K'NAAN Vanity Fair Artist Feature Profile Regarding World Cup, Somali & Music

(main photo by & courtesy of Piet Suess)

On adolescent life in Mogadishu. It had its positives. The physical nature of the country, it’s a really beautiful place. All the people, the culture and your own language and your family—the valuable things. Eventually, it was the war. Of course, like war does, it ruins those things. We lived in a time of turmoil. We lost people. Eventually, we were fortunate to get out on one of the last commercial flights to leave the country, and we came to New York City.

How his years in Mogadishu shaped his music. I wrote a lot about those experiences as a form of therapy. They were the kinds of songs that I had to get out. Not the kinds of songs that you had to create and search for.

On what “Wavin’ Flag” says to him about Somalia and Africa as a whole. When I sing “Born to a throne/stronger than Rome/but Violent prone/poor people zone,” it says a lot about the state of the continent in general. The former glory that everyone attributes to Africa, its accomplishments, its enlightenments, and ancient traditions—that is great, but where are we now? It’s all that we’ve been, so what are we now?

On Africa’s first-ever World Cup and what it means to South Africa and the continent. It’s a huge matter of African pride. To a lot of people on the continent, it's a moment of recognition and solidarity between them. The world gets to experience African people on their own continent, which is a really nice moment for South Africa.

On his first trip back to Somalia since he left. It was everything Somalia is: Complicated, beautiful, amazing, and dangerous all at the same time. (source)

K'NAAN |MTV Music

K'naan Guardian UK Newspaper Feature Story & Interview

The Somali-born rapper K'naan arrives at the K West, the west London hotel much loved by today's rock stars looking half the part: hip-hop fly in his cardigan but also shy, fresh from shooting a video with the band Keane, prepping himself for a wearying flight out of Heathrow to Mozambique. He is on the cusp of global recognition now that his song "Wavin' Flag" has been chosen (by sponsors Coca-Cola) as the official anthem of this summer's World Cup in South Africa. It's an uplifting song which "fits their theme of trying to see the positive in people, and the positive in Africa", he says; but it's a surprising choice, too, not simply because it demonstrates considerable good taste on the part of Coca-Cola, but because K'naan himself is not the most obvious poster boy for such an event.

K'naan is 31 and reaching a far wider audience than he ever imagined possible. The video he's been making with Keane marks his appearance as a guest on their new EP ("He's just ultra cool," says their singer Tom Chaplin. "Very down to earth, as well as being just an incredible wordsmith."); recently, Jay-Z came to one of his concerts, and later emailed to say of "Wavin' Flag", "Congratulations, you just made an anthem for a generation."

Nonetheless, there is still a huge vulnerability to him. "I'm an optimist about other people," he says to me at one point. "I'm not an optimist about myself. Before I went to Somalia last year I didn't know if I could write another album.

Read the full article here:
Guardian UK - K'naan: 'My success is their success'

Konvict Music Signs First African Artist To Music Label

via Ameyaw Debrah

Hiplife artist Sarkodie has been making a lot of headlines in recent times concerning his signing of a deal that would see him join world class artists on one of the fastest growing music labels in the world, Konvict Music. On Saturday January 6, Konvict Music Africa made it official by outdooring the fastest rapper in Ghana as the proud new signee on a label that seeks to tap into the rich and diverse music talent that Africa has, and projecting or promoting these talents to an international audience.

Answering questions from the press, Babs the President of Konvict International assured Ghanaians that the deal is real and together with the Konvict Music brand, he would make an international artist out of Sarkodie without changing too much about the artist. Babs cited the challenges of doing music in Africa and promoting it in the international market; with particular mention of the lack of support from fellow Ghanaians.

Sarkodie on his part said he was excited about the potentials of the record deal and hoped that everything would turn out right. He said that he has no doubts about Babs, and all he can do is to wait patiently believing that Konvict Music Africa would help him to achieve his dreams. It is however not clear whether Konvict Music Africa was or would be involved in the production of Sarkodie’s sophomore album, ‘Rapaholic’, which is set for release soon.

According Babs, who is a US-based Ghanaian entrepreneur responsible for the success story of Fubu Jeans and other businesses across Europe and America, Duncwills Entertainment, headed by ace radio presenter Dr Duncan remains as the managing label for Sarkodie. Babs was however quick to add that if the business of Duncwillls Entertainment hinders the business of Konvict Music Africa in any way with respects to Sarkodie, he would not hesitate to stop working with the label. According to Babs, Konvict Music Africa would operate in South Africa and Nigeria where their music industry is better structured.

Julius Ossom, A&R for Konvict Music Africa and also the publisher of Ghanamixtapes.com, hinted of an upcoming music seminar that would educate musicians and industry players about how to make the sector grow. The seminar would also serve as an opportunity to discover more talents for Konvict Music Africa.

Photos from the press conference here:
Konvict Music: Sarkodie signing press conference

Ludacris Performs 'How Low' In Nigeria

Performed at Nigeria's Star Mega Jam 2009 concert in Abuja from Ludacris' forthcoming album 'Battle of the Sexes.'