K’naan makes it clear from the start of his new album Troubadour, he is not your average rap artist. Hailing from Somalia, K’naan has had a tough road to stardom, having to constantly adapt to his environment. Making it out of Somalia required some versatility, and K’naan shows it on this album. Every song has a different vibe to it and is great in it own special way. K’naans is a feel good album. A celebration of his journey, his survival, and his passion for music. Whether rapping in Swahili, English, or singing his heart out, K’naan has delivered a great album with the universal appeal reminiscent of Bob Marley. My favorite tracks are “I come prepared” featuring Damian Marley because Damian kills it on this track. “Fatima” is just one of those emotionally charged songs that always end up being my favorite track on the CD. I’m also pretty in love with “take a minute”, the song with the best lyrical content on this new artists first effort. This is one of those guys that I think a lot of people will have a hard time hating on. Check him out.
flow - 4
lyrical content - 4
production - 5
album-ness 4
Overall – 4.5
-IB
