HIP HOP RELEASE: K'naan - The Dusty Foot Philsopher Deluxe Edition

Global Hip Hop artist K'naan is set to release his critically acclaimed debut album, The Dusty Foot Philosopher, for the first time in the U.S. The Dusty Foot Philosopher Deluxe Version will be released by Bay Area record label, Interdependent Media on June 24 2008.

Originally released in Canada, the album received a Juno Award for Best Rap Recording of the Year and was the BBC 3 Winner for Best New Artist, World Music.

Using his ability to blend Western and African sounds, K'naan's album is a fusion of world music and Hip Hop that borrows from the protest songs of Bob Marley, the Hip Hop lyricism of Mos Def and the storytelling and tribal rhythms of Somalia.

The Deluxe Version of the album features newly mixed and recorded versions of three songs, a bonus track featuring M-1 from dead prez, new artwork and a bonus DVD. The DVD includes all the music videos from the album, a video introduction to K'naan and an episode of 4Real TV from Kenya hosted by K'naan.

Born in war-torn Somalia, a country that has not had a functioning government since 1991, K’naan’s family moved to Harlem after catching the last domestic flight out of Somalia, and eventually settled in Ontario, Canada.

On The Dusty Foot Philosopher K'naan writes about daily life in Somalia, the warlords that run his country and the scourge of violence that has blighted much of Africa. Despite the violence K'naan has experienced, his lyrics address the possibilities for positive change, on tracks such as Soobax and Until The Lion Learns To Speak.

Track & Field, the team that produced Nelly Furtado's five time Grammy nominated Whoa Nelly, handled the production on The Dusty Foot Philosopher. The critical acclaim K'naan received has led to tours with Mos Def, Nelly Furtado, The Roots, Damian Marley, dead prez, Pharoahe Monch, an appearance on Live 8 and production nods from Damian Marley.

Tracklist:

1. Wash It Down
2. Soobax
3. What's Hardcore?
4. My Old Home
5. Moment
6. I Was Stabbed By Satan
7. My God
8. Smile
9. If Rap Gets Jealous
10. The Dusty Foot Philosopher
11. Strugglin'
12. In The Beginning
13. Hoobale
14. The African Way Ft. Mwafrika
15. Voices In My Head
16. Boxing My Shadow
17. For Mohamoud (Soviet)
18. Until The Lion Learns To Speak
19. Blues For The Horn
20. Til We Get There