Music Metrics Vault

K'NAAN

Data updated on 2025-03-03 08:43:33 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

821.4 million
Updated on 2025-03-03

Monthly listeners

4,751,816

Followers

280,434

Top Cities

  1. Peru
    Lima
    54,866 listeners
  2. Indonesia
    45,304 listeners
  3. Mexico
    57,398 listeners
  4. Chile
    47,222 listeners
  5. Colombia
    40,698 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Wavin' Flag - Celebration Mix
Wavin' Flag - Celebration Mix
237,297,434 3:33 2009-01-01
Bang Bang
Bang Bang
205,546,150 3:07 2009-01-01
Wavin' Flag
Wavin' Flag
103,720,760 3:30 2009-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Spanish Celebration Mix
Wavin' Flag - Spanish Celebration Mix
43,351,099 3:52 2009-01-01
Bang Bang - New Version
Bang Bang - New Version
43,113,713 3:04 2009-01-01
Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)
Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)
28,922,011 4:42 2016-11-11
Take A Minute
Take A Minute
26,202,901 4:07 2009-01-01
Is Anybody Out There?
Is Anybody Out There?
16,335,451 3:59 2012-01-01
Stop For A Minute
Stop For A Minute
15,986,484 4:07 2010-01-01
Summer Paradise (feat. K'naan)
Summer Paradise (feat. K'naan)
14,372,514 3:55 2011-06-17
Hurt Me Tomorrow
Hurt Me Tomorrow
11,479,122 3:48 2012-01-01
Tribes At War
Tribes At War
6,872,568 4:30 2010-01-01
Africa Must Wake Up
Africa Must Wake Up
6,575,624 6:40 2010-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Black Chiney Remix
Wavin' Flag - Black Chiney Remix
6,530,727 3:45 2010-01-01
ABC's
ABC's
4,247,150 3:16 2008-01-01
World Cry
World Cry
4,195,272 4:42 2011-01-01
Looking Back
Looking Back
3,352,697 3:46 2010-01-01
In The Beginning
In The Beginning
3,204,750 3:22 2006-01-01
America
America
2,819,255 4:46 2009-01-01
In The Beginning
In The Beginning
1,924,090 3:16 2007-01-01
Fatima
Fatima
1,725,332 5:02 2009-01-01
If Rap Gets Jealous
If Rap Gets Jealous
1,662,330 3:38 2009-01-01
Somalia
Somalia
1,406,445 3:34 2009-01-01
Earth From Outer Space
Earth From Outer Space
1,226,948 3:51 2013-01-01
T.I.A.
T.I.A.
1,194,314 3:38 2009-01-01
Nothing To Lose
Nothing To Lose
1,159,342 3:57 2012-01-01
I Come Prepared
I Come Prepared
1,154,132 4:09 2009-01-01
The Seed
The Seed
1,143,070 3:36 2012-01-01
People Like Me
People Like Me
1,074,095 6:17 2009-01-01
Better
Better
1,047,397 3:16 2012-01-01
TV In The Radio
TV In The Radio
933,521 3:21 2009-01-01
Africa (feat. K'NAAN)
Africa (feat. K'NAAN)
929,738 3:48 2008-11-17
Dreamer
Dreamer
921,352 4:32 2009-01-01
Fire In Freetown
Fire In Freetown
887,887 4:37 2009-01-01
Strugglin'
Strugglin'
863,406 3:35 2006-01-01
15 Minutes Away
15 Minutes Away
835,787 4:56 2009-01-01
Soobax
Soobax
828,790 3:42 2006-01-01
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
751,784 3:56 2006-01-01
Gold In Timbuktu
Gold In Timbuktu
740,697 4:34 2012-01-01
Waiting Is A Drug
Waiting Is A Drug
691,892 3:18 2012-01-01
70 Excuses
70 Excuses
670,613 4:11 2012-01-01
L'arme de paix
L'arme de paix
650,279 4:29 2009-03-23
The Sound Of My Breaking Heart
The Sound Of My Breaking Heart
641,647 3:50 2012-01-01
Bulletproof Pride
Bulletproof Pride
617,289 4:43 2012-01-01
The Wall
The Wall
558,410 4:27 2012-01-01
Tamatant Tilay / Exodus (feat. Tinariwen, K'naan, & Los Lobos)
Tamatant Tilay / Exodus (feat. Tinariwen, K'naan, & Los Lobos)
