Jad Rahme Is An Old School Man From The Old Country

Behind the publicity and the live shows, Jad Rahme is Lebanon’s next big voice.  He is already being compared to some of the worlds biggest international Arabic stars and now is ready to show the world what Lebanon knows already~ His talent is undeniable. This Montreal based Lebanese singer is the go to star if you want to fire up your party attendees. Jad's music packs so much of the old world flavors, it's uncanny who he managed to preserve the Lebanese style so well.

Jad has toured and performed in countless clubs, restaurants, private, special events, festivals and celebrations within every major city in North America.  He is now looking forward to be touring at an international level. When asked why his new single is called Ana Rijal(which, in Arabic means “I'm a man”), he had this to say, “I want every man out there to listen to my song, sing along and feel proud to be a real man, not because of what he owns, but because of who he is.”

Now, this is something I can stand behind, men need to man up and stop trying to be so girly in pursuit of popularity. Jad found a good subject to sing about and bring a little bit of joy in the lives of those who get to listen to his songs. And yes you will most likely want to dance, women like a man who is confident and who brings something to the relationship that they do not already have. No female will even want a guy who cries more than she does.

After receiving enthusiastic reviews online, the recording is gaining international attention. Ana Rijal is available on iTunes, Amazon mp3, Emusic, Rhapsody and  Soundcloud. “I'm pumped to be releasing new music”, says Jad.  As an independent artist, Jad is currently considering offers with record labels. Ana Rijal has been his break through hit.  The song itself is “not only is it catchy, it's melody addictive. It's entwined with an old-school beat, making it a modern mix of that traditional “dabke” we all love so much!”

“The whole process has been amazing and I hope that this new track will please my fans.”  Jad was happy to receive such great feedback from fans and friends through his Facebook page before releasing the hard copy. The page has been flooded with encouraging comments and congratulations from many established musicians and artists such as George Dfouni and Koko Balkorkian.

Jad recorded the vocals for Ana Rijal in Toronto, Ontario with world famous composer/producer/singer Salah Kurdi, who is the artist responsible for the lyrics and music of the single.  Instrumentals were recorded in Studio Joe Baroutjian in Beirut and then the recording was returned to Toronto where Ali Ramadan mixed mastered it.

For a really love time, good Arabic singers have almost always came form the old country to the States for concerts  With Jad, I am feeling he might be the first North American grown singer to be able to go back to the motherland and stand his own ground musically.

Ana Rijal - Jad Rahme (Arabic, Lebanon) أنا رجال جاد رحمه - عربي لبنان

Lupe Fiasco Islam, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1

One of America's finest rapper is Lupe Fiasco, born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco was born a Sunni Muslim, Lupe says he fully embraced Islam when his cousin, who had just converted, moved in with the family when he was 13. To me, Lupe is one of the smartest and most informed rappers out there. Rappers are not to be thinkers, not this one.

But as a rapper his 2006 album shaken the rap industry and presented fresh material. A year later "The Cool" where he was bolder and had a biggest budget. "Lasers" was not as celebrated as the previous work. Socially aware hip hop album and very electronic with some good singles, but as an album it disappointed. The problem is in the entertainment value, most agreed with the ideas and philosophy  but the music left somethings to be desired.  Now comes, "Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1"

I am reading his interview with Newsweek and I am astonished how informed and how one can have an intelligent conversation with this very talented raper.  

About the film--or trailer "Innocence of Muslims", the anti-Islam amateur film Lupe walked a fine line “They should fight for the dude’s right to make that movie. Unfortunately, we also live in a world with everyone else. America is not its own planet. You can say whatever you want, but have some class.” He adds, “It’s a provocation, but I think that at the same time, the Muslim world is taking it a little too seriously. If you want to battle and protest against it, this is the opportunity to talk about all the great things the Prophet Muhammad has done and the ways he’s inspired people.” This is true and Lupe said it best. After all he is the guy who had a song called Muhammad Talks.

