Fat Girls Get A Funky Personal Song From Sarah El Gohary "Ballouna"

Bless Sarah El Gohary's heart her indie song just got picked by a music record, and the best part the song is about big girl (aka fat ladies) An independent Egyptian singer, songwriter, composer. Popular for transforming real life experiences into original compositions.She does not like to judge people, and wants not to be judged. I like that she has so many songs, but her most famous song is about the most personal topic to the artist.

I love her sense of humor, she is undeterred and can take  a joke. She has a good spirit and seems bubbly, who likes her life and wants you to know. The nice way to call someone fat, I guess is to call them a balloon in Arabic and that's the title of the song by Sarah. She is about easy-going. The song goes, I might be a bit overweight, but my body has flexibility. Number 13 is my favorite number, I am stubborn a little, crazy, tender and a balloon.

Something tells me Sarah is up to date on American pop culture, she even likes Stewie from Family Guy. I like her indie soul, and the style of the song feels like a Sundanese music show we used to watch as a kid. Her followup song is made for the club hopper in you, and the dancer inside. Hear it below

سارة الجوهرى - بلونة / Sarah El Gohary - Ballouna

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Africa Has The Most Exciting World Cup Song In The History of The Game

Everyone wants to record a world cup song, in every language there are those songs....but here's an African one that spoke to me. It's upbeat, it makes you feel you are at some party with very loud and animated party goers. This is what should kick off the games. Not something about dreams.

While this may be a commercial, it's so inspiring for kids living in slums. The performers know what it takes and know how to deliver their verses. This is Africa, we make better music there. Forget anything they make in LA and New York, these kids in Africa know music and love soccer.

While Magic Systems hold their own, this Moroccan songwriter. Ahmed Chawki guy gives the song a unique blend. But I know why I love the song...RedOne is why. The song is produced by Swedish-Moroccan producer RedOne who has never disappointed his fans. On occasion of the 2014 World Cup, he was featured in a football-themed song "Magic in the Air" by Magic System, a hit in France and Belgium.
MAGIC SYSTEM - Magic In The Air Feat. Chawki (Clip Officiel)

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Listen: Pascale Machalani - Nabghek | باسكال مشعلاني - نبغيك #Algeria

Pascale Machalani has already filmed the music video for new song, she want a different route--the song is in Algerian dialect, a popular dialect yet inaccessible to many.

Pascale Machalani is working on her Gulf dialect album for that affluent market, where she will also sing in Iraqi. Not sure what Pascale Machalani has been up to, since her marriage and the baby she seems to have taken a sabbatical from her music career. I like the new track, it's actually, it's upbeat and offers a distinct flavor. 

Pascale Machalani - Nabghek | باسكال مشعلاني - نبغيك

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WATCH: @SamiraSaid 2013 | MAZAL TEASER | سميرة سعيد ٢٠١٣ | اعلان مازال

When the biggest Arab diva wants to make a comeback, (this is real one trust me), she went home. Moroccan diva Samira Said has not released a decent or perhaps any song since 2003. This year she has a Moroccan song and the world will meeting this song. As for now we have a teaser and it sounds fresh and Samira sounds at her finest. Thanks to her will, talent and the work of one young Moroccan talent  Mohsen Tizaf (From Al Fanayer Band)

I know I use the term diva a lot, but when I use it for Samira Said, she embodies the term and meets all clauses. While artists like Amr Diab make a new album every 18 months or so, Samira does not make them often enough, yet she is still famous, beloved and booked. As for the new song Mazal, we know the photo shoot for the song promo took 13 hours and there was an Egyptian photographer, a Tunisian makeup artist, and a Lebanese hairdresser.

Her Facebook now says this:

After months of preparation, deliberation and auditing .. As Usual #TheDiva #SamiraSaid is not satisfied unless its beauty through perfection.. So it was a long absence, and as usual a result worth the wait. ?How do you imagine The Diva come back this time  

This is a comeback we all have been waiting for, and I know her fans in the Arab World, and especially Morocco are cannot wait to hear the full track. The teaser is already the talk of town, imagine how much the full song will be talked about?

