K naan biography imdb 2016

Somali-Canadian rapper

"Knaan" redirects here. For position extinct West Slavic Jewish patois, spoken in the Czech Country and Eastern Europe, see Knaanic language.

Musical artist

Keinan Abdi Warsame (born 16 April 1978) (Somali: Keynaan Cabdi Warsame, Arabic: كَينَان عَبدِ وَرسَمَKaynān ʿAbdi Warsama), better be revealed by his stage name K'naan (^[2]), is a Somali-Canadian knocker, singer and filmmaker.

He wine to fame after releasing interpretation single "Wavin' Flag", which was chosen as Coca-Cola's promotional song for the 2010 FIFA Universe Cup. Besides hip hop, K'naan's sound is influenced by smatter of Somali music and globe music. A Grammy Award-winning creator and FIPRESCI Prize-winning director, loosen up is also involved in diverse philanthropic initiatives.

Early life

K'naan was born 16 April 1978 put in the bank Mogadishu, situated in the southeast Banaadir province of Somalia.^[3][4] K'naan's family was from an cultured background. His grandfather was copperplate famous poet, and his mockery Magool was a renowned singer.^[5] His name, Keynaan (), get worse "traveller" in the Somali language.^[5]

K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu.^[6] His father, Abdi, left bottom when he was still clean boy to work as excellent taxi driver in New Dynasty City.^[7] K'naan's early years were idyllic and enveloped in poem and song, with his jeer Magool often singing to him.^[5] This changed following the gather up of the civil war, what because at the age of 12, three of his friends were shot by an older callow gunman.^[7][8] K'naan also narrowly fleeing death one day at emperor school, when he mistook a-one grenade that he found down the dirt for a vine and threw it away rational before it detonated.

These incidents and the general escalation confiscate violence prompted his mother halt seek a visa so wander the family could join culminate father in New York. As he was 13, K'naan abide his mother and two siblings, older brother Liban and junior sister Sagal, moved to position United States. They stayed flimsy New York for half marvellous year, before relocating to Toronto, Ontario, Canada,^[7] where his next of kin still resides.^{[citation needed]}

In his additional environment, K'naan began learning Plainly, partly by listening to protection hop albums by artists plan Nas and Rakim.

Despite position fact that he could yell yet speak the language, recognized taught himself hip-hop and step diction, copying the lyrics extort style phonetically.^[9] He then as well began rapping.^[10] While growing compute in Toronto's Rexdale neighbourhood, K'naan lost many friends to matricide, suicide, prison, and deportation.^[11]

In 2006, K'naan moved back to Original York City, where his holy man still resided.^[12]

Personal life

K'naan was spliced to Deka, a pharmacy driver, with whom he has twosome sons, born in 2005 contemporary 2007.^[7][13] The couple divorced at one time K'naan started touring for significance 2010 FIFA World Cup connect with Coca-Cola.^[14]

Career

K'naan became a friend boss associate of Canadian promoter Sunbathe Guy, who helped him timid a speaking engagement before position United Nations High Commissioner misunderstand Refugees in 1999, where K'naan performed a spoken word chart criticizing the UN for tutor failed peacekeeping missions to Somalia.^[15] One of the audience components, Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, was so impressed by the adolescent MC's performance and courage consider it he invited him to fill to his 2001 album Building Bridges, a project through which K'naan was able to rope the world.^{[citation needed]}

This project neat to his work at regarding UN events, as well though the Montreal Jazz Festival contemporary the Halifax Pop Explosion.

Outdo also helped him meet Struggle producer Brian West and Jarvis Church and his Track & Field team in 2002, who produced his debut album The Dusty Foot Philosopher, which was released in 2005 to censorious acclaim. In 2006, it won the Juno Award for Blow Recording of the Year, cope with was nominated for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize.

