K'naan Takes It To The Bank

12/16/05 12:00pm

by Mike Armitage (CHARTattack)

The following interview with Toronto-based hip-hop artist K'naan was conducted over his mobile phone while he waited in line at the bank. It was a symbolic moment because K'naan's talent as an MC is starting to pay off.

In 2005, he raised his profile among hip-hop's elite with appearances at Live 8 and a U.S. tour with Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Not bad for a kid who left Somalia at age 13 and built his career in arguably the most violent neighbourhoods in the world. Unfortunately, even celebrity and fame doen't earn preferential treatment at the bank...

Hi there.
K'naan: Hi. I'm in line at a bank. So I might have to cut you off for a second.

OK. What kind of a year has 2005 been like for you?
It's been really eye-opening for me. And fulfilling as the band has been touring all these places and interesting venues — getting the message to people and people are responding.

What kind of message?
The Somali struggle has not been something people think about or the media exposes — and that is a tragedy. That was the point for me was to try to create a new kind of idea around that. They are a passionate people, they are a poetic people; nonetheless a struggling people.

How have you helped?
An elder from the community came to me and said, "Thank you for the mass therapy you have conducted in your music and your performances." It's important for me to do that.

What is your biggest highlight?
The Calgary Folk Festival.

Why?
We played with Buck 65 and Arrested Development and Hawksley Workman all on the same day and that was a nice moment.

What about Live 8?
It was good, but it was not my highlight. There were just a lot of people. The sheer number was something to reflect on — being in this sea of people and performing to them and getting some relevant sound across. But it wasn't the biggest thing for me.

What's it like getting compliments from Mos Def and Talib Kweli?
It's amazing. You are the hero of your heroes. That's a nice moment in life. Especially the respect they have for an art and the kind of respect Mos Def has for my music.

What do you connect on?
Philosophy, sound, the need for a dignified aspect of presenting Africa. [Suddenly, K'naan excuses himself to speak with the bank teller. Through the muffled phone, he is arguing with the teller who refuses to accept K'naan's I.D. in order to complete the transaction. He continues to press his point, asking for the teller's explanation in writing. She refuses. A manager speaks. More arguing. More shuffling sounds... Despite his best efforts, he wasn't allowed to make his transaction. Fifteen minutes later, the interview continues...]

You OK?
I hate banks, man! Oh lord, honest to God, this is one of the most insulting things on your spirit. It keeps me reminded that I'm not really a citizen. Something always happens to remind me that, "Hey, you are black!" And I'm reminded of this all the time [by] a bank... This is probably the fourth time this is happening!

Banks suck.
But they are afraid to put [their reason for refusing service] in writing because they know it will be critiqued. Because, they think they can say it to some black dude and it will disappear — but I am not the kind of guy to disappear.
[pause] I'm sorry about that — I just hate them.

So... have you changed since you've become more popular?
Not much has changed about me. I think a lot has changed with people and their perception of me. Before I was this guy who has this weird flag that he waves around. It's his own little world and his own very personal struggle. And no one was really listening to that. And now they know how to pronounce my name.

A lot of journalists say you know real violence because you grew up in Somalia. That you actually have credibility with real gangsters and actual warlords. How do you feel about that?
That's a very funny thing. I read about that too. Journalists are often very obsessed with the idea of a glorification of violence — although they tend to dislike hip-hop artists who glorify violence — they themselves do the same thing... I think it is funny; I think it is hypocritical and the hypocrisy needs to be addressed.

But you certainly know violence...
My knowing violence is not an accomplishment to me. I never use it to say this is tougher or anything; nor is my survival an accomplishment. What does that say if my survival is an accomplishment? Does that mean that my friends that died and didn't survive are less accomplished? That's the thing that bothers me when they are written in that form.

What do you think about K-OS. Are you guys fighting or is that just the media overblowing things?
It's not like they made it up, it's something that was there. I just kind of gave it its space and let it breathe and rest out... People were like, this is our hero [K-OS] — someone who we like and someone else who we could possibly like [K'naan], and they dislike each other. It was a personal issue that got out of control.

Who's your biggest competition now?
My competition is never with any one person. My only competition is with dead men. I can't prove them wrong because they are already dead. Living people will be done by the work that I will continue to put out.

What skill have you learned from your days growing up that have helped you survive in the music business?
The philosophy that life is parallel with death. There is no real difference. What that does for you as a human being is it takes away the factor of fear. I'm fortunate that I am not afraid of much. And that's what I was given from my growing up. I'm in the position that there is no way to lose — you put out what you want and feel what you want to feel. I'm not afraid of losing anything because there is nothing to lose if I live by death.