When you think about Samira, consider this, my older siblings, myself and our younger siblings know her work and enjoy it to the max. So, she got no worries about the age demographics. Moroccan songs are exotic to many Arabs, so she will win that race.

Team Samira has done all the right steps to make sure her comeback is something millions are looking forward to.

WATCH:  SAMIRA SAID 2013 | MAZAL TEASER | سميرة سعيد ٢٠١٣ | اعلان مازال

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Downaload: Best of Cheb Mami 2013 Album

There was once a legend in the making, an Algerian pop star whose fame was global, and he got to release a song with Sting. This is Cheb Mami and he is out seeking redemption and revival of his career after serving time in a French prison on charges of assault on his then pregnant girlfriend.

I hope all of  this is behind him and pray he still have that Rai voice that has entertained millions around the globe. Now, we have a new album form Cheb Mami and it's in both French and Arabic, I am impressed by how fresh those tracks are and how hard Cheb Mami is working to revive his music career.

There are Algerian themes as well as African flavors to this album.'the album surprise is the duet with Iraqi singer Kathem Al Saher--this is an old track that was never officially released. There are eight tracks with high production value and mastered to perfection by world-class studios reserved of the likes of Mami.

On this link, you can download the audio via YouTube.

Cheb Mami 2013 Yak Nta Wald Sahra


Cheb Mami 2013 Noudou Maana



Algérie : Cheb Mami ( Fikhater L'ahbab.... Newest31

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Hamza Namira Dares #Egypt To Dream Together

Right before he was a household name, Hamza was a shy boy who liked to write music as he looked over the sea. His 2009 was picked by so many people, because he dared them to dream. He also wrote most of the music for his album.

Then in 2011 it was an entire ball game he hit the big times, and his album was produced in both Egypt and Turkey. And then he toured Europe performing and reminding people can still make music that's not pop. Hamza performs on all those stage like the super skilled musician he is. He is one of the few indie names who are actually as good of a performer as he is a musician.



Hamza Namira - 7afla - - حمزة نمرة حفلة اغنية احلم معايا

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Shamandora, Mohamed Mouner King Of Live Music

Mohamed Mouner does concerts different. his understanding of live performances is close of the Western one, it's not just a guy or a girl with a mike and some nobody in the back making noise. It's a complete show. This might be partially due to his African affinity.

Dance and music made by local instruments make up the show, a different flavor that people flock to attend. Unlike many singers whose idea of concert is some cute outfit--a a pair of jeans and open shirts. He does live music on the spot. That maneas no lip synching.

That's why Mouner is a big ticket in places outside Arabia, he gets it. He works hard to connect with the people at the venue. He is loose that way...and thus his music comes unforced. This concert was filmed in 2003, in Europe.
Shamandora - Mohamed Mouner شمندوره - حفلة - محمد منير

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"When James Brown Sang In Arabic "Leila / حكيم و جيمس براون - ليلة

Hakim is cool enough that he shared the stage with James Brown once, not too many Arab or international stars have had this honor. The Egyptian party firecracker and well rounded singer has not been making music for some times now, but he is not out. However, he does not seem to want to reclaim his center stage status among many stars who have followed in his footsteps.

One more thing, Hakim had also performed in Central Park in the heart of New York City. He is an icon in  North African music, with fanfare the star  nicknamed the Lion of Egypt, at Central Park Summer Stage. Why? He is still the "king of shaabi music," referring to his rhythmic street pop. New York is filled with many young Egyptians whose quite ways are helping to rebuild an economy.

Hakim music tends to combine traditional instruments and folkloric melodies with urban dance beats and a propulsive contemporary vocal style; it emerged in the late 60s. Thanks to his American producer, Miles Copeland who had him singing duets with everyone from James Brown to Latin pop diva Olga Tañon, but today he's once again without a Western label.

Hakim is a proponent of cross-cultural unity. He was one of the first artists to update traditional shaabi with electric instruments, and he has collaborated with Western artists. Fittingly, the highlight of this thoroughly enjoyable show was "Ah Ya Albi," a duet with the Dominican-American R&B singer Karina Pasian. (The Puerto Rican vocalist Olga Tañon sang the original recorded version.)

