Troubador

by K'Naan

I'm a little surprised to realize that I haven't written about this album yet - this was the soundtrack to my spring, and is definitely one of my favourite albums of 2009 so far (granted, that's not hard, but I'll say it's among my top five of the last three years).

K'Naan is exactly what I hope for when I think about the potential of rap - he's an artist who stays true to his vision, who writes interesting songs that advance the culture a little bit. This album, his second, is by no means perfect, but it has long moments of perfection, and drips potential for a long, fruitful career.

It starts off strong with 'T.I.A.' and 'ABCs', two bangers that ground the album in both an African, and old school sensibility. 'Dreamer' is a nice song, even if the hook overuses the word 'but' (pet peeve). From there, the album gets a little weak, as it runs through a trio of songs that feel like they were included more for the cross-over appeal of their big name guests: 'I Come Prepared', with Damien Marley; 'Bang Bang' with Adam Levine; and 'If Rap Gets Jealous' with Kirk Hammett (I much preferred the version of this song that appeared on the first album).

At this point, the album becomes very strong - in fact, tracks seven through twelve could have been an absolutely divine EP.

'Waving' Flag' is a beautiful song, sung instead of rapped. It's a song of stuggle, and intense hope. 'Somalia' is, obviously, about K'Naan's homeland. It encompasses his memories as well as describes the current geopolitical climate there. There is a remix of this song (not on the album) which is worth tracking down - I can never decide which I like better.

'America', with Mos Def and Chali 2Na is an important song. Mos kills his part, but K'Naan gets most of the spotlight, especially in the verses that he raps in Somali. I don't see this as particularly groundbreaking, like some would, but it is very fitting for an album like this. This song has a very nice, old school beat to it.

'Fatima' is a heartbreaking song about K'Naan's first love, who is murdered in Mogadishu. What makes the song most powerful is that, like he says, 'it's a celebration'. Taken within the context of this artist's history, this song becomes a testament to his own strength and ability to survive adversity.

'Fire in Freetown' is another song I love. It's also sung, and carries a darker tone than the rest of the album. 'Take A Minute' is an ode to his mother and her struggles. He name-checks Mandela and Gandhi, while freely admitting his own lack of knowledge.

'15 Minutes Away' is a slightly irritating song about Western Union, and the financial struggles of an artist attempting to make it in hip-hop. 'People Like Me' is a strange beast. In some ways, it reminds me of the way Eminem tells a story in the first verse, but the second, in which K'Naan talks about growing up with his cousin and ultimately leaving him behind is a painful and haunting way to round out this album.

I'm very grateful to see so many young people embrace this artist, and for him to receive so much media attention (at least here in Canada), as K'Naan represents the future that I wish hip-hop would have. His work appeals to so many people on many levels, and I appreciate that he has, up to now at least, been able to maintain the moral integrity of his art. And that that same art is so enjoyable....