Somali Rapper Will Release Troubadour in January 2009 and Plans Fall Tour Dates

Celebrated Hip Hop emcee and griot K’Naan will set out on a fall US tour this month that will include supporting dates with Matisyahu, as well as select solo dates. K’Naan will be previewing material from his forthcoming album, Troubadour, due out in January 2009 via A&M /Octone Records as well as songs from his celebrated debut album, The Dusty Foot Philosopher.

Growing up in war-torn Somalia, K’NAAN has seen more gun violence and tougher streets than your average gangster rapper could ever imagine, yet he chooses to use his experience to spread peace with his eloquent and thought-provoking lyrics. This juxtaposition offers a refreshing body of work to the contemporary hip-hop world. In 2006, K’Naan took home the Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy) for Best Rap Recording and most recently received “Newcomer of the Year” honors at the BBC’s Radio 3 Awards, a showcase assembled to honor the very best in “world music.”

K’Naan’s fall 2009 outing comes on the heels of his summer tour where he was seen taking the stage at the major US festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, All Points West and Outside Lands. Over the course of the last two years K’Naan has played over 350 shows spanning five continents, recorded and released his debut outing, The Dusty Foot Philosopher. He has had the privilege of sharing the stage – as well as recording with – artists such as Mos Def, Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Talib Kweli, Amadou and Miriam and many more. These artists have publicly celebrated the relevance of his political poetry, live performance and purpose-driven mission.

K’Naan’s upcoming new album, Troubadour is armed with classic beats, live instrumentation and innovative rhymes. On it the artist carves a new path filled with eloquent and thought-provoking lyrics in the tradition of great folk singers and protest songs.

Tour Dates: 

Nov 26 2008 8:00P Harry O’s Park City, Utah
Nov 29 2008 8:00P Ogden Theatre Denver, Colorado
Nov 30 2008 8:00P Fox Theatre Boulder, Colorado
Dec 6 2008 8:00P Headliners Music Hall Louisville, Kentucky
Dec 7 2008 8:00P Cannery Ballroom Nashville, Tennessee
Dec 9 2008 8:00P The Blue Note Columbia, Missouri
Dec 11 2008 8:00P Bogart’s Cincinnati, Ohio
Dec 14 2008 8:00P House of Blues Cleveland, Ohio
Dec 16 2008 8:00P The Phoenix Concert Theatre Toronto
Dec 17 2008 8:00P Metropolis Montreal
Dec 18 2008 8:00P Higher Ground Ballroom South Burlington, Vermont 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw3U-HnrTqQ