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K'NAAN

Data updated on 2025-07-13 09:41:28 UTC
Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, just as the civil unrest that rocked the country was beginning, rapper K'NAAN spent the early years of his life trying to avoid death and listening to the hip-hop records sent to him from America by his father, who had left Somalia earlier. When K'NAAN (whose name means "traveler" in Somali) was 13, he, his mother, and his two siblings were able to leave their homeland and join relatives in Harlem, where they stayed briefly before moving to Rexdale, Ontario, where there was a large Somali community. As soon as his English started improving he began rapping, and in tenth grade he dropped out of school and traveled around North America for two years, performing occasionally. Through his friendship with Sol Guy, part of promotion team Direct Current Media, K'NAAN was able to perform at the United Nations' 50th anniversary concert in 1999, held in Geneva, where he used his platform to publicly criticize the United Nations' handling of the Somali crisis in the 1990s. One of the audience members, Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, was so impressed by the young MC's performance and courage that he invited him to contribute to his 2001 album Building Bridges, a project through which K'NAAN was able to tour the world. In 2002, he met Jarvis Church, part of the Track and Field Productions team that helped propel Nelly Furtado to fame, a connection that eventually led to a record. The Dusty Foot Philosopher came out in Canada in 2005, and was followed with tour spots with Mos Def and Talib Kweli, as well as a performance at Live 8. In 2007, the live album On the Road appeared and then, two years later, the album Troubadour became K'NAAN's first for the major-label A&M. After his track "Wavin' Flag" became the anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, his More Beautiful Than Silence EP arrived in 2012. ~ Marisa Brown, Rovi

Genres

: reggae fusion

Total plays

879.2 million
Updated on 2025-07-13

Social media links

Facebook Instagram Twitter

Monthly listeners

4,954,535

Followers

295,187

Top Cities

  1. Peru
    Lima
    52,247 listeners
  2. Indonesia
    Jakarta
    41,087 listeners
  3. Chile
    Santiago
    43,395 listeners
  4. Colombia
    Bogotá
    41,740 listeners
  5. India
    Bengaluru
    41,106 listeners