Some of Hakim's music is disagreeably slick or driven by distractedly huge programmed beats, but his voice and his pop-star charisma can outshine the glossiest arrangements—and in his live shows he strips away much of the studio lacquer.

Hakim & James Brown - Leila / حكيم و جيمس براون - ليلة


Hakim - Aal Beyhebbeny / حكيم - قال بيحبني

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9 Key insights from the Awakening Talent Record Contest

Don't Forget To Vote, there are 32 talents who await your support. They hope to be on the third phase, the more you watch, the more you learn. If you did not qualify, keep going, it might be a good thing to be redirected some place else. As for the viewers, there are some videos one has to watch, make sure the ones whom he approve of get your vote. 

Fact #1: YouTube Views:

More than 1,500,000 views to submitted videos/playlists.

By end of contest @ July, we expect reaching more than 3 Million views since the newly uploaded top 32 videos are about to receive total 250,000 views this week:

Link 

Fact #2: Gender:

We received 120 videos for female applicants (15.9%)

We received 635 videos for male applicants (84.1%)

Fact #3: Countries:

We received videos from 66 countries (from all the continents) including South Korea, Singapore, Bolivia, Austria, Netherlands, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Oman, Mauritius, Turkmenistan and Australia:

Afghanistan

Algeria

Arakan

Australia

Austria

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Belgium

Bolivia

Bosnia and Herzegovnia

Brunei

Burma

Canada

Denmark

Egypt

Eritrea

Ethiopia

France

Germany

Ghana

India

Indonesia

Iraq

Italy

Ivory Coast

Jordan

Kenya

Kosovo

KSA

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Lebanon

Libya

Malaysia

Mauritius

Mecedonia

Morocco

Netherlands

New Zealand

Nigeria

Oman

Pakistan

Palestine

Philippines

Qatar

Romania

Russia

Singapore

Somalia

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

Sri Lanka

Sudan

Sweden

Syria

Tajikistan

Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Turkey

Turkmenistan

UAE

UK

USA

Uzbekestan

Yemen

Percentage and Video Count

1. UK 45 videos (5.9%)
2. USA 52 videos (6.9%)
3. Canada 25 videos (3.4%)
4. Other EU 44 videos (5.8%) including NZ & AU
5. Turkey 14 videos (1.9%)
6. Egypt 166 videos (21.9%) Go Egypt
7. Morocco 85 videos (11.3%)
8. Algeria 17 videos (2.3%)
9. Gulf 29 videos (3.8%) excluding Yemen & Iraq
10. Other Arabs 85 videos (11.3%)
11. Malaysia 39 videos (5.2%)
12. Indonesia 68 videos (9%)

Fact #4: Jobs:

We received videos from people working for 102 different jobs including truck driver, air traffic controller, Ph.D student, lecturer, Master student, civil engineer, banker, barber, university student, housekeeper, dentist, vocalist, draftsman, painter, photographer, business owner, economist, etc.

Accountant

Administrator

Aeronautics specialist

Agricultural Engineer

Air Traffic Controller

Airplances Technician

Architect

Assistant Engineer

Banker

Barber

Biologist

Biomedical Engineer

Business Director

Businessman

Civil Engineer

Composer

Computer Engineer

Truck Driver

Contractor

Copywriter

Creative Director

Data processing specialist

Decor artist

Dentist

Doctor

Draftsman

Economist

Electrical Engineer

Electrician

Electronics & Communications Engineer

employee

Entrepreneur

Event Manager

Financial Clerk

Financial Service Consultant

Football player

Foreign Service Officer

Geograpghics Technician

Graphic Designer

Guitar player

Health specialist

Housekeeper

HR specialist

Industrial Engineer

Inspector

Interior designer

IT Analyst

IT Consultant

IT engineer

IT Manager

IT specialist

Lawyer

Lecturer

Marketing Manager

Master student

Mechanical Engineer

Media specialist

Merchant

Mother

Music teacher

Musician

Network specialist

NGO employee

NGO voulanteer

Nurse

Optics specialist

Painter

Ph.D Student

Pharmacist

Photographer

Power station operator

Psychologist

Purchasing Manager

Quran Recitor

Research assistant

Researcher

Sales Manager

Sales rep

School student

Secretary

Security Guard

Self employed

Singer

Software developer

Software engineer

Songwriter

Stylist

System Engineer

Teacher

Technical support specialist

Technician

Traffic Engineer

Trainer

TV Director

Unemployed

University Student

Video producer

Vocalist

Web developer

Worker

Writer

Fact #5: Applicants were singing for:

