The Dusty Foot Philosopher

Artist: K'naan
Label: Bmg
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 828767097626
EAN: 0828767097626
ASIN: B000A1IKCO

Release Date: 2005-06-23

The Dusty Foot Philosopher

Related Categories:

General

| Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap

| Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Wash It Down
Soobax
What's Hardcore?
My Old Home
Moment
I Was Stabbed by Satan
My God
Smile
If Rap Gets Jealous
Dusty Foot Philosopher
Strugglin'
In the Beginning
Hoobaale
African Way
Voices in My Head
Boxing My Shadow
For Mohamoud (Soviet)
Until the Lion Learns to Speak

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Album Description

K'naan, former refugee, now based in Toronto makes music that is a mixture of hip hop, African beats and world music intertwined - combining African drums, chants, handclaps, guitars and organic instrumentation sets this album outside the hip hop herd. K'naan creates music with a message. Leaving Somalia at the age of thirteen on what turned out to be the last commercial flight ever to do so, amidst a crumbling society and the end to this day of any form of central government K'naan carried with him a very strong sense of purpose as well as his amazing lyrical gift, which has made him a beacon for other artists a well as those dedicated to global change. Canada only release! With his unique voice and truly authentic style, K'naan brings an enormous dose of realness and urgency to the hip-hop world in a time when people are desperate for it. From a personal and cultural history rooted in poetry (being the grandson of one of Somalia's most famous poets), K'naan widens the traditional hip-hop perspective. Discovered and produced by Track & Field, same producers that discovered and produced Nelly Furtado, Dusty Foot Philosopher is comprised of 18 total tracks including 'Smile', 'My Old Home', 'In The Beginning', 'Voices In My Head', 'Wash It Down', 'Hoobaale', 'Rap Gets Jealous' and more. BMG. 2005.

Album Details

Negotiating his Way Forcefully Through a Gritty Sandstorm of Spoken-word and African Instrumental Interludes, K'naan Brings Us a Collection of Funky, Original Backgrounds Nearly as Weighty as the Cautionary Words that Float above Them. In his Liner Notes, K'naan Recounts a Nearly Fatal Incident Involving a Live Grenade which He and a Couple of his School Friends Discovered in their Classroom in Mogadishu, Somalia. While Playing with the Mysterious Object, which Initially Looked Like a Potato, the Grenade's Pin Slipped. Throwing it as Fast and as Far as He Could, the Destructive Object Lay to Ruin Much of the Empty Building. Thankfully, No One was Hurt. Then Only Ten Years Old, K'naan (Whose Name Means "The Traveller" in Somalian) Credits that Event as the Watershed Moment which Led Him to Become a Writer.

Customer Reviews:

Phenominal.......2006-12-16

I generally listen to reggae and have recently gotten into more Hip-hop and Rap. So, while I may not have the best perspective on this type of music, I will put it simply: this album blew me away. I really can't put my finger on it, but K'naan is fantastic. He is clever, angry, poetic, lyrical, and contemplative all at the same time. Besides the rythims, beats, etc., which are great, K'naan is able to give the listener a picture of whatever he's rhyming about, literally a picture in your mind. And, this is fundementally positive rap, hard to find no doubt, and it also makes you want to stand up a move around. I recommend this album to any fan of music, and I anxiously await K'naan's sophmore attempt.

Refreshing, innovative, dynamic.......2006-11-27

I normally don't go for hip hop and I hardly ever give 5 stars, but quality trumps genre any day, and this is some great stuff. Musically influenced by hip hop beats and his native Somalia, he manages to keep them successfully distinct. When he does merge them, it is with skill and style and wit. Too often merged styles end up sounding muddy, but not here.

The lyrics are poetic. He deals with some very serious subjects, but manages to inject humour and pragmatism without cheapening the message.

Finally, the album works well as a whole, not just a collection of songs, though you'll probably want to add some singles to your playlists.

Enjoy!

Masterfull.......2006-10-19

I had a chance to see K'naan at the Breedlove Tour with Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Pharaoh Monche and Jean Grey and let me tell you he rocked the show. I had the chance to meet him after the show as he was selling his beautiful album at the back of the Fillmore in Denver and what a guy. Humble, kind, very down to earth. His music expresses the hardships of leaving his homeland and the unimaginable pain of living in modern day Somalia. His music expresses the frustration and anger about his homeland but also brings hope about the future, as well as awareness as most people especially in the U.S. have no idea what is going on over there because CNN and other corporate media just cover it as a rogue state. K'naan puts the human element in his music and expresses it beautifully. Great all around CD, original beats, lyrics, and well put together. Keep on fighting K'naan wherever you are.

Overwhelmingly Beautiful and Poetic!.......2006-10-04

I'm an East African who grew up right over the border from Somalia and even then, I've never heard anyone say anything about Somalia other than rehashing CNN's point of view. It was always just a "messed up" place and nothing else. Finally this young brother speaks with such passion about the life and people that LIVE there...despite the turmoil and everything else there is LIFE and LOVE and K'Naan does such a phenomenal job getting that across. Listening to his tracks you can feel the pain, the frusteration, the hope...everything. He also acknowledges that just because he's no longer in a war-torn country doesn't automatically mean that life is great, a thought rarely discussed when it comes to refugees. It's often assumed and believed that we've done them all a great huge favor by removing them from their country...and while it's obviously better not to live under the fear of death, there's also the fact that generally people prefer to live in their home surroundings with the people they love and are familiar with. Migration, even to the lands of milk and honey in the west, is a HUGE sacrifice. Bravo K'Naan! This CD is a major contribution to Africa's history and to the masses whose thoughts and feelings are rarely acknowledged in an affirming an unbiased manner. An ESSENTIAL piece to anyone's library!

I cannot believe that only 10 people have rated this.......2006-09-12

I saw K'naan live last month at a Reggae festival in California (Reggae on the River) and he just blazed the place. Of all the acts at that concert (From Sizzla, Bunny Wailer, Ziggy, Sean Paul etc) he was the only one to get a curtain call. The depth and simplicity of his beat and message makes him a powerful MC. I wrote off Hip Hop a few years ago because of the lack of creativity of the current acts (From 50 cent onwards). K'naan is a breath of fresh air. If you are fan of Hip hop and appreciate the roots of this genre you will enjoy this CD.

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