“There’s Muslim rage. There’s Christian rage too,” he says. “Truth is supposed to hurt. That shit’s supposed to hurt, it’s not supposed to feel good. If you’re feeling good about something, you should really question that. That’s how I was raised. With Muslim rage, you’ve got a kid who walks into a restaurant with a bomb strapped around his waist, pulls a cord or presses a button, and kills all these innocent people. He’s not killing Christians or Jews, he’s killing other Muslims from a different section of Islam, because they’re Shia and he’s Sunni. He’s 1,400 years removed from the original conflict, so people say, ‘That’s terrible.’ Then you have a plane that drops a five-ton bomb on a school because there are reports that it’s insurgent-based, but they haven’t been thoroughly sorted, and you just dropped a bomb on a school and killed kids. And that guy’s Christian. But you don’t say, ‘Oh, these terrible Christians.’ All you say is, ‘Oh, these misguided intelligence officers. It’s collateral damage. Shit happens.’”

He continues: “Isn’t that rage, to drop a bomb on somebody? Isn’t it rage to park a tank 50 miles away and shoot rockets into a village? What’s more rage: people burning an effigy of a president that they’re never going to meet, as people chant and throw rocks, and then they go home to their poverty-stricken shanty towns. What’s more rage: that, or dropping a nuclear bomb on somebody? We’re still the only country that’s done that.”

For More details: Here

Lupe strikes me as a very loyal person who stays close to his roots not trump on them. He is very vocal about his religion, but he also remembers the great things that come with free speech. Lupe is rapping like he is your favorite history professor. His fourth album Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 is out.

Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album PT 1 - Available Now

Honey Boo Boo And Nancy Ajram Music Video

Just like Honey Boo Boo, America's latest celebrity child, Arab girls can also have fun and be in music video. The new reality TV show stars "Toddlers in Tiaras" breakout star Alana Thompson, better known as Honey Boo Boo, and her Georgia family. Checkout this very recent music video by the Lebanese pop starlet Nancy Ajram--a song she dedicated to little girls all over the world. Titled, "Oh, Little Girls" a song about how cool it would be to father a daughter. Nancy and her girls live in Beirut and just like Honey boo boo, they like to have themselves a grand time.

Nancy has two little girls of her won, and she made a music video with all girls cast--and a female director as well. There are many happy little girls in the music video-I do take notice of the stereotypical character little girls are pushed toward. Girls are supposed to want to get married since they are so little. Aside form that, this is a really good music video for a sweet song about being a girl or better yet being a father to one.


Nancy Ajram - Ya Banat | نانسي عجرم - يا بنات

Video: Snoop The Soccer Player Takes Penalty Kicks

Snoop Dogg is an icon of American music, a world celerity and a notorious bad boy. What he is not is a soccer player. He was given too shots at scoring, and he never made it. He did talk about his style and his Salsa dance moves. Snoop Dogg, also known as Snoop Lion, joins SportsCenter and takes his shot at penalty kicks. ESPN was there to document the moment.

If soccer ever becomes an American sport, it's not because of Snoop. Despite shooting from only 10 yards, Snoop hit the goal twice, but he has given as high entertainment. And had he scored, we might not be talking about him. As you might be aware, this is only the latest example of Snoop-soccer synergy. Snoop is a FIFA 13 enthusiast, and he's been spotted promoting the new video game in New York.
  
Snoop Takes Penalty Kicks

This Music Video Got 14 People Fired Gangnam Style

A group of the pool manager and 13 lifeguards who were dismissed from the local aquatic center for posting “Lifeguard Style,” a parody of the Korean pop hit “Gangnam Style.”The city had fired them for “a clear unauthorized use of city property” in making the video at the El Monte Aquatic Center in their lifeguard uniforms. Do you see a problem?