Awakening Records' Artists = 348 videos (46.1%)

Applicants with self-composed/written songs: 63 videos (8.3%)

Remaining contestants were singing for other artists

Fact #6: Applicants that their YouTube channels have only their submitted video (New YouTube Users):

424 videos (56.2%)

Fact # 7: Singing Languages:

English: 339 videos (44.9%).

Arabic: 397 videos (52.6%)

Fact # 8: Age groups

Average age of the 755 applicants: 21.4 years

Youngest contestant: 7 years from UK:

Eldest contestant: 53 (Removed his video now)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C2VFij4Zjk&list=PLoagsPg26SY61oEdt9FleW_AQRt-Fvjzn

Next eldest one: 50 years from USA:

Fact # 9: Website Visitors AwakeningStar.com till 13th of May:

Egypt 18.5%, Morocco 8.6%, USA 7.5%, KSA 7.3%, UK 6.2%, Malaysia 4.6%, Turkey 4.2%, Indonesia 3.8%, Jordan 5.6%, Canada 3.3%

Don't Forget To Vote, there are 32 talents who await your support. They hope to be on the third phase, the more you watch, the more you learn.

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Despite Clashes, Cairo International Film Festival Presses On

Violence no violence, the celebrities of the world ain't going to stop a party even if Cairo is on fire. The organizers wanted to party so they argued if we do not hold the Cairo Film Festival this year, we risk the event being taken out of the international film festivals agenda. They had to cancel it last year due to the brewing political and social climate.

So the 35th film festival saw the light despite the many hiccups it had--like the minister of culture forgetting his speech and a number of clashes few blocks away. More than fifty films were screened, certainly half of them did not have audience.  Few international filmmakers were present and you will see some of them speaking to the camera. North African cinema was alive and well in the film festival.

Joe Bou Eid won the best director category about his movie filmed in Beirut about his parents love story. and A French film won the best film.

cairo film closing 20121213

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The Arab Justin Timberlake Strikes Again--Wissam Hilal

"Last Goodbye" is the title of a new single from the super-talented pop sensation Wissam Hilal. The song is already getting a music video with director Robert Cremona and the track has been picked by a number of radios nationally and internationally on some of LA radios that BT entertainment taking care of and African and African-American radios.

The music video for his song was filmed in Beirut, his debut hit "Single" was filmed in Dubai where the artists is based yet he is on the move. What I like about Wissam how he sounds jut line one of the Jackson Five without coming across as he is imitating anyone. This explains the interest in his songs in places beyond the Arab World--try Kenya. It's a tough market, but his good work comes through and hits the mark.

Wissam Hilal is a naturally good looking guy who comes across as a charming person, and that is reflected into his songs allowing him to be a lot more personal and communicate different messages to his fans. To be frank, you listen to one of his songs when you are in a certain mood, then when your mood changes you still find something fresh about the second take.

The latest is Last Goodbye is a little darker than the breakout song, this is a plea from a man who lost something but tries to convince himself that by trying a little bit harder he can have this thing back. This mindset makes better songs, gets the most complicated of emotions to the listener's core. The new single is different a lot wiser than the previous track from Wissam.

The bad news is that the music industry needs a shot in the arm, but with little help Wissam was able to release great songs. I cannot wait to see what kind of hits he will be able to share with the world once the music industry figures itself out.

