http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.8858168&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rssUm, 50 Cent thinks he had it hard? Toronto's K'naan has news for American rappers: Africans have it harder. K'naan Warsame was born in Somalia in 1978, and as a kid he watched his country collapse into civil war around him. (Somalia is currently the only country in the world without a government.) Warsame's father had moved to New York City a few years before the war began; Warsame and his mother got some of the last visas the U.S. embassy issued and took the last commercial flight out of the country. The family relocated to Toronto, where there was a strong Somali community, and K'naan began to learn English and adopt rap -- as so many have -- as a third language. In 1999, K'naan was invited to perform before the U.N.'s High Commissioner for Refugees, where he recited a piece that criticized the U.N. for its failures in Somalia. He became an instant celebrity: Youssou N'Dour invited him to Senegal to tour and record, and Nelly Furtado's production team Track and Field helped produce his debut album. Flexing a high-pitched voice, a strong melodic sense and whiplash wit, K'naan's 2005 debut, <I>The Dusty Foot Philosopher</I>, won him a Juno Award in 2006. - Sarah BardeenInternational Hip-Hopen720Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:17:51 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.8858168&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss Um, 50 Cent thinks he had it hard? Toronto's K'naan has news for American rappers: Africans have it harder. K'naan Warsame was born in Somalia in 1978, and as a kid he watched his country collapse into civil war around him. (Somalia is currently the only country in the world without a government.) Warsame's father had moved to New York City a few years before the war began; Warsame and his mother got some of the last visas the U.S. embassy issued and took the last commercial flight out of the country. The family relocated to Toronto, where there was a strong Somali community, and K'naan began to learn English and adopt rap -- as so many have -- as a third language. In 1999, K'naan was invited to perform before the U.N.'s High Commissioner for Refugees, where he recited a piece that criticized the U.N. for its failures in Somalia. He became an instant celebrity: Youssou N'Dour invited him to Senegal to tour and record, and Nelly Furtado's production team Track and Field helped produce his debut album. Flexing a high-pitched voice, a strong melodic sense and whiplash wit, K'naan's 2005 debut, <I>The Dusty Foot Philosopher</I>, won him a Juno Award in 2006. - Sarah Bardeen http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080339&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080339 tra.26080339 K'naan art.8858168 1.29 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true Wavin' Flag tra.26080339 220000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080339&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080339&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080344&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080344 tra.26080344 K'naan art.8858168 1.29 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true Take A Minute tra.26080344 246000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080344&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080344&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080334&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080334 tra.26080334 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true Abc's Featuring Chubb Rock tra.26080334 189000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080334&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080334&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767569&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 20767569 tra.20767569 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 The Dusty Foot Philosopher alb.20760138 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/5/8/1618512_170x170.jpg 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 true In The Beginning tra.20767569 201000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767569&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767569&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080337&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080337 tra.26080337 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true Bang Bang Featuring Adam Levine tra.26080337 186000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080337&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080337&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080333&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080333 tra.26080333 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true T.I.A. tra.26080333 218000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080333&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080333&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080336&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080336 tra.26080336 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true I Come Prepared Featuring Damian Marley tra.26080336 248000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080336&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080336&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080341&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080341 tra.26080341 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true America Featuring Mos Def, Chali 2na tra.26080341 285000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080341&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080341&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080335&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080335 tra.26080335 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true Dreamer tra.26080335 272000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080335&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080335&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080338&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080338 tra.26080338 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true If Rap Gets Jealous Featuring Kirk Hammett tra.26080338 219000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080338&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080338&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767563&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 20767563 tra.20767563 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 The Dusty Foot Philosopher alb.20760138 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/5/8/1618512_170x170.jpg 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 true I Was Stabbed By Satan tra.20767563 232000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767563&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767563&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080340&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080340 tra.26080340 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true Somalia tra.26080340 213000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080340&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080340&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080342&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080342 tra.26080342 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true Fatima tra.26080342 301000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080342&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080342&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767567&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 20767567 tra.20767567 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 The Dusty Foot Philosopher alb.20760138 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/5/8/1618512_170x170.jpg 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 true The Dusty Foot Philosopher tra.20767567 236000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767567&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767567&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767568&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 20767568 tra.20767568 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 The Dusty Foot Philosopher alb.20760138 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/5/8/1618512_170x170.jpg 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 true Strugglin' tra.20767568 214000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767568&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767568&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080343&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080343 tra.26080343 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true Fire In Freetown tra.26080343 276000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080343&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080343&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767566&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 20767566 tra.20767566 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 The Dusty Foot Philosopher alb.20760138 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/5/8/1618512_170x170.jpg 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 true If Rap Gets Jealous tra.20767566 258000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767566&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767566&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767560&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 20767560 tra.20767560 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 The Dusty Foot Philosopher alb.20760138 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/5/8/1618512_170x170.jpg 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 true What's Hardcore? tra.20767560 216000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767560&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767560&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767559&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss World/Reggae Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 20767559 tra.20767559 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 The Dusty Foot Philosopher alb.20760138 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/5/8/1618512_170x170.jpg 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 true Soobax tra.20767559 222000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767559&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767559&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767558&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 20767558 tra.20767558 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 The Dusty Foot Philosopher alb.20760138 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/5/8/1618512_170x170.jpg 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 true Wash It Down tra.20767558 136000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767558&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767558&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080345&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080345 tra.26080345 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true 15 Minutes Away tra.26080345 296000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080345&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080345&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080346&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26080346 tra.26080346 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Troubadour alb.26079052 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/3/7/7/1567733_170x170.jpg 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 2009-02-24 00:00:00.0 true People Like Me tra.26080346 376000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080346&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26080346&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767565&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 20767565 tra.20767565 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 The Dusty Foot Philosopher alb.20760138 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/5/8/1618512_170x170.jpg 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 true Smile tra.20767565 243000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767565&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767565&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26611378&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 26611378 tra.26611378 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 Dusty Streets alb.26609222 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/5/4/1/1851459_170x170.jpg 2009-03-17 00:00:00.0 2009-03-17 00:00:00.0 true Dusty Streets tra.26611378 218000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26611378&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.26611378&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767561&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss International Hip-Hop Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by K'naan on Rhapsody Online 20767561 tra.20767561 K'naan art.8858168 0.99 The Dusty Foot Philosopher alb.20760138 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/5/8/1618512_170x170.jpg 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 2008-05-20 00:00:00.0 true My Old Home tra.20767561 187000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767561&variant=play&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20767561&variant=data&rws=%2Fknaan%2Ftop-tracks.rss