I think this is not a new problem, people do not understand how the internet works, and people who fired them do not understand that the world have changed. It's not an easy decision. People made a fun video and it went viral. I do take issue with them using the pool--but these things are meant all people to use. The mayor who fired them is now in hot water--he does not have the power to fire people as it turns out.

I think these people should be given their jobs, and they may get a slap in the wrist.

Lifeguard Style (Gangnam Style Remake)


PSY - GANGNAM STYLE (강남스타일) M/V

Here's How The Anti-Islam Filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Looks Like

Leave it to the Brits to do some real journalism. The Britich newspaper, "The Daily Mill" published the first newspaper for the man behind the movie maker who sat the Middle East on fire. He posed for a picture with Anna Gurji, the actress that played the role of Aicha. Who has told the paper, the movie was supposed to be a bout a comet that hit the earth, and the people have thought of it a holy thing.  Nakoula Basseley  Nakoula – also known as Sam Bacile

He has paid the actors 75 bucks for their acting a day and gave them free lunch. He had duped all of them, and by doing so he has put all their lives in dancer recklessly. He has forget that all religions preach against lying.

As for his look, he looks like a sleazy shit head that he is--a drug dealer as we know now. His mustach cannot be anything good.

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Piano/Cello Cover)

Piano and classical music has its fans, you do not have to be rich to enjoy its richness and you do not have to be high class to enjoy its high class. It's music that speak to the soul and moves the heart with its magic. It relaxes you when you really needed it the most. It comforts you and better it express your every emotion.

They are called the Piano Guys and they manged to capture some of the best songs and make videos in the nature--you really cannot resist the combination. I wish more of those Arab composers do stuff like this, I know we have a lot of them who do classical music and original material--Malek Jandali and Zain from Jordan.

I know they will appreciate the video below. It's a cover of Christina Perri (A Philadelphia singer and songwriter  A Thousand Years.

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Piano/Cello Cover)

Anti-Islam Film "Innocence of Muslims" Kills People

For starter, I wish we Muslims do not get worked up as much about things that are offensive to us. This rage can be used against us and it certainly can be used to harm others among us. If we get upset every time a moron makes a vile movie about Islam, draws a cartoon of the prophet, or says dumb things, we are in trouble. Because certain people will use that to get us to react in a certain way to show others that we are not civilized. But this is what we have to deal with. We should not kill people even if we do not like them, this should be our attitude. Having said that, I'm a free speech absolutist - but I'm not an anti-religion absolutist

The teaser movie "Innocence of Muslims", depicts Muhammad as a fraud and a womanizer. that has been making the rounds on the internet had 54 actors in and and close to 50 people behind the camera it cost 5 million dollars to make. We are also being told that it was financed by a 100 Jewish funders. The director of the film is an Israeli who lives in California and now is in hiding. He made this movie despite the facts he knows what will happen. He now has blood on his hands. Why did he release the movie now?

Now this is where my opinion kicks in, Obama is trying to get elected and he is having to answer a lot of questions. Now he has to explain to the American people about the death of American diplomats in Libya and trouble in Egypt. It will not make things easier for him. If anything many ultraconservative Israelis seem not like him and are more interested in seeing him gone. The preview was also released on the 11th anniversary of 9/11.

It seems the director wants to see this get worse, he is adding gasoline to the fire....with statements like "Islam is a cancer" and 100 Jewish people funded my project. I think most Jewish people are smart enough not to put a dime for such a project. And then this is this annoying Coptic activists lawyer who has been attached to the film. He is a disgrace to his people and he is making his life much worse for his peers. He is not helping them. For this reason, more than a 130 Coptic group have spoken out against this film and the activist.

News from this film overshadowed a very important trial in Egypt where the verdict was handed on September 12, 2012. The Arab world most famous comedic actor Adel Imam was cleared of charges that his movies disrespect religions and promote vice. This was a key moment as most entertainers in Egypt watched with interest this big trial. Unfortunately, the film, embassy events and the casualties have been the news.