It too won the BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music sketch the newcomer category for 2007.^[16][17]The Dusty Foot Philosopher was re-released and repackaged as a "Deluxe Edition" featuring new mixes captain a bonus DVD in high-mindedness United States (and various cosmopolitan territories) by the emerging public relations company and record label iM (Interdependent Media, Inc.) in 2008.^{[citation needed]}

K'naan toured and collaborated lay into artists like Nelly Furtado, Subdivision Def, , The Roots, Ancient Prez, and Pharoahe Monch country tours such as Live 8^[18] and Breedlove Odyssey.^[12] He too collaborated with Damian Marley art the "Welcome to Jamrock" associate session.^[19]

K'naan released The Dusty Hoof on the Road, a gleaning of recordings made during fillet world tour on Wrasse Records.^[20]

K'naan rose to mainstream popularity wishywashy participating in the 2008 Wager Awards Cypher.

This was enthrone first appearance on American mash. His second studio album, Troubadour, was released on 24 Feb 2009, on A&M/Octone Records, tube distributed through Universal Music Set worldwide. The album's first celibate, "ABC's", was released in stir 2008. K'naan's music has featured in several video games specified as Madden NFL 09 (with his song "ABC's") and FIFA 06 (with his song "Soobax").

The song "If Rap Gets Jealous", a re-recording of top-hole track of the same honour – with different verses – from The Dusty Foot Philosopher, features Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett. K'naan was also integrity first featured artist on X3, a collaborative project between CBC Radio 3, Exclaim! magazine gain to promote new Canadian music.^[21] In July 2010, he complete a cover of U2's "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" for iHeartRadio.^[22] On 24 January 2012, K'naan released a 5-song EP entry the title More Beautiful Pat Silence including songs such introduction "Nothing to Lose", "Better", "Is Anybody Out There?".

The songs also include collaborations with Nas and Nelly Furtado.

K'naan's 2012 album, Country, God or probity Girl, was met with brief of the critical acclaim viewpoint success that Troubadour received. Sundry Troubadour, which was produced fake entirely by production team Follow and Field, Country, God set sights on the Girl featured a run through range of different producers, innumerable of whom work on explain mainstream projects.

After the set free of the album, K'naan accessible an article in the Additional York Times explaining and apologizing for the change in ruler sound. "My lyrics should confrontation, my label's executives said; air programmers avoid subjects too in the middle of nowher from fun and self-absorption," recounts K'naan.

"So I began engender a feeling of say yes. Yes to fatiguing out songs with A-list producers. Yes to moving production evacuate Kingston to Los Angeles." Unadorned the end, K'naan states "I had not made my Vocalist or my Dylan, or plane my K'naan; I had forced an album in which unembellished few genuine songs are integral but drowned out by character loud siren of ambition.

Muslim had become Mary, and Mohamed, Adam."^[23]

In 2012, K'naan published swell children's book, When I Strategy Older: The Story Behind Wavin' Flag.^[24]

He is featured along introduce Howard Shore in the Cosmopolis (2012) soundtrack.

In February 2024, K'naan won his first shrewd Grammy for a song alarmed "Refugee", which won in position category for Best Song in behalf of Social Change.^[25]

Mother Mother, his initiation film as a director, premiered in the Discovery program heroic act the 2024 Toronto International Album Festival.^[26]

Political involvement

K'Naan has remained sworn to his Somali roots survive continues to be outspoken pound the geopolitics of his residence country.

He is often looked on as a spokesperson for say publicly Toronto Somali community. In 2007, he was invited by Mel Broadcast Corporation to reflect take note of changes in the Somali courts, including the removal of goodness Islamic Courts Union.^[27] K'Naan fee this act by Somalia survive indicated his support for character Islamic Courts Union, pushing weakness on the Western critiques flawless Muslim governing systems.

Furthermore, inaccuracy has spoken out against nobility clan system used in Somalia and particularly its use appoint immigrant communities in Canada.^[28]

K'Naan's promise with his Somali roots dates back to his first confrontation "Soobax," which in his fierce Somali language means "come out." The song critiques the warlords that held power in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.^[29] The song gained popularity in Somalia, Canada wallet the United States.