For the time being, non-Arabs in Dubai and the Arabs who like English songs are slowly embracing this very talented Arab Justin Timberlake! Wissam has the moves, the looks and the music savvy to entertain a global audience 

As for the music video it should air internationally around May.

pilipili fm Exclusive Wissam hilal - Last goodbye 31st March 2013 وسام هلال


Wissam Hilal - Single (official music video) وسام هلال

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FBI Adds ‘rapping jihadi’ To Terror Wanted Lafrist

America has ran out of terrorists to hunt, so they are zooming in another threat, the 'rapping jihadi" Rappers might not have friends everywhere, but now among their foes is none other than the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Somali rap group is now running for safety as uncle same guns for them.

The FBI said Wednesday it had added to its list of most wanted terrorists the American “rapping jihadi,” an operative for Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents who uses rap as a propaganda tool.

Omar Shafik Hammami, who was born in Alabama but is now thought to live in Somalia, is believed to be a senior leader of the Shebab rebels, who were placed on the US State Department’s terror blacklist in 2008. The group has “repeatedly threatened terrorist actions against America and American interests,” the Federal Bureau of Investigations said in a statement.

Also known as Abu Mansour al-Amriki, Hammami has been releasing rap songs in English on the Internet since 2009 as a recruitment tool, although music is forbidden in Al-Qaeda’s strict interpretation of Islam. In the songs, Hammami says he hopes to be killed by a drone strike or in a cruise missile attack so he can achieve martyrdom.

I hope he gets his wish met, and I hope his wish of dying will be delivering by a drone dressed like Santa.  He invites young people to join the jihad to and he encourages strikes against the US military in Afghanistan and Somalia. Hammami, who has been indicted in the United States on various terrorism charges, has been the subject of an international arrest warrant since 2007.

I do not get it, if those ultra-Orthodox Muslims outlaw singing, why is he still singing? And if he hates America so much, why does he take a different role than singing? And to the folks in the United States, rapping ain't no crime. Justtmake sure you get him for the other stuff not for making terrible rap songs. 

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Myriam Faris And The Algerian Flag Edition

The Lebanese bombshell Myriam Faris likes to hold flags and take pictures by them, this is her effort to get gigs and expand her reach inside Arab countries, she has done it before with the Saudi flag, now she is taking her flag business into Algeria as she wishes that country well on their celebration of the brave Algerian revolution.

One, this is nice of her to think of Algeria at this time. Second, she knows Algeria holds huge music festivals in many cities around that country. If you do not believe me, let's see Myraim holding the Palestinian, Somali Sudanese flag. That ain't gonna happen because those places do not have concerts of music festivals big enough to have a budget that afford the songstress.

Again, all my love to Algeria on this very special occasion that all Arabs are proud of. As for the bombastic entertainer, keep up the good work.

funny cartoon about Myriam Faris
  

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Video: Sudanese Jazz Live By Black Theama

Not sure if this qualify as African jazz or Egyptian jazz, but I am digging it. Black Theama, the band from southern Egypt has been working their acts for a long time. They have taken off because they are different, they are authentic and they know how to give the fans what they want.

Unlike many other bands, the trio makes local music with a mass appeal, they incorporate musical themes from around the globe, but never lose sight of what matters the most--home. Their songs are often simple with musical words and sounds, their music is often upbeat and their style is always smooth and easy flow.

While this concert was filmed in Cairo, where thousands of Sudanese live, the band performed it as if they were in downtown Khartoum.

بلاك تيما - دوبا دوبا

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Stream: Fatima Al Qadiri: The Oasis In Desert Strike

The Sengal native Fatima Al Qadiri is no stranger to war, she is one of a kind musician that always seems to be in a contact search for a better way to express war musically. Gunshots, and the whole nine yards. In a way she is so perfect to make music for our world in the virtual world of games where wars are popular. She is a video gamer herself.


Among the wars that have inspired Fatima to put into music is The First Gulf War "is a subject I've wanted to address for years," Al Qadiri writes over email. "I'm not a writer," she says, and couldn't write a memoir about her "experience as a child during the occupation of Kuwait and First Gulf War." But Desert Strike is a memoir nonetheless — "a sort of abstract audio memoir," she says. The music she creates is driven form her childhood memories yet geared toward those who like intercultural background music that stands form something.