The movie goes out of its way to insult Islam and the prophet. The film has nothing to say about Islam and rather an assortment of ill informed and vile interpretations of events that taken place 1500 years ago. The crew had the right to make a movie about this, I also have the right to scream fire in a packed movie theater or tell the bus people there's a bomb. This is all free speech, but we all self censor our speech for the betterment of everyone. Aside from the obvious white washing where the cast is largely made out of white actors, this movie has a bad taste and no artistic integrity.

I have said before, the West should not fear weak Muslims nor strong ones, they should only fear those who feel disrespected. It's then when people feel vulnerable and their acts do not always make sense. I hope the film crew are feeling extra excited today as they watch their country men murdered by angry mob upset with a movie they made to advance their lunatic agenda.

On a personal note, a cousin of mine was murdered (and his body was disrespected) by a mob in June 2007 in Gaza. I am not the one to approve of mob justice.  

Update: The American patriots should think abut how one Israeli filmmaker is making the world is more dangerous place for Americans. It only takes an idiot to rally up the easily offended religious mobs. Why did he chose America, not Israel as a place to make his vile movie?

Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman on US Embassy protests
   

The Sheikh Who Listens To Metal Also Wants To Ban Elissa, Haifa, and Nancy

One religious Sheikh took to Twitter to attack some ladies who like to sing and made a career out of entertainment. Meet Fadel Suliman, a preacher who spreads the message of Islam took an interesting turn when he attacked three lead pop stars. (The story can be read here in Arabic)

Mr. Fadel admitted to liking Hard Metal in his youth he would go to concerts to enjoy this kind of heavy metal rock. However Heavy Metal Rock has a crappy name in Arabia as many marry it to devil worshiping. So the sheikh defended heavy metal and argued that going to concert for Elissa, Hiafa, and Nancy Ajram is closer thing to worshiping Satan.

The religious figure disagrees with people who want to ban Heavy Metal like the calls in Egypt now as some calls have been made to cancel concerts at the El Sawy Culture Wheel (more here). He defends his favorite kind of music yet attacks people for going to female concerts. Fadel belongs to the Muslim brotherhood and has made similar calls in the past about certain female singers. He has even doubled down and attacked other Lebanese songstress like Marwa and Nicole Saba.

Fafel Suliman is a Muslim preacher who comes to the United States and talks about Islam, he has authored a number of books on his religion of choice.

Why is making this case now and why is he only picking on entertainers form Lebanon are my questions.

إسلاموفوبيا - الإسلام انتشر بالسيف (بدون موسيقى)

If You Go To Bars, You Need To Watch Mixologist - Music Video

At first there was a bartender, but as affluent young people have always looked for the next big thing, some new profession emerged....mixologists. Those are glorified bartenders with attitude. They are often found in posh bars serving overpriced alcohol to richer people or people who tend to be on the pretentious side.

Mixologists of the world do strange dances with one's drinks and shake things up as they are part of some fancy show. I think it's stupid, but it's a reality most have come to embrace. Not one rapper who wanted to channel his frustration with those fancy clowns.
 
The rappers in this video have a great sense of humor, I only hope that guy who mixes drinks--not just serve them has the same virtue. The rap song does feature some stunning moments in the bar, fire and ice drinks and a lot of flavor.

Mixologist - Music Video

"I'M Waiting" Nader Guirat Deserves The Wait

The year was 2008 when a young Tunisian man walked into the set of Star Academy season five and people let him into their homes. Nader did duet songs with just about all the stars one loves including Cheb Khaled,  Karl Wolf, Massari, Ahmed Al-Sherif. Nader left the show with a lot more experience and a bigger fan base that wanted to see more of the young artist.

This multi talented singer who has performed in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Arabic. Through the song below, one can track Nader's musical influence--Pop, Rock, Acoustic, Alternative, Metal, Classical Music, Oriental Music and Comédie Musicale.