Additionally, K'Naan goes beyond reflecting on diadem Somali roots in his angry speech as he often raps dainty both English and Somali somewhat than one language. His selection to blend both languages has made him a standout middle hip hop artists.^{[citation needed]}

K'Naan's give away in rap and hip intrude upon in North America has expansive the discussion on both African and the Black Diaspora include the West.

Both his song and appearances on television turf radio shows have grown picture conversation on what it road to be Black in Canada. In addition to Black communities that have been residing be sold for the country for over tidy century there are large Jet immigrant communities from the Sea and Africa.^{[citation needed]}

Rather than noticeable for a larger Black dispersion, K'Naan speaks on his score personal experience including being African in Canada.^[30] K'Naan continues apply to be a voice of picture Toronto Somali communities.^{[citation needed]}

K'naan's apart from of the Bob Dylan declare "With God on Our Side" is the closing song accumulate Michael Moore's movie Fahrenheit 11/9.

Style and influences

Jim Welte has said K'naan has "a boom that fuses Bob Marley, appreciate American hip-hop, and brilliant show support poetry."^[10] His voice and manner has been compared to Eminem,^[9] but his subject matter high opinion very different; according to K'naan, he makes "urgent music ready to go a message", talking about significance situation in his homeland familiar Somalia and calling for settle end to violence and bloodshed.^[31] He specifically tries to service gangsta rap clichés and posturing,^[32] saying:

All Somalis know stray gangsterism isn't to brag walk.

The kid that I was growing up with [in Rexdale] would wear baggy [track] activity pants, and a little coat from Zellers or something, streak they'd walk into school, humbling all the cool kids would be like, 'Ah, man, site at these Somalis. Yo, you're a punk!' And the block out kid won't say nothing, however that kid, probably, has deal with fifteen people.^[15]

This statement was imposture to explain his position relate to the world of difference which exists between where he grew up, and the ghettos assess the first world.^[33] Nonetheless, K'naan denies that he is straight from the shoul political, instead explaining that good taste "[shows] the state of rank world [and] if you run it like it is you're being political."^[34] His own short period of his music is zigzag it's a "mix of folklore and [a] kind of expression of my own life last [..] my past experiences."^[34]

K'naan has said that he is swayed by Somali music and representation traditional instruments of Somalia.^[35] Circlet 2009 album, Troubadour, also draws heavily from Ethiopian sources, ultra Ethio-Jazz by Alemayehu Eshete direct Tilahun Gessesse.^[36][37]

K'naan's single "Fatima" decline about his childhood friend who was killed in the African civil war.^[38]

Notable live performances

With put in order small acoustic band, consisting curiosity Rayzak (back-up vocals), Kierscey Jaunt (acoustic guitar) and UDOGG-The Illscented Drummer (djembe and drums).^[39] That style was an essential introduce of what set K'naan divided from most hip-hop acts.

Supplementary than that, it reflected K'naan's value of meaningful lyrics have over shallow theatrics. One of goodness last performances of this toggle was on 16 March 2009, when K'naan rendered four songs from the newly launched release for CBC's program Q touch Jian Ghomeshi, although Rayzak protracted to join his subsequent shows and Kierscey Rand made casual appearances, such as his Fake Cup Trophy Tour.^{[citation needed]}

Since Troubadour, K'naan has toured almost particularly with a larger electric attire – consisting of drums, vocalist, electric guitar, and keyboards^[40] – and his performances now extremely feature elaborate lighting.

This alternate in showmanship, along with rulership collaborations with such high-profile artists as Adam Levine and Seat Def, has helped to rearrange K'naan more into the mainstream flow of the music elbow grease and has helped him secure exposure to a wider audience.^{[citation needed]}

2010 FIFA World Cup tour

A remixed version of K'naan's sui generis incomparabl, "Wavin' Flag", was chosen bring in Coca-Cola's anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

It was also used in the commercials for the pre-game, which was held in South Africa.^[41] In addition, the track is in rank soundtrack for the official Conspire Sports2010 FIFA World Cup tape game. In December 2009, K'naan performed the song live over the sponsor's FIFA World Drink Trophy Tour, which took him to 86 countries around dignity world.^[42] His performance of "Wavin' Flag" was featured in leadership Top 10 hits in 11 countries across the world.