The Desert Strike as her very own way of paying "homage to grime," but it's also a response: a masterful piece of work exploring the links between war and violence and representation and growing up. I know many speak about being citizens of the world, Fatima should be the president of that club. She lives and worked in New York City. Berlin, Dubai, Doha, London, Marrakesh, Kuwait City, Seoul, Milan, and other have seen her exhibitions and performances.

Fatima may rub some people the wrong way, she may even provoke some criticism for her work or the issues she chooses to highlight. I am unable to find much resources on her biography. something tells me that side of her life is off limits. All we have is her music which offers a lot of complexity on its own.      

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Laila Ghofran Form Music To A Restaurants!

Moroccans who make a home of Cairo are many, one particular one is singer Laila Ghogran, the blast from the past. While she cannot boast about her music career--trust me no one can at the moment. Laila can talk shop about her new business venture. She started an all Egyptian restaurant at her home in Morocco.

The right move is to hire real Egyptian chefs to create your menu. She seems to have been inspired to add the pharaoh's touch to her new eatery. This theme sells big with tourists and people who have been to Egypt  or have seen a Hollywood movie about it.

The idea is to allow the well to do people of Morocco to get a taste of the various Egyptian meals and treats.  This makes the first business adventure for the pop diva, and I hop it works out well. As at the opening she was posing with her staff and looking good.

Laila Ghofran - Shoflak Tareka

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All The Moroccan Songstresses: Baheejah Idrees

Another Moroccan pioneer in local music is a nice lady with the name Baheejah Idris "Bahijah Edrees" She is a songstress from the sixties era. She has done song sin Egyptian dialects too, so she made it a bit farther than her Moroccan peers at that time. She has retired from singing in the 80s and continues to be involved in a number of functions. Like her participation in a solidity with Palestine event

In a 2009 conference in the city of Rabat, Baheejah promised doing a song for Gaza in three languages at the event. When the attendees insisted on her she performed a bit of her song Achanah.
She has a dreamy voice that can sound like Najat Al Sagheera. She likes performing poems, like she did with Nizar Qabany's song "Get Angry" which was re-recorded by Asalah decades later.

بهيجة إدريس - الماء يجري قدامي


بهيجة إدريس - إغضب كما تشاء.

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Video: No One Bursts Akon's Bubble In Abu Dhabi

Americans hip hop, pop and R&B artist Akon wanted to give his fans in the Gulf's city Abu Dhabi's more than your average concert, and treat it was. Akon ha performed in other Arabic speaking countries before but no other Arab capital seen this before. The rapper bounced on top of his concert goers inside a gigantic clear bubble.

I gotta say, this must have been the most thrilling performance at that "Ya Salam" music festival in Abu Dhabi, the fans loved it and were on cloud nine as they get to come really close to the artist. His show took place on  November 1 and close to 100 thousand people were in attendance. I would have been worried about getting dizzy or worse throwing up, something Akon seems not to be worried about.

Akon was dancing, singing and living it up all for the enjoyment of those screaming fans who came from all over the world.

Akon entertained the attendant for an hour.  His act was followed by a performance by Tamer Hosny.     


Akon in Abu Dhabi 01 NOVEMBER 2012


P.S. I did not know that Akon is originally from the West African nation Senegal, a place he calls "Hometown". Only to move to New Jersey at age seven.

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The All Moroccan Songstress Naima Samih

Naima Samih is an icon in the world of Moroccan songs, she is one of its early pioneers. She entered the singing business when there was only men in that industry, she sang and impressed people. Thus she earned her stripes in this traditional society.  She had to struggle with the men of her family so lunch her career, she did start in the late sixties and flourished in the early seventies.

At first she sang with no music to avoid upsetting the religious folks as she was no in position to battle them. She owned the local Moroccan song and took it into new territories. The slower song is her shtick. Among her most known hits is Jarabit We Jareet a song that deserves to be heard by more people--no different that Warda or Mayada really.

She is a mixture of Arab and north African tribes, she continues to make music and live in a small town. She is a frequent guest in local music festivals.

نعيمه سميح - جريت و جاريت - توزيع جديد


Naima Samih _ Shofte L'Khatem * نعيمة سميح ـ شفت الخاتم وعجبني‏

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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

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