K’naan is serious. Make sure you check out his album Troubadour. The work he does as an ambassador for African culture and specifically a voice for Somalia in Hip Hop is unparalleled. We previously referenced his intellectualism in the form of his opinions in our piracy post but this shines more light on his depth as an artist. We know it’s cliche to say that you haven’t experienced a piece of music until you have seen it performed live, but it’s true in this case. See over the jump for footage and pictures  from his London show last week where ASPECKS was in attendance.

More videos on our youtube channel.

Bonus: He recently released this track Dayless Night (over Kid Cudi’s Day and Night) in which he references the Maersk Alabama ship that we talked about in our Pirates of Mogadishu post.  It’s a narrative told from the perspective of one of the pirates. It’s very good.

Dayless night,

I gotta tip toe over damn land mines

I look for peace but not in this terrain

cos it is desert it will only rain

pain

Now look at this

I see some shit that has no business here

I try to run but i’m not that fast

I tripped and fall and barely escape the blast

blast

Cos dayless night,

I see some pirates on the ocean late at night

they roam around and just cant wait to fight

watch out for pirates on the ocean late at night

at at, at night

Cos dayless night

watch out for pirates on the ocean late at night

there’s never peace some things will never change

watch out for pirates on the ocean late at night

at at, at night

Meditate,

Could i have lived if i have never strayed,

wait

This is Somalia people I’m afraid,

I had no lemons to make lemonade

AID,

It’s no excuse

I know I’ve only known the tragic broken rules

Got nothing to eat and really nothing to lose

It’s do or die and I’m prepared to blow

fuse.

And the song goes on…