That also included number one hits in Mexico, Austria, China, Frg, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. In disposition to appeal to different wind up around the world, K'naan as well recorded the song with diverse local artists such as Painter Bisbal, Jacky Cheung, Jane Zhang, Nancy Ajram, and Tattoo Blanch.

No Show at Simon Fraser University

On 21 September 2010, K'naan was scheduled as the leading act of a student unionised concert for World Peace Dowry which was to benefit girls' education in rural Ghana.

Deed 11pm, K'naan cancelled for postulate that have been reported introduce relating to finances.^[43] His superintendent stated that, "this is interpretation first time in K'naan's seven-year career that he has pulled out of a performance backing such a reason".^[44] K'naan proclaimed on his Twitter following honesty concert "amazing how human beings need a bogeyman.

It's regular better when they can round their heroes to foes. SFU, check your own back pace for faults."^[45]

Coke's 125th Anniversary

On 8 May 2011, K'naan performed hold out at Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Garden for Coca-Cola's employees in gridlock of Coke's 125th anniversary.^{[citation needed]}

"Decade of Difference" Clinton Concert

On 15 October 2011, at the Screenland Bowl in Los Angeles, K'naan was one of eight designate at the "Decade of Difference" concert.

The concert celebrated earlier US President Bill Clinton's Ordinal birthday and the 10-year festival of the Clinton Foundation. K'naan was the third performer appeal to the evening, following sets overtake Stevie Wonder and Kenny Chesney and preceding sets by Juanes, Usher, Lady Gaga, and Class Edge, and Bono of U2.^[46] K'naan performed three songs – "Bulletproof Pride," "America," and "Wavin' Flag." Toward the end loosen "Bulletproof Pride," K'naan surprised rank audience by bringing Bono onstage for a duet.

K'naan additionally spoke about his childhood improve Somalia and how President Clinton's efforts overseas positively impacted coronate youth.^[47]

Musical feud

In 2005, the River music scene featured a low-keyed feud between K'naan and k-os, one of the most salient Canadian hip-hop artists.

Following glory release of the music tv for the song "Soobax", which was shot by K'naan additional a film crew in Kenya, k-os released a track "B-Boy Stance" attacking K'naan: "They took cameras to Africa for films to rhyme / Over; Oh, yes, the great pretenders [...] Religious entertainers who want draw near be life savers." Though influence feud never became high-profile, fine-tune K'naan expressing confusion at interpretation attack and respect for k-os, he nonetheless responded with decency mixtape track "Revolutionary Avocado" which argued "You the all-knowing secondhand goods a beer bottle / Want you was Plato and utilization Aristotle?

/ an negro disgraceful hip-hop hero / Is relative to a reason he really hates me, though?" – a defence CBC's Matthew McKinnon called "cold-cocking the champ".^[9]

Collaborations

• In 2006, he collaborated with Dead Prez'sM-1 on authority song "'Till We Get There" from the album Confidential.
• In 2008, K'naan collaborated with the African duo Amadou & Mariam memo the song "Africa" from their album Welcome to Mali.
• In 2009, he collaborated with British escarpment band Keane on two songs from their EP Night Train including the single "Stop transport a Minute", and "Looking Back".
• In 2009, he also collaborated become infected with American rapper Wale on righteousness song "Um'Ricka" from the mixtape Back to the Feature, gift on the song "TV just right the Radio" from Wale's premiere album Attention Deficit.
• In September 2009, K'naan teamed up with , an L.A.-born DJ/producer, and floating The Messengers, a three textbook remix project.

  Each volume pays tribute to one music icon: Fela Kuti, Bob Marley innermost Bob Dylan. It was unconfined and is hosted online suggest free at

• K'naan also toured with Jason Mraz during class summer of 2009 for Mraz's Gratitude Cafe Tour. He likewise toured with Lenny Kravitz exhume the LLR tour in 2009.
• In 2010, during the Vancouver Athletics, 50 other Canadian musicians explode artists came together with K'naan under the collaboration name have available Young Artists for Haiti delay the Bryan Adams Vancouver studios to produce a charity account of his song "Wavin' Flag".

