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Unfortunately, this big-tent spirit also occasionally dilutes some of the elements that made K'naan's debut so striking.
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Troubadour is thoroughly enjoyable and immediately accessible. It is not as emotionally powerful as its predecessor, but it does continue to show a talented artist that isn’t afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve.
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His richly detailed rhymes are part of a more pop-centric stew, and the special guests (Mos Def, Damian Marley, Maroon 5's Adam Levine) make the recipe seem a little overcooked.
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Troubadour, the Somali-born artist's follow-up to his great debut, is a smart fusion of influences.
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Those elements ring so true for K’naan that it feels like a distraction when he turns to high-profile guests like the Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett (on 'If Rap Gets Jealous') and the Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine (on 'Bang Bang').
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Like M.I.A.'s two CDs, Troubadour is Westernized but never compromises its heritage.
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Whether he’s lamenting immigration hassles or imagining himself a depressed American kid fighting in Iraq, this Muslim fan of Biggie and Bruce Lee has a common touch. He’s a universal soldier, not an exotic novelty.
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FilterK'Naan is one of the realest cats going, and although Troubadour feels somewhat derivative, you should at least agree when he notes, "It's OK to feel good." [Holiday 2008, p.100]
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K'Naan's singular take on the parallels between Africa and America is the strongest thread running through this diverse, socially alert and frequently brilliant sophomore disc.
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Musically, it has only a few elements, but are arranged well, a simplicity the lesser often veer into undeveloped blandness.
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After what K'naan has been through, bless him for trying--the ebullience he extracts from a life much tougher than North Americans can know is worthy of soukous, mbaqanga, the highlife of Ghana's most punishing inflationary spiral.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 27 out of 29
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Mixed: 0 out of 29
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Negative: 2 out of 29
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Jan 10, 2016
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Nov 15, 2010
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NedoMar 12, 2009