Related artists

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Wavin' Flag - Celebration Mix
Wavin' Flag - Celebration Mix
250,945,785 3:33 2009-01-01
Bang Bang
Bang Bang
233,273,450 3:07 2009-01-01
Wavin' Flag
Wavin' Flag
109,634,829 3:30 2009-01-01
Bang Bang - New Version
Bang Bang - New Version
47,057,977 3:04 2009-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Spanish Celebration Mix
Wavin' Flag - Spanish Celebration Mix
45,370,236 3:52 2009-01-01
Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)
Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)
30,206,817 4:42 2016-11-11
Take A Minute
Take A Minute
26,498,345 4:07 2009-01-01
Is Anybody Out There?
Is Anybody Out There?
16,559,313 3:59 2012-01-01
Stop For A Minute
Stop For A Minute
16,376,861 4:07 2010-01-01
Summer Paradise (feat. K'naan)
Summer Paradise (feat. K'naan)
14,628,273 3:55 2011-06-14
Hurt Me Tomorrow
Hurt Me Tomorrow
11,682,392 3:48 2012-01-01
Tribes At War
Tribes At War
7,113,161 4:30 2010-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Black Chiney Remix
Wavin' Flag - Black Chiney Remix
6,852,031 3:45 2010-01-01
Africa Must Wake Up
Africa Must Wake Up
6,805,169 6:40 2010-01-01
ABC's
ABC's
4,395,354 3:16 2008-01-01
World Cry
World Cry
4,235,647 4:42 2011-01-01
Looking Back
Looking Back
3,392,888 3:46 2010-01-01
In The Beginning
In The Beginning
3,282,969 3:22 2006-01-01
America
America
2,914,113 4:46 2009-01-01
In The Beginning
In The Beginning
1,929,605 3:16 2007-01-01
Fatima
Fatima
1,768,205 5:02 2009-01-01
If Rap Gets Jealous
If Rap Gets Jealous
1,695,747 3:38 2009-01-01
Somalia
Somalia
1,436,728 3:34 2009-01-01
Earth From Outer Space
Earth From Outer Space
1,244,552 3:51 2013-01-01
T.I.A.
T.I.A.
1,221,470 3:38 2009-01-01
I Come Prepared
I Come Prepared
1,178,773 4:09 2009-01-01
Nothing To Lose
Nothing To Lose
1,169,804 3:57 2012-01-01
The Seed
The Seed
1,151,201 3:36 2012-01-01
People Like Me
People Like Me
1,093,251 6:17 2009-01-01
Better
Better
1,062,239 3:16 2012-01-01
Africa (feat. K'NAAN)
Africa (feat. K'NAAN)
957,771 3:48 2008-11-17
TV In The Radio
TV In The Radio
944,793 3:21 2009-01-01
Dreamer
Dreamer
939,519 4:32 2009-01-01
Fire In Freetown
Fire In Freetown
907,228 4:37 2009-01-01
Strugglin'
Strugglin'
879,762 3:35 2006-01-01
15 Minutes Away
15 Minutes Away
852,766 4:56 2009-01-01
Soobax
Soobax
851,187 3:42 2006-01-01
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
771,122 3:56 2006-01-01
Gold In Timbuktu
Gold In Timbuktu
747,766 4:34 2012-01-01
Waiting Is A Drug
Waiting Is A Drug
700,552 3:18 2012-01-01
70 Excuses
70 Excuses
681,042 4:11 2012-01-01
L'arme de paix
L'arme de paix
662,712 4:29 2009-03-23
The Sound Of My Breaking Heart
The Sound Of My Breaking Heart
649,372 3:50 2012-01-01
Bulletproof Pride
Bulletproof Pride
626,967 4:43 2012-01-01
The Wall
The Wall
563,745 4:27 2012-01-01
Tamatant Tilay / Exodus (feat. Tinariwen, K'naan, & Los Lobos)
Tamatant Tilay / Exodus (feat. Tinariwen, K'naan, & Los Lobos)
504,759 4:45 2009-01-01
Simple
Simple
474,756 3:27 2012-01-01
Smile
Smile
443,574 4:03 2006-01-01
Sleep When We Die
Sleep When We Die
425,770 3:60 2012-01-01
Til We Get There
Til We Get There
425,117 4:26 2006-01-01
With God On Our Side
With God On Our Side
416,236 3:39 2012-01-24
Alone
Alone
367,165 3:49 2012-01-01
Mecca
Mecca
362,098 2:55 2012-07-10
If Rap Gets Jealous
If Rap Gets Jealous
334,820 4:18 2006-01-01
I Was Stabbed By Satan
I Was Stabbed By Satan
307,384 3:52 2006-01-01
What's Hardcore?
What's Hardcore?
285,924 3:36 2006-01-01
We OK
We OK
285,782 4:36 2012-07-16
On The Other Side
On The Other Side
282,606 4:28 2012-01-01
Somalia Somali Baa Leh
Somalia Somali Baa Leh
270,857 4:32 2021-12-19
Does It Really Matter
Does It Really Matter
256,113 3:54 2009-01-01
More Beautiful Than Silence
More Beautiful Than Silence
255,622 3:53 2012-01-01
Wavin' Flag
Wavin' Flag
254,040 3:41 2009-01-01
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
250,793 2:28 2006-01-01
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Bob Sinclar Remix Radio Edit
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Bob Sinclar Remix Radio Edit
240,295 3:20 2010-06-07
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
234,998 3:39 2010-01-01
Hoobaale
Hoobaale
222,957 5:05 2006-01-01
Strugglin'
Strugglin'
211,149 3:38 2007-01-01
Smile
Smile
210,007 4:09 2007-01-01
Voices In My Head
Voices In My Head
192,067 4:00 2006-01-01
Soobax
Soobax
182,345 4:25 2007-01-01
Boxing My Shadow
Boxing My Shadow
180,052 4:29 2006-01-01
My Old Home
My Old Home
174,831 3:07 2006-01-01
The African Way (featuring Mwafrika)
The African Way (featuring Mwafrika)
166,800 4:21 2006-01-01
Wash It Down
Wash It Down
164,099 2:17 2006-01-01
Be Free
Be Free
163,711 3:53 2007-01-01
Stop For A Minute - Beatnick & K-Salaam Remix
Stop For A Minute - Beatnick & K-Salaam Remix
147,915 4:26 2010-01-01
Blues For The Horn
Blues For The Horn
140,765 5:60 2006-01-01
Wavin' Flag - 2010 JUNO Awards
Wavin' Flag - 2010 JUNO Awards
136,851 5:21 2010-01-01
What's Hardcore?
What's Hardcore?
131,544 2:52 2007-01-01
What's Hardcore - Live In Paris
What's Hardcore - Live In Paris