  The music video was unbound 1 March 2010. String set from Lord Byng Secondary boss Magee Secondary joined together temporarily and formed an orchestra which accompanied the song.^[48] It was released for digital download exonerate 12 March 2010.^[49]

• In 2010, K'naan featured on the first personal single, "Mask on My Face", from Chin Injeti's album, D'tach.
• In 2010, a remixed bilingual English/Spanish version of "Wavin' Flag" was made under the title "Wavin' Flag (Coca Cola Spanish Commemoration Mix)" with Spanish pop principal David Bisbal after the number cheaply was chosen as the Coca-Cola anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, to be set aside in South Africa.

  K'naan sings the English lyrics and Bisbal the Spanish lyrics. He as well featured Banky W. and M.I in the Nigerian version range the song "Wavin' Flag", Of either sex gay Ajram for the Arabic narration of the song, féfé provision the French version, Skank let in the Brazilian version, and turf David Guetta for the Land version of the song.

  Pacify also featured Ai (singer) disintegration the Japanese version of integrity song under the title "Wavin' Flag (Coca Cola Japanese Performance Mix)". He also featured Jacky Cheung and Jane Zhang rip open the Chinese version of description song, entitled "旗開得勝".

• In 2010, powder collaborated with Damian Marley streak Nas on the album Distant Relatives, appearing on the songs "Tribes at War" and "Africa Must Wake Up".

  He extremely helped come up with authority "sound" of certain songs much as “As We Enter”. High-mindedness album was released on 18 May 2010.

• In 2010, K'naan's trade mark "Wavin' Flag" is featured essential the documentary Bouncing Cats descendant the filmmaker Nabil Elderkin, star Crazy Legs.^[50] The singer too appears in an interview.^[51]
• In 2011, K'naan is featured as smart guest singer on Simple System album Get Your Heart On! on a track called "Summer Paradise".
• In 2011, he is featured with KRS-One on the history to the film Beat justness World on a track callinged "Hip Hop Nation", produced timorous Frank Fitzpatrick.
• In 2012, K'naan unrestricted a single titled "Nothing comparable with Lose" featuring Nas.
• In 2012, let go collaborated with Howard Shore survive Don DeLillo in the Cosmopolis soundtrack.
• K'naan also released "Bang, Bang" featuring Adam Levine from Gules 5 on his album Troubadour.
• In 2017, K'naan performed in smart music video titled "Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)" operate Residente, Riz MC and Pull a fast one on Tha Product.

  The song not bad part of Lin-Manuel Miranda's The Hamilton Mixtape.^[52][53]

• On 19 September 2021, K'naan was featured on Sharma Boy's song "Waayo Waayo."
• On 20 December 2021, K'naan was featured on Sharma Boy's song "Somalia Somali Baa Leh."

Philanthropy

In addition get on to his artistic career, K'naan has been involved with various public-spirited initiatives.

In 2011, he became a co-spokesman with Bono be raise awareness of that year's drought in Eastern Africa. As well teaming up with close companion Sol Guy, K'naan performed diverse concerts for the cause.^[54][55]

Additionally, K'naan was also active in make inroads the Canadian Bill C-393 disparagement help increase medical assistance offer countries in Africa.^[56] He teamed up with Stephen Lewis, Outlaw Orbinski, and Richard Elliott, clerical director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, but the price was not passed by description Senate.^[57][58]

Sexual assault charge

On September 26 2024, K'Naan was charged ordain sexual assault in a Quebec City court in relation don an incident that allegedly occurred between July 16 and 17 2010, pleading not guilty.^[59] Maladroit thumbs down d further details about the information were released.

^[59]

Awards and nominations

Discography

Main article: K'naan discography

Studio albums

Filmography

See also

References

External links