And impressive turn in Nader's career is his collaboration with the with music arranger Michel Fadel and ‘The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine’, where the song video was shot. ‘L’Ange Perdu’ received best song of the year award from Tunisian radio stations

Now few years later, he is back with a new single in English and with an American singer whose vocals are a perfect match for Nader's. Nader showcased his guitar skills to my amusement, the guy is no poser, he is the real deal. He does have a true crossover appeal, as his language and multi-talents will open doors for him, he shows a lot of energy for live and accosting performances.

This year, along with Dylan Lloyd , a fellow contestant in Crimea Music Fest, Nader released his most recent work “I’m Waiting”. A passionate song that shows another perspective of Nader’s promising music talent. And it doesn’t end there, this multi-cultural music talent still has a few projects up his sleeve His new album is due to drop soon, I know foe which I will be waiting.

“I’m Waiting” was written by Nader Guirat and his friend Dylan Lloyd, the song was mastered and mixed by another freind who likes this kind of hot music, Aymen El Guedri. This is a song two friends who like music and have a passion for good projects came up with. America's Dylan Lloyd featured in his ballad a new comer that goes by the name Nader Guirat who also co-wrote this track

So where do two musicians like this meet? Don't worry, they mean on something called the famous TV show in Ukraine called "Crimea Music Fest" last September 2011. I like this song, it sounds like what would a rock band working in a garage can produce. 

Nader Guirat feat Dylan Lloyd - I'm Waiting

Somali Canadian Hybrid K'naan Is "More Beautiful Than Silence"

More Beautiful Than Silence  was well received by critics where each track sounds completely different from the last, and although the record could be a pop smash, his message is never diluted in the melody.
K’Naan has the skills where his music packs creative melodies, poetic storytelling, and  the aspiration of an entire generation. soaring dreams on More Beautiful Than Silence. Die hard fans fans will love this musical treat, but the reality remains, are we ready for his next big thing? I do not think we are as a full project form this rapper will make waves in the rap industry.

I am comfortable to claim that his poetic lyrics come from his bringing and his culture where Arabia intersects Africa creating a beautiful lyrical miracles that were picked by young K'naan. The american culture provided him with rap as a tool to get those raging emotions out So far he has claimed a place in mainstream Hip-Hop. As far as messaging in music and imagery, I think he can rival household names of the likes Bob Dylan. Since K’naan’s mission is to inspire global change, he’ll welcome mainstream success; if it gets his message to the ears of more listeners, and encourages them to dream big. He is a star that world needs right now...as transfroation in the Middle East, America, Europe and the rest of the world is changing, K’naan brings a teaser for the future of entertainment.

K'naan fuses a wide array of styles and rhythms to deliver his African-influenced rap. He is already Africa's most famous native song rapper when his upbeat tune "Wavin' Flag" became a global hit after it was chosen as the official Coca-Cola anthem for the 2010 South Africa World Cup. A turning point in K'naan's career came as he stood in front of some of the world's most powerful men, stopped his performance to recite a politically-charged poem, blasting the U.N. for its failed relief mission in Somalia." This was a risky business, but K'naan had nothing to lose. After a brief moment of silence, he has earned himself an standing ovation.

Aside form his talent, the rapper comes with a grand story of survival so real and so shocking that it makes most inner city rappers look like they are form Kansas.  This is guy who lived in a war zone and moved into another one where most people tel of a rough life. No questions about it, the lyrically gifted rapper just can't help being a one-upper which makes him a perfect candidate for the job. 

Some have argued that K'naan should hone a message where he would tell his young fans "I did, you can too" message that could help make him a more accessible role model. He comes across as a rapper with a lot of faith as he makes reference to God very often. The internet is filled with K'naan's opinions of war peace and love too. But I think he still has a long way to go to trade in his microphone for a role model.    