131,544 2:52 2007-01-01
Is Anybody Out There? - Cutmore Club Mix
Is Anybody Out There? - Cutmore Club Mix
130,677 6:03 2012-01-01
Nothing To Lose - Remix
Nothing To Lose - Remix
126,935 3:57 2012-01-01
The African Way
The African Way
121,628 4:45 2007-01-01
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
105,995 2:15 2007-01-01
Is Anybody Out There? - Richard Dinsdale Club Mix
Is Anybody Out There? - Richard Dinsdale Club Mix
104,620 7:43 2012-01-01
Refugee
Refugee
103,905 4:12 2023-06-20
Wash It Down
Wash It Down
103,803 2:43 2007-01-01
Voices In My Head
Voices In My Head
90,781 2:53 2007-01-01
Think of All the Things
Think of All the Things
88,213 4:03 2009-09-15
For Mohamoud (Soviet)
For Mohamoud (Soviet)
83,775 0:32 2006-01-01
My God feat. Mos Def
My God feat. Mos Def
80,059 4:51 2007-01-01
旗开得胜
旗开得胜
77,029 3:41 2010-01-01
By The End Of The Day
By The End Of The Day
76,729 2:12 2007-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Japan Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
Wavin' Flag - Japan Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
62,252 3:39 2010-01-01
Bang Bang - Live From Montreal
Bang Bang - Live From Montreal
58,012 3:20 2010-01-01
Belly Full - J.PERIOD Remix
Belly Full - J.PERIOD Remix
50,449 4:40 2020-01-31
Hip Hop Nation
Hip Hop Nation
46,383 4:31 2019-05-10
Coming To America
Coming To America
43,032 4:03 2012-01-01
Is It A Myth?
Is It A Myth?
40,081 3:33 2007-01-01
Strugglin'
Strugglin'
37,097 4:26 2006-01-01
Is It A Myth? - Live In Djibouti
Is It A Myth? - Live In Djibouti
35,152 3:20 2007-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Black Chiney Remix Instrumental
Wavin' Flag - Black Chiney Remix Instrumental
33,789 3:40 2010-01-01
Refugee - Radio Edit
Refugee - Radio Edit
24,953 3:47 2023-06-20
Ololufemi
Ololufemi
23,506 3:60 2009-11-24
Dreamer - Live From Montreal
Dreamer - Live From Montreal
22,760 1:29 2010-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
22,295 4:21 2010-01-01
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Radioclit Remix
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Radioclit Remix
22,196 3:23 2010-06-07
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix Instrumental
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix Instrumental
18,077 3:39 2010-01-01
Is Anybody Out There? - Cutmore Radio Edit
Is Anybody Out There? - Cutmore Radio Edit
17,090 3:28 2012-01-01
Give It up Today (If We Ruled the World) [feat. K'naan, Tink & Yasiin Bey]
Give It up Today (If We Ruled the World) [feat. K'naan, Tink & Yasiin Bey]
17,079 4:14 2016-02-16
I Was Stabbed by Satan
I Was Stabbed by Satan
16,859 3:50 2006-01-01
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Bob Sinclar Remix Club Edit
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Bob Sinclar Remix Club Edit
15,445 6:17 2010-06-07
Dusty Streets
Dusty Streets
13,685 3:38 2009-01-01
Is Anybody Out There? - MYNC Club Mix
Is Anybody Out There? - MYNC Club Mix
13,229 6:23 2012-01-01
Each Tear
Each Tear
11,285 4:18 2010-01-01
Bang Bang - New Version - Instrumental
Bang Bang - New Version - Instrumental
10,294 3:04 2010-01-01
Wash It Down
Wash It Down
9,534 2:15 2006-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Instrumental
Wavin' Flag - Instrumental
8,271 3:40 2010-01-01
A Country Called Somalia - Live From Montreal
A Country Called Somalia - Live From Montreal
7,837 2:04 2010-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Live From Montreal
Wavin' Flag - Live From Montreal
6,966 6:42 2010-01-01
Bang Bang - The Euphonix Remix
Bang Bang - The Euphonix Remix
6,228 3:31 2010-01-01
Take A Minute - Live From Montreal
Take A Minute - Live From Montreal
5,666 3:48 2010-01-01
The Slums
The Slums
5,590 4:31 2016-03-04
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
5,359 8:55 2006-01-01
ABC's - Remix
ABC's - Remix
5,342 3:09 2008-01-01
Biscuit
Biscuit
5,265 3:49 2010-01-01
Fatima - Live From Montreal
Fatima - Live From Montreal
5,044 4:16 2010-01-01
Fire In Freetown - Live From Montreal
Fire In Freetown - Live From Montreal
4,440 3:55 2010-01-01
If Rap Gets Jealous - Live From Montreal
If Rap Gets Jealous - Live From Montreal
3,866 3:54 2010-01-01
Take A Minute - Live iheartradio performance
Take A Minute - Live iheartradio performance
3,323 8:05 2010-01-01
Somalia - Live From Montreal
Somalia - Live From Montreal
2,908 4:10 2010-01-01
Bang Bang - The Euphonix Remix - Instrumental
Bang Bang - The Euphonix Remix - Instrumental
2,616 3:32 2010-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Live iheartradio performance
Wavin' Flag - Live iheartradio performance
2,248 4:43 2010-01-01
Moment (Interlude)
Moment (Interlude)
< 1000 0:10 2006-01-01
My God (Interlude)
My God (Interlude)
< 1000 0:23 2006-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Live Orange Monkey Session
Wavin' Flag - Live Orange Monkey Session
< 1000 4:18 2010-01-01
Bang Bang - Live Orange Monkey Session
Bang Bang - Live Orange Monkey Session
< 1000 3:00 2010-01-01
Stop For A Minute - Kwes./[o=o]. Rework
Stop For A Minute - Kwes./[o=o]. Rework
< 1000 4:42 2010-01-01

