K’naan
K’naan – Poet of Unity and Truth
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“It isn’t every day that you get to give.”
-K’naan
The Artist:
As an artist, K’naan’s talents know no bounds. He has proven himself as a rapper, singer, poet, and multi-instrumentalist, working with a diverse array of other musicians including The Roots, Mos Def, Nelly Furtado, Damian Marley, Adam Levine, Keane, and even Metallica’s Kirk Hammett. K’Naan’s music resonates his love and devotion for his native Somalia, shedding light on numerous humanitarian and political issues with eloquence and unflinching honesty.
Looking at K’Naan’s life and family background, he appears to have been destined to serve as a rational, hopeful, and inspirational voice for his people. His aunt was one of the most well-known Somalian singers to ever live and his grandfather was an established poet. In his youth, he witnessed firsthand the damage that corruption, gang violence, and drug trafficking has had on his people, losing numerous loved ones along the way. His music comes from a very real place, a place of loss and frustration – but nevertheless a place of unrelenting hope.
Although still in the early phases of his career, K’Naan has gained many accolades for his music, including the Juno Awards for Best Artist and Best Songwriter in 2010, as well as the Mobo Award for African Artist of the Year, also in 2010. Perhaps his greatest achievement in reaching out to a worldwide audience was the selection of his song, “Wavin’ Flag,” as Coca Cola’s anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. K’Naan performed this song in 86 countries all over the world, spreading his poetic message of community, activism, and social justice.
Most recently, K’Naan collaborated with hip hop legend KRS-One, soulstress Lina and EarthTones founder Frank Fitzpatrick to create the title track for the film Beat the World. The song, Hip Hop Nation, is a kind of anthem about freedom, dance and the rise of a new world order – a global movement of culture and consciousness, united through music and spanning across borders and race. The Song:
“In our mission to use popular music as a way to empower and raise awareness among global youth culture, collaborating with K’naan was an essential cornerstone. Working together was also a great honor and pleasure. His amazing talent, his integrity and his unyielding commitment to the truth continues to inspire me and millions of others around the globe. With the song “Hip Hop Nation”, and the film Beat the World, we wanted to entertain, inspire and unite young people from all corners of the world.” – Frank Fitzpatrick
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Featured Artists: • Gustavo Dudamel |