"War has a way of making life painfully factual and love has a way of making life completely painfully dreamy, and I wanted to try to be honest about where I'm at in life," adds K'naan, 

K'naan- More beautiful than silence [with lyrics]



Lyrics: turn the light off there's a light on in your heart so let it be your guidens, guidens! Open up your mouth if what you say could be more beautiful than silence ok, ain't it funny how the talkers always talkin' never firing, but always say they cocking and they cocky until they in the parking lots suddenly they got parkinsons, they can hardly talk. no karate buddy, no pilates buddy it's a new game, no Atari buddy body chalk, well i'm used to bodies chopped i've seen shit to give new meaning to the body shop look, i know you think i'm so righteous but mother fucker, i'm also into rifles tryna tell these niggas i'm a baby in his diapers i'm on my own shit, lighters i don't disseminate, i got my name in... i don't discriminate, i got friends who are snipers but some of them ended up being lifeless cause they kept silent, survivors. turn the light off there''s a light on in your heart so let it be your guidens, guidens! open your mouthy, if you would say could be more beautiful than silence. i'm the quiet type, breathe and steady never small talk speak when necessary in the streets, i see niggers chops with machetes my jamaican girl say 'talk to me baby!' what''s on your mind can't say ... ..death do its part, memories, i marry got a library with no lies baby and all the books look like they're made of strawberries. it ain't easy being me cause my own fans can't relate to my streets and my streets can't relate to those in the east but i'm beats, so i make bread on release. I'm releasing my demons, give the beat it's life like I give a fetus semen. feel the kick in your belly, that's freedom breathing don't say nothing, cause now we're dreaming! turn the light off it's a light on in your heart so let it be your guides, guides! open your mouthy, if you would say could be more beautiful than silence, silence. oh, oh, oh, silence, silence oh, oh, oh, silence, silence oh, oh, oh, silence, silence oh, oh, oh, silence, silence

The Hardcore Guitarist And Wisconsin Sikh Temple Shooter

Some people make a killing in music, some musicians just flat out kill people. Most people who play music are the ones who like to promote peace and understanding, but not this one guy. He used his music for hatred  While the facts are all being sorted out, but the Sunday shooting in Wisconsin at a Sikh Temple where at least 7 people have lost their lives--including the gunman, now we learning something interesting;

Per Gawker 

Wade Michael Page, the 40-year-old Army veteran who allegedly killed seven on Sunday at a Sikh Temple in suburban Milwaukee, was a member of white-power hardcore band End Apathy, according to The Southern Poverty Law Center. Some biographical details match: Page was born in Colorado and was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina; in an interview with the band's label, the Wade Page of End Apathy says that he's lived in North Carolina and Colorado.

Per the NYT
Page is the leader of a racist white-power band.”They said Mr. Wade played guitar and sang vocals for a band started in 2005 called End Apathy.“This guy was in the thick of the white supremacist music scene and, in fact, played with some of the best known racist bands in the country,” said Mark Potok, a senior fellow at the center. “The music that comes from these bands is incredibly violent and it talks about murdering Jews, black people, gay people and a whole host of other enemies. It is music that could not be sold over the counter around the country.

There goes that argument that musicians are artists as artists are supposed to be fragile and delicate, this man if true was a monster. I wonder what kind of music he was into and I also wonder since he has a 9/11 tattoo if he thought he was gunning down those poor Sikhs thinking they were Muslims.

Fear and Outrage in Wisconsin After 6 Killed at Sikh Temple; Gunman ID'd as White Supremacist Vet

Lindsey Stirling Re-imagines Phantom of the Opera

I have never been a big fan of operas, but there is one that everyone was talking about, the Phantom of the Opera which was later made into a movie, but that was not enough to convince me to buy into it. A little clip on YouTube has manged to do the trick.

The lady behind it is a 25 years old Lindsey Stirling who has attended BYU, the same school that I happen to also hold a degree from. She makes it a lot more fun, exciting and whole new level of spunky. The customs, and the cinematography are captivating. Lindsey is a violinist who rocks out, she makes this art form accessible to so many of us without tarnishing this classical instrument.

