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Home · Love & Sex

K’Naan

K’Naan
By · Updated October 29, 2020
01
Revolutionary Artist

K’Naan’s second album, “Troubador,” is a musical gumbo of guest rappers and crooners, including Chubb Rock, Mos Def and Adam Levine, to name-drop a few.

“The only musical strategy for me is to be sincere. Whatever the feeling of the song is where I go,” says K’Naan

Read our exclusive interview with K’Naan »

K’Naan
02
Lyrical Mastermind

Somalia-born rapper K’Naan was first recognized for his lyrical potency when he performed at a 1999 United Nations event and criticized them for their failed aid missions to his homeland.

Read our exclusive interview with K’Naan »

K’Naan
03
Life Imitates Art

K’Naan says his art is from the heart.

“I never intellectualize a song like, ‘Oh I should put this in there.’ It just come with the territory and my experiences make their way into the song.”

Read our exclusive interview with K’Naan »

K’Naan
04
Music Appreciation

“My aunt was a poet and my father a singer so I can’t help but have a love for music and the arts,” says K’Naan. “Even my two sons have music appreciation.”

Read our exclusive interview with K’Naan »

K’Naan
05
Passing the Torch

K’Naan lives his life for today.

“I don’t care about a legacy. For such a long time I’ve not been sure I wanted to have one. It’s a bit of an interesting egotistical thing that happens on earth. So if I ever leave any form of a legacy it would be as simple as someone saying, “he’s done more good here than bad.”

Read our exclusive interview with K’Naan »

K’Naan
06
African Pride

The father of two says he can’t speak for the new crop of African rappers, but the ones he does know show respect for their women.

“African rappers don’t objectify their women despite having low-budget, and what some might view as corny videos they still have a true dignified way in which they interact with women,” says K’Naan.

Read our exclusive interview with K’Naan »

K’Naan
07
A Foreign Language

K’Naan credits rap for helping him learn English.

“A lot of times, I would hear a phrase and take it apart and ask myself, “Okay, why is the artist saying this?” It forced me to read and study the English language because there were metaphors and other sayings that I just didn’t understand and it really helped me." says K’Naan.

Read our exclusive interview with K’Naan »

K’Naan
08
A Road Less Traveled

Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, K’naan spent his childhood in the district of Wardhiigleey (“The Lake of Blood”) during the Somali Civil War, which K’naan’s name means “traveler” in the Somali language. He and his parents fled to New York City and moved to Harlem before settling in Canada.

Read our exclusive interview with K’Naan »

K’Naan
09
Knowledge Is Power

“I encourage people to educate themselves about the facts before judging this Somali pirate,” says K’Naan.

Read our exclusive interview with K’Naan »

K’Naan
10
What’s Beef?

K’Naan found himself in a war of words with fellow Canadian rapper K-Os. Although the rap battle never gained national recognition, K’Naan proved he was quick-witted with an ammunition of lethal eight bars.

Read our exclusive interview with K’Naan »

K’Naan
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