492,065 4:45 2009-01-01
Simple
Simple
469,941 3:27 2012-01-01
Smile
Smile
432,281 4:03 2006-01-01
Sleep When We Die
Sleep When We Die
421,134 3:60 2012-01-01
With God On Our Side
With God On Our Side
411,483 3:39 2012-01-24
Til We Get There
Til We Get There
410,950 4:26 2006-01-01
Alone
Alone
364,744 3:49 2012-01-01
Mecca
Mecca
354,153 2:55 2012-07-10
If Rap Gets Jealous
If Rap Gets Jealous
327,803 4:18 2006-01-01
I Was Stabbed By Satan
I Was Stabbed By Satan
299,221 3:52 2006-01-01
We OK
We OK
282,077 4:36 2012-07-16
What's Hardcore?
What's Hardcore?
279,609 3:36 2006-01-01
On The Other Side
On The Other Side
279,593 4:28 2012-01-01
Somalia Somali Baa Leh
Somalia Somali Baa Leh
256,081 4:32 2021-12-19
More Beautiful Than Silence
More Beautiful Than Silence
253,511 3:53 2012-01-01
Does It Really Matter
Does It Really Matter
251,474 3:54 2009-01-01
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
244,288 2:28 2006-01-01
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Bob Sinclar Remix Radio Edit
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Bob Sinclar Remix Radio Edit
238,270 3:20 2010-06-07
Wavin' Flag
Wavin' Flag
233,352 3:41 2009-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
220,026 3:39 2010-01-01
Hoobaale
Hoobaale
217,968 5:05 2006-01-01
Strugglin'
Strugglin'
209,843 3:38 2007-01-01
Smile
Smile
209,258 4:09 2007-01-01
Voices In My Head
Voices In My Head
188,014 4:00 2006-01-01
Soobax
Soobax
179,105 4:25 2007-01-01
Boxing My Shadow
Boxing My Shadow
175,917 4:29 2006-01-01
My Old Home
My Old Home
171,142 3:07 2006-01-01
The African Way (featuring Mwafrika)
The African Way (featuring Mwafrika)
163,552 4:21 2006-01-01
Be Free
Be Free
161,796 3:53 2007-01-01
Wash It Down
Wash It Down
160,579 2:17 2006-01-01
Stop For A Minute - Beatnick & K-Salaam Remix
Stop For A Minute - Beatnick & K-Salaam Remix
146,625 4:26 2010-01-01
Blues For The Horn
Blues For The Horn
137,618 5:60 2006-01-01
Wavin' Flag - 2010 JUNO Awards
Wavin' Flag - 2010 JUNO Awards
133,882 5:21 2010-01-01
What's Hardcore?
What's Hardcore?
130,767 2:52 2007-01-01
What's Hardcore - Live In Paris
What's Hardcore - Live In Paris
130,767 2:52 2007-01-01
Is Anybody Out There? - Cutmore Club Mix
Is Anybody Out There? - Cutmore Club Mix
130,321 6:03 2012-01-01
Nothing To Lose - Remix
Nothing To Lose - Remix
125,228 3:57 2012-01-01
The African Way
The African Way
121,095 4:45 2007-01-01
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
105,197 2:15 2007-01-01
Wash It Down
Wash It Down
103,384 2:43 2007-01-01
Is Anybody Out There? - Richard Dinsdale Club Mix
Is Anybody Out There? - Richard Dinsdale Club Mix
102,197 7:43 2012-01-01
Refugee
Refugee
96,649 4:12 2023-06-20
Voices In My Head
Voices In My Head
90,175 2:53 2007-01-01
Think of All the Things
Think of All the Things
85,065 4:03 2009-09-15
For Mohamoud (Soviet)
For Mohamoud (Soviet)
82,530 0:32 2006-01-01
My God feat. Mos Def
My God feat. Mos Def
79,866 4:51 2007-01-01
By The End Of The Day
By The End Of The Day
76,442 2:12 2007-01-01
旗开得胜
旗开得胜
73,439 3:41 2010-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Japan Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
Wavin' Flag - Japan Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
55,683 3:39 2010-01-01
Bang Bang - Live From Montreal
Bang Bang - Live From Montreal
52,534 3:20 2010-01-01