I love the bits and the concert scene, Lindsey looks very comfortable performing this song in a number of settings. I cannot wait to see and hear more of Lindsey Stirling who is promising an album in September of this year.

Phantom of the Opera- Lindsey Stirling

Kaoutar Nihad "Nta Li Bghit" Arabs In New York

UPDATED:

Morocco is the country of a million singer and dancer, if you have been watching the entertainment channel of course. In fairness, most of the entertainers who come form Morocco are extremely talented. There's a certain energy singers from Morocco bring, they seem to be very educated and have hail from a great tradition.

A singer who I have yet to decide on is called Kaouthar Nihad, she is out with a new album she was singing in Rotana cafe in Morocco. The music video for her song was filmed mostly in New York in Central Park and Time Square. The two places I know like the back of my hand. The singer is boasting about an American director who shot the music video, I think my college roommate Carlos would have done a better job filming and editing this video.

The outdoors portion is pretty cool, when they crew films indoors, the quality sucks. As for the song, I like the beat I detect a Latin/Hispanic flavor. The lyrics are very Moroccan which in the past has been an upside. The singer might have a lot more to give than she is showing.

On the plus side, this is a complete artist in the sense she knows the song through and through, music lyrics and singing. This sheer fact makes Nihad unique and light years ahead of her peers. To her credit, the song below gets better once you play it few times.

Kaoutar NIHAD Nta Li Bghit Clip Official HD 2012 كوثر نهاد انت لي بغيت

Somali Rapper K'NAAN A Product Of Africa, Arabia And America

I first heard a word of him by one activist friend of mine who has been listening to this young rapper whom he referred to as dope! Then I read a blog post by him on the Somali pirates where he made the case for some of those pirates. I liked his point about how European ships having been stealing the fish resources off the coast of Somali.

K'naan put the pirate activities are put in context. That was 2009, and by 2010 K'naan was the star of Choice for Coke. They picked him to do the official Coke song in time for the World Cup in South Africa. K'naan took the coke deal and did well. Part of his contract was to appear with a number of local and global stars in doing marketing duets for the company. I know in our end Nancy Ajram did the song with him, but he went to every other country and did a song in the local language--he sang in English. Turkey, Russia and other places were on his map.

He did well for the company and was a clear choice as he would go and do all sorts of concerts...and by that he established his global brand. And thus his music followed.

A bit of information on the talented rap master:

K'naan's namesake means "traveler" in Somali, but it's a significant name in Palestine too--The natives of Palestine track themselves to their great father who was named K'naan.

K'naan was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, just as the civil unrest began to shake things off in his beloved motherland. Surival was the key thing for K'naan, his father was living in the States at the time and would send his young song rap songs all the way form the land of rap. K'naan would tune in and eventually pick his trade. At the tender age of 13 K'naan and his family mange to find their way to America to live in Harlem, shortly aftetr they would move to Ontario Canada to join a large Somali community up North. There K'naan  picked up English and as he was confident he started spiting lyrics.


As most rappers would attest, skipping school plays K'naan hit the road and started performing in various venues part of the Direct Current Media. His biggest break came in the UN as he performed in 1999 in Geneva where K'naan  would pile on the international organizations efforts in Somalia. There K'naan left an impression on a Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour. Youssou would later ask K'naan to contribute to his 2001 album Building Bridges. This project K'naan was able to tour a number of cities around the world.


Some of the names that K'naan collaborated with included Mos Def and Talib Kweli and a performance at the Live 8. Several collaborations and few years later cmae his much celebrated album Troubadour became K'naan's first for the major-label  album. After his track "Wavin' Flag" became the anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. K'naan would follow that by More Beautiful Than Silence EP arrived in 2012. 


K'NAAN - Is Anybody Out There? ft. Nelly Furtado