New releases

Refugee
Refugee
2023-06-20
[K’naan]
Is Anybody Out There? (Richard Dinsdale Club Mix)
Is Anybody Out There? (Richard Dinsdale Club Mix)
2012-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Hurt Me Tomorrow
Hurt Me Tomorrow
2012-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
More Beautiful Than Silence
More Beautiful Than Silence
2012-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Is Anybody Out There?
Is Anybody Out There?
2012-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Is Anybody Out There?
Is Anybody Out There?
2012-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Country, God Or The Girl
Country, God Or The Girl
2012-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Country, God Or The Girl (Deluxe)
Country, God Or The Girl (Deluxe)
2012-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Country, God Or The Girl
Country, God Or The Girl
2012-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Nothing To Lose
Nothing To Lose
2012-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Country, God Or The Girl (Deluxe)
Country, God Or The Girl (Deluxe)
2012-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Wavin' Flag (Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix)
Wavin' Flag (Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
梦想--旗开得胜2010南非世界杯决战之歌
梦想--旗开得胜2010南非世界杯决战之歌
2010-01-01
[Go East Music Entertainment Consulting Limited]
Troubadour Sampler (UK We7 Version)
Troubadour Sampler (UK We7 Version)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Bang Bang (International Version)
Bang Bang (International Version)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Bang Bang (UK Version)
Bang Bang (UK Version)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Wavin' Flag (Celebration Mix)
Wavin' Flag (Celebration Mix)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Wavin' Flag (Celebration Mix)
Wavin' Flag (Celebration Mix)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Wavin' Flag (German Version - Celebration Mix)
Wavin' Flag (German Version - Celebration Mix)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Wavin' Flag (Orange Monkey Version)
Wavin' Flag (Orange Monkey Version)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
旗开得胜
旗开得胜
2010-01-01
[Go East Music Entertainment Consulting Limited]
Orange Monkey Live Session
Orange Monkey Live Session
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour Sampler (UK Spotify Version)
Troubadour Sampler (UK Spotify Version)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour
Troubadour
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (Explicit Version)
Troubadour (Explicit Version)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (Explicit Version)
Troubadour (Explicit Version)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (Edited Version)
Troubadour (Edited Version)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Español)
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Español)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Wavin' Flag (UK Version)
Wavin' Flag (UK Version)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Wavin' Flag (2010 JUNO Awards)
Wavin' Flag (2010 JUNO Awards)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Japan Version)
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Japan Version)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Take A Minute (Live) / Wavin’ Flag (Live) [Digital 45]
Take A Minute (Live) / Wavin’ Flag (Live) [Digital 45]
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Wavin' Flag (International Version Celebration Mix)
Wavin' Flag (International Version Celebration Mix)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Wavin' Flag (International Version Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix)
Wavin' Flag (International Version Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Wavin' Flag (UK Celebration Mix)
Wavin' Flag (UK Celebration Mix)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
iTunes Live From Montreal (Canada Version)
iTunes Live From Montreal (Canada Version)
2010-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour
Troubadour
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour
Troubadour
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour
Troubadour
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (Champion Edition)
Troubadour (Champion Edition)
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (Champion Edition - French Version)
Troubadour (Champion Edition - French Version)
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Repackage)
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Repackage)
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Español Repackage)
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Español Repackage)
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Asian Version)
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Asian Version)
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour [International Version (Explicit)]
Troubadour [International Version (Explicit)]
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Dusty Streets
Dusty Streets
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Asian Version)
Troubadour (Champion Edition - Asian Version)
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour
Troubadour
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour
Troubadour
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
Troubadour (France Alternate Version)
Troubadour (France Alternate Version)
2009-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
ABC's
ABC's
2008-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
ABC's
ABC's
2008-01-01
[Interscope Records*]
The Dusty Foot On The Road
The Dusty Foot On The Road
2007-01-01
[Wrasse Records Ltd.]
The Dusty Foot on the Road
The Dusty Foot on the Road
2007-01-01
[Interdependent Media]
The Dusty Foot On The Road
The Dusty Foot On The Road
2007-01-01
[Interdependent Media / iM Culture]
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
2006-08-01
[Sony Music Canada]
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
2006-01-01
[Interdependent Media]
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
2006-01-01
[Fontana South]
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
2006-01-01
[Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd.]