Belly Full - J.PERIOD Remix
Belly Full - J.PERIOD Remix
47,845 4:40 2020-01-31
Hip Hop Nation
Hip Hop Nation
43,950 4:31 2019-05-10
Coming To America
Coming To America
42,154 4:03 2012-01-01
Is It A Myth?
Is It A Myth?
39,975 3:33 2007-01-01
Strugglin'
Strugglin'
36,048 4:26 2006-01-01
Is It A Myth? - Live In Djibouti
Is It A Myth? - Live In Djibouti
34,949 3:20 2007-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Black Chiney Remix Instrumental
Wavin' Flag - Black Chiney Remix Instrumental
29,443 3:40 2010-01-01
Ololufemi
Ololufemi
23,271 3:60 2009-11-24
Refugee - Radio Edit
Refugee - Radio Edit
22,643 3:47 2023-06-20
Dreamer - Live From Montreal
Dreamer - Live From Montreal
22,616 1:29 2010-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix
21,934 4:21 2010-01-01
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Radioclit Remix
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Radioclit Remix
21,925 3:23 2010-06-07
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix Instrumental
Wavin' Flag - Coca-Cola® Celebration Mix Instrumental
17,989 3:39 2010-01-01
Is Anybody Out There? - Cutmore Radio Edit
Is Anybody Out There? - Cutmore Radio Edit
16,604 3:28 2012-01-01
I Was Stabbed by Satan
I Was Stabbed by Satan
16,523 3:50 2006-01-01
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]
15,748 4:14 2016-02-16
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Bob Sinclar Remix Club Edit
Africa (feat. K'NAAN) - Bob Sinclar Remix Club Edit
15,350 6:17 2010-06-07
Dusty Streets
Dusty Streets
13,318 3:38 2009-01-01
Is Anybody Out There? - MYNC Club Mix
Is Anybody Out There? - MYNC Club Mix
13,142 6:23 2012-01-01
Each Tear
Each Tear
11,051 4:18 2010-01-01
Bang Bang - New Version - Instrumental
Bang Bang - New Version - Instrumental
10,101 3:04 2010-01-01
Wash It Down
Wash It Down
9,337 2:15 2006-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Instrumental
Wavin' Flag - Instrumental
8,251 3:40 2010-01-01
A Country Called Somalia - Live From Montreal
A Country Called Somalia - Live From Montreal
7,772 2:04 2010-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Live From Montreal
Wavin' Flag - Live From Montreal
6,522 6:42 2010-01-01
Bang Bang - The Euphonix Remix
Bang Bang - The Euphonix Remix
6,155 3:31 2010-01-01
The Slums
The Slums
5,450 4:31 2016-03-04
Take A Minute - Live From Montreal
Take A Minute - Live From Montreal
5,400 3:48 2010-01-01
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
Until The Lion Learns To Speak
5,225 8:55 2006-01-01
Biscuit
Biscuit
5,113 3:49 2010-01-01
ABC's - Remix
ABC's - Remix
5,011 3:09 2008-01-01
Fatima - Live From Montreal
Fatima - Live From Montreal
4,915 4:16 2010-01-01
Fire In Freetown - Live From Montreal
Fire In Freetown - Live From Montreal
4,338 3:55 2010-01-01
If Rap Gets Jealous - Live From Montreal
If Rap Gets Jealous - Live From Montreal
3,798 3:54 2010-01-01
Take A Minute - Live iheartradio performance
Take A Minute - Live iheartradio performance
3,286 8:05 2010-01-01
Somalia - Live From Montreal
Somalia - Live From Montreal
2,808 4:10 2010-01-01
Bang Bang - The Euphonix Remix - Instrumental
Bang Bang - The Euphonix Remix - Instrumental
2,600 3:32 2010-01-01
Wavin' Flag - Live iheartradio performance
Wavin' Flag - Live iheartradio performance
2,232 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.]