K'naan - Troubador
 

http://www.netweed.com/prohiphop/gra...troubadour.jpg

Tracklisting:
1. "T.I.A." – 3:39
2. "ABC's" (featuring Chubb Rock) – 3:10
3. "Dreamer" – 4:32
4. "I Come Prepared" (featuring Damian Marley) – 4:09
5. "Bang Bang" (featuring Adam Levine) – 3:07
6. "If Rap Gets Jealous” (featuring Kirk Hammett of Metallica) – 3:40
7. "Wavin' Flag" – 3:41
8. "Somalia" – 3:34
9. "America" (featuring Mos Def and Chali 2na) – 4:46
10. "Fatima" – 5:02
11. "Fire in Freetown" – 4:37
12. "Take a Minute" – 4:07
13. "15 Minutes Away" – 4:56
14. "People Like Me" – 6:17


Roughly four years after The Dusty Foot Philosopher was released, K'naan returns with his second album.

Rife with guests, and filled with a fusion of hip-hop, traditional african instrumentation, as well as metal and reggae, K'naans second album not only manages to live up to the Dusty Foot, but in my less than humble opinion, exceed it.

Guests in clude Chubb Rock, Damian Marley, Adam Levine, Kirk Hammett (yeah, I did not see that one coming), Mos Def, and Chali 2na.

Backed up by that hefty list, K'naan brings a heping of some of the most accessible, yet impassioned, intelligent yet catchy, and gritty yet hopeful music to grace the hip-hop community.

The album has no weak tracks as far as I am concerned, but a few really stand out above the rest.

In particular;

If Rap Gets Jealous, with Kirk on guitars. As a remake of one of the most intense songs off of the Dusty Foot, the remake/re-write is even more, with the introduction of a heavy metal guitarist playing some fierce ****ing licks for the track. In fact, the fusion is the kind of intense ferocity that made Rage Against the Machine so enthralling. Headbang worthy, and powerful.

Fatima, a hauntingly beautiful, and tragic song of celebration. Beautifully sung, and immensely compassionate. The song deserves full head phone attention, so as not to miss any of the tale.

15 Minutes away is one of those tunes, anyone ever needing to wait on a money transfer, or loan can relate to. It is funny, uplifting, kind of gleefully grim and catchy as all hell.

The albums finale, People Like Me, is one of my favourites, with its impassioned compassion and hope, almost hypnotically catchy flow and child-like innocence and fear floating through out.

Upon giving it a few more spins, one in particular with my grand spankin' new headphones, I have to agree with you 100%. This album really does exceed the already high standards that The Dusty Foot Philosopher set. People Like Me is definitely my favourite song off that album, followed by Fatima.

I'm going to have to pick this up, The Dusty Foot Philosopher was great. Some of the guests sort of put me off a little, but I'll look past it. Good to see him getting some success.

Oh my god, I can't believe how good this guy is.

He is great, and I don't even like hip hop that much. K'naan takes it to another level.

I know. You review totally inspired me to download the first rap I have ever liked. Iv'e been wanting for years for rap/hip-hop/whatever to have someone real like this. He's like the prophet of hip-hop, and IMO people should listen to his way of thinking or the song Aenima isn't going to be too far from the truth!

Should you enjoy this, or other live band hip-hop/fusion projects, I have quite a massive collection of said genre.

Thanks. Iv'e been so busy lately I have barely been able to be online, but I'll for sure get back to you eventualy. Right now, in the little spare time I have, I need to listen to a bunch of PJ Harvey because I'm going to see her live on the 23thrd. But after all is done, I'm totally going to listen to all the K'naan I can, he's just great and inspiring. And if I like it (which I know I will) I'll get back to you via pm asap!

I took a chance on ths album after hear a track on NPR and seeing the album download on Amazon for $1.99. Can't beat that!

I love it. I love the fusion beat hip hop, reggae and African beat. It's very likable.

Pretty refreshing sound on here. Great mix of styles...I'm likin' this alot lately.

When I got this I wasn't sure about If Rap Gets Jealous. Dont get me wrong, it's a great song and pretty fun to sing along to, but at first it just seemed a little outta place. After giving it a couple more listens all the way through though, its all good.

T.I.A. , Wavin' Flag, and 15 Minutes are all amazing as well :)