on his debut album, k’naan demonstrated, much like M.I.A. (who released her debut the same year), that hip-hop was globally applicable, that ghettos were worldwide, and that hip-hop need not be so stagnant and derivative. the staggering potential k’naan flaunted on the dusty food philosopher makes his latest record and attempted transition to a more mainstream audience, all the more painful to endure. troubadour is not a terrible listen, but it’s a puzzling follow-up to such a strong first statement. while k’naan never pretended to have transcended the violence of his past, his message on his debut seemed nevertheless one of hope and optimism. now, he seems far too comfortable with being a ‘gangster’ and assures the listener that he ‘comes prepared’ with a desert eagle. perhaps k’naan is trying to depict the stark reality of his life, or the life of somalians, in a way that i’m just not comfortable with, but he still seems to be acting more as an advocate of violence than an unwilling participant. musically, the production style is consistent with the last record, but now the beats are far more conventional. what struck me so much about k’naan’s debut album was how connected it was to the music of africa (see: “wash it down”). the combination of afropop and hip hop is a natural one, but k’naan made it sound much more organic and vibrant. this album has a much more urban feel to it, and consequently lacks a lot of the character from dusty foot that made k’naan such a distinctive voice. uninspired songs, coupled with an unnecessary re-hash of “if rap gets jealous” (now featuring a guitar solo from metallica’s kirk hammett!), and an unlikely guest spot from maroon 5’s adam levine, make troubadour an ersatz effort at best.
Filed under: Album Review , 2009, k'naan, troubadour
