the sand by labeling his music.

"I think it's nice that people think my music is [socially] conscious, but it is not commentary I would make," K'naan said in a recent phone interview.

"If my music has a message, then it's just that of justice and beauty and putting some attention on some difficult scenarios in some different parts of the world. But the real message is that music has to be good," he added.

K'naan doesn't focus on the violence in his past, only pausing to summarize his experiences in Mogadishu, Somalia, as "as horrible as you would imagine." Still, he doesn't deny the relevance of his youth spent in an area of political unrest.

"Those experiences did construct me and shape me--and it has a real impact on my sound," he said in a moment of self-reflection. And what exactly is that sound? Jim Welte of MP3.com best described it as fusion of "Bob Marley, conscious American hip-hop, and brilliant protest poetry."

One song that most exemplifies such praise is "In the Beginning" from K'naan's debut album, "The Dusty Foot Philosopher." Melodic guitar-strumming, teamed with African drums and a chorus of chirpy la-la-la-las, seamlessly weave between verses that call for enlightenment and demand freedom. One listen and it isn't hard to imagine how "The Dusty Foot Philosopher" won "Best Rap Recording" at the 2006 Juno Awards (the Grammys for Canadians), and that K'naan was recently bestowed "Newcomer of the Year" by BBC's Radio 3 Awards.

What is hard to imagine is that, despite his peaceful words and global success, K'naan still has to deal with the same social injustices and ignorance that he often raps about. Last year, after finishing an onstage performance with the Marley brothers in Gothenburg, Sweden, K'naan alleges that he and his manager where physically assaulted by two bouncers he described as "skinheads." According to the artist, the bouncers had just watched him perform, yet refused to let him backstage even though he had the correct pass. The incident escalated, and the police were called--but it was K'naan and his friends who were arrested.

"When the police came, they spoke Swedish to the bouncers and didn't talk to us. It was a very trying experience," he recalled. "With things like that, you can see you're clearly in the process of being disempowered. You feel kind of helpless."

According to K'naan, the concert promoters and Marley family were willing to seek legal action. But he chose a subtle--yet more powerful--approach. Using instrumentals from Lupe Fiasco's "Kick Push," K'naan responded with a song called "Kicked Pushed." The video, which uses actual footage from the incident and can be found on his MySpace page, is now being used to teach tolerance in schools throughout Sweden.

At present, K'naan is concentrating on his fall solo tour with select dates featuring Matisyahu. The tour will preview songs from K'naan's upcoming album, "Troubadour," set to release in January 2009.

K'naan described the new album as "the realization of the theories I've done in 'The Dusty Foot Philosopher.' I feel more accomplished," he added.

Tomorrow, K'naan will play a free concert at National Geographic headquarters in Washington. It will be a can't-miss show for the informed and enlightened.

Bassey Etim-Edet is a freelance writer in Arlington. Reach her at
Email: betimedet@gmail.com.