K'naan's bringing his own brand of wisdom and hip-hop to Fanshawe
The critically acclaimed Canadian hip-hop artist has collaborated with some of the hottest acts out there from Nelly Furtado, Metallica's lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, Damien Marley — yes, of that Marley family - and more. He's recently been touring with Jason Mraz, but will be making a stop at the college, bringing his songs and stories.
“Fireworks, explosives,” joked K'naan, from his hotel room in Minnesota, about what Fanshawe students can expect from his show. “I'm kidding. The show — it's its own thing.”
“I pride myself on it being an experience of its own.”
He promises a mix of dance songs and emotional, uplifting songs. But no yawn-inducing ballads here — K'naan has an epic story to tell.
Coming from Somalia when he was a teenager before war broke out, he's been a prominent voice in speaking out about the deterioration of the region since then. While he said he speaks for himself in his music, he also speaks for others. “For people who feel how I feel about the world, injustices,” he said.
The struggles, his own and others', are evident in his lyrics from songs like “Wavin' Flag,” “What's Hardcore?” and the aptly named “Somalia.” The songs will bring the audience through K'naan's life.
“You go through a journey on the show,” he said. “Moments that go back to my own time.”
“It's a well-rounded experience,” he added.
K'naan came onto the scene officially in 2005 with the Juno award-winning album The Dusty Foot Philosopher. It was also nominated for a 2006 Polaris Music Prize and won three BBC Radio Awards for World Music in the new artist division in 2007.
For his newest album, Troubadour, he was invited to Bob Marley's home to record and has been circulating his melodies and harmonies on a steady basis since he started out. His music is seamless, and it's because that's the way K'naan likes it. But he also allows for a little musical serendipity.
“I am a control freak,” he said. “Getting (my) sound right...(but) I let great things happen when they do. But I like to have my thing.”
The work that he puts into his songs is for the all-important audience. Yet while there's the desire for everyone to enjoy his art, there is a certain group he hopes it reaches, he said.
“Everyone who needs it, who could find value in it,” he explains. “Help them reconsider their position, enjoy its melodies.”
But as he becomes more well-known and gathers a larger audience, K'naan's not heading into total rock star territory. A non-smoker and non-drinker, he'd rather be in his hotel room watching a movie post-show — the latest being Frost/Nixon. For an artist on the path to success, he still has his feet firmly planted on the ground — citing his mother, his boys and his songs as some things he's grateful for right now.
From his experience, he offers some wisdom: “Struggle is for the privileged” — those who overcome adversity become “privileged” because of the strength they've gained, he says.
“From obstacles you face, struggles you endure...taking in those things, help you to be honest in yourself,” he said.
