No one can deny K’Naan’s strong connection to his country. In fact, almost every song on his third album titled Troubadour is about Somalia, the country where he was born and raised. K’Naan also has an extremely diverse sound that spans many genres. From a man who did not begin to speak English until he was 14, this 31-year-old artist certainly knows how to form an argument through his music.
Troubadour is political and personal at the same time. K’Naan interweaves his native language through songs like “Fatima” and “America” while reflecting on his past, living in the slums and through a civil war. He could make an album entirely out of hatred due to his difficult history, yet creates an hour of music filled with peace and hope. His lyrics are meaningful, and every time he attacks an aspect of the world, he always supplements it with an optimistic solution. For a man who exclaims that he just wants “to tell people ‘what’s crack-a-lackin,'” he is an extremely optimistic person. The world needs more of those people.
Unfortunately, not every song sounds as musically compelling as the messages K’Naan tries to convey. Being heavily influenced by artists like Sean Kingston, Bob Marley and even Linkin Park is understandable, but the songs that fall under the rap category have simple, unoriginal beats that do not vary between tracks. While each song does have a unique significance, the sound is far from revolutionary. K’Naan’s voice is not the most pleasant to hear rapping, mostly due to his high-pitch vocal tone. To really understand the important meanings, one must move beyond the whiny, sharp vocals. Compared to a rapper like Kanye West, who has a full and resonating voice, K’Naan sounds like a teenager going through puberty. The song “15 Minutes Away” is a perfect example of this annoyance. The lyrics tell the story of when K’Naan did not know how to receive welfare, but then learned, and told other people about it. Unfortunately, his musicality sounds no more interesting than a mediocre beat-boxer, and his pitch is more irritating than toe tapping.
Luckily, not every song follows in a similar manner; part two of the three-part album is much more exciting and interesting. The two reggae songs he sings pay homage to the legendary Bob Marley. “I Come Prepared” features Damian Marley, Marley’s son, but it is “Waivin’ Flag” that is the highlight of K’Naan’s music. While the track is reminiscent of a Sean Kingston hit, it brings a new edge to the classic reggae formula, featuring a hard driving tropical beat. He continues to preach the same message of peace, linking the flag to the freedom of Somalia from its oppressors. Truly, the beauty of this song lies in the pleasant combination of a background choir and K’Naan’s pleasant voice, both clearly full of passion. The other standout track is a hard rock, almost Metallica-sounding anthem about jealousy called “If Rap Gets Jealous.” Simply due to its comparatively different style, this song stands above the rest as creative and catchy. It has a wicked guitar solo, power chords galore and angry energy throughout. With a distinct hint of reggae, this makes an extremely unique and listenable track.
K’Naan pieces together a diverse and meaningful album two years after his second, but should learn to move away from rap, mostly because his voice does not fit and he lacks the talent to develop interesting beats. Still, one can appreciate the feeling of hope in his music, and the hope that this artist has the potential to continue improving, specifically in the reggae and rock areas. All in all, K’Naan is full of passion and optimism and for that, he deserves much respect.
3 stars out of 5.
