“ All Somalis know that gangsterism isn't to brag about. The kids that I was growing up with [in Rexdale] would wear baggy suit pants, and a little jacket from Zellers or something, and they'd walk into school, and all the cool kids would be like, 'Ah, man, look at these Somalis. Yo, you're a punk!' And the other kid won't say nothing, but that kid, probably, has killed fifteen people. ”
This statement was made to explain his position on the world of difference which exists between where he grew up, and the ghettos of the first world Nonetheless, K'naan denies that he is overtly political, instead explaining that he "[shows] the state of the world [and] if you call it like it is you're being political." His own opinion of his music is that it's a "mix of tradition and [a] kind of articulation of my own life and [..] my past experiences."
K'naan has said that he is influenced by Somali music and the traditional instruments of Somalia. His most recent album, Troubadour, also draws heavily from Ethiopian sources, particularly Ethio-Jazz by Alemayehu Eshete and Tilahun Gessesse.
[edit] Live Performances
Prior to the release of Troubadour, K'naan performed with a small acoustic band, consisting of Rayzak (back-up vocals), Kiercey (acoustic guitar) and Mad Dog (djembe). This style was an essential element of what set K'naan apart from most hip-hop acts. More than that, it reflected K'naan's value of meaningful lyrics over shallow theatrics.
Since Troubadour, K'naan has toured exclusively with a larger electric ensemble - consisting of drums, bass, electric guitar, and keyboards - and his performances now also feature elaborate lighting. This change in showmanship, along with his collaborations with such high profile artists as Adam Levine and Mos Def, has helped to shift K'naan more into the mainstream flow of the music industry and has helped him gain exposure to a wider audience.
The Dusty Foot Philosopher
K'naan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't this make you wanna swing like monkeys outta trees?
I don't got no parameters
This amateur's famous
All you fame getters
Hate caterers
Our main names are date of births
Make a nigga play reverse (move backwards)
Marching with some soldiers here
We coming over there
The kind of niggas soldiers fear
You just gotta stare
You ain't got no option (no)
Please relax son
I'm taking over like drug dealer cars to auctions
Oh these are hungry men
These are angry men
Heard you got a lot of guts
They'll call your bluff
Your shit is laughable
Why you rapping oh
Why don't you just wrap sandwiches to earn a capital?
And half the shit that you spit
Ain't even that sick
If you was doing my physical you couldn't have my shit
Back to my verse flow
I don't get shit yo
My skills so bright when I spit my lips glow
The dusty foot philosopher
Ripping up kilometers
Winking at you officers da dum da dum da dum
The dusty foot philosopher
Sicking up the monitor
Waking up the auditors da dum da dum da dum
And I've seen war and some
Survived the slaughter son
Kids play cops and robbers and not with the water guns
So yeah yeah picture me
And big brother Lee
Walking through the fire
We came to claim our victory
And I roll with a harder pen
I might start a trend
Beat down a wack MC cause you know there's a lot of them
Wait till my shit crashes
Rip asses
Women who give me neck suffer from whiplashes
I frighten the masses
Cause I'm that nasty
I heard to get a deal you had to give lap dances
This shit is serious
Sincere it is
The people wanted something real
Well yo here it is
My rhymes push records back like a belly button dirty rutting
I got stiff neck steady nuttin' it ain't nothing
I got the track laid like I'm fucking
The only balls you got is made outta cotton
The dusty foot philosopher
Ripping up kilometers
Winking at you officers da dum da dum da dum
The dusty foot philosopher
Sicking up the monitor
Waking up the auditors da dum da dum da dum
The dusty foot philosopher
Ripping up kilometers
Winking at you officers da dum da dum da dum
The dusty foot philosopher
Sicking up the monitor
Waking up the auditors da dum da dum da dum
This is what you waited for
Glad you stayed the chorus
Cause a lot of rappers is getting treated like lady whores
And I don't like Babylon
I don't like your song
I don't like hearing that fake accent from Dylon
The industry commentator
Fuck it I'm a hater
My mind is like your life straight up cause it's made up
I'm strolling like babies with big ass ladies (yeah)
That rock more fellas than ten thousand daisies
Harder than harbouring Bin Laden inside the bottom compound with Donald Rumsfield and Bush blood
Moving along like people who don't want it
Even if I had jewels I'd be the type who don't run it
They call me dusty cause my feet have been through a lot
The wisdom of my survival that's just due to Allah
So I'm not gonna sit here and whine like crushed grapes
My mind leaves you speechless like duct tape
The dusty foot philosopher
Ripping up kilometers
Winking at you officers da dum da dum da dum
The dusty foot philosopher
Sicking up the monitor
Waking up the auditors da dum da dum da dum
The dusty foot philosopher
Ripping up kilometers
Winking at you officers da dum da dum da dum
The dusty foot philosopher
Sicking up the monitor
Waking up the auditors da dum da dum da dum
The lyrics of K’naan’s song the "Dusty Foot Philosopher" present various aspects of human emotions and experiences. The first verse seems to advocate for a sense of freedom and artistic creativity, as K’naan asserts that he has no limitations or parameters in his work. He also challenges the fame-seekers who do not value their craft and implies that he is taking over the rap game. In the second verse, K’naan talks about the reality of war and the hardships faced by people who've undergone these situations. He describes how people playing cops and robbers with water guns contrasts with the harsh realities of warfare. Throughout the song, the rapper argues for authenticity and meaningfulness in music while being based on his experiences of survival.
Furthermore, the chorus uses the metaphor of the philosopher to showcase K'naan's lyrical prowess and wisdom to speculate about his survival. In addition, the chorus features a play on words with the phrase ‘dusty foot,’ which seems to refer to K'naan's experiences of living in Somalia as a child before becoming a refugee in Canada. K'naan repeatedly utilizes metaphorical language to illustrate life in a post-war scenario while highlighting the psychological and emotional effects of violence.
Overall, the lyrics of the "Dusty Foot Philosopher" present an insightful and contemplative perspective on music, war, and human existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, just imagine, like whistling down a desert or some shit
Think of the impossible, like whistling in the desert where there is no one around to hear you.
Don't this make you wanna swing like monkeys outta trees?
Doesn't this make you feel so alive that you want to celebrate like monkeys swinging out of trees?
I don't got no parameters
I have no restrictions.
This amateur's famous
Even though I'm not a professional, I'm still well-known.
All you fame getters
All you people who seek fame.
Hate caterers
People who are envious or resentful of others' success and try to bring them down.
Our main names are date of births
Our identities are often defined by our birthdates.
On a later verse
This will be discussed later.
Make a nigga play reverse (move backwards)
Reverse the situation for someone and force them to move backwards.
Marching with some soldiers here
I am accompanied by brave fighters.
We coming over there
We will come to you.
The kind of niggas soldiers fear
We are the kind of men who even scare soldiers.
You just gotta stare
All you can do is just stare at us in awe.
You ain't got no option (no)
You have no choice.
Please relax son
Please calm down.
I'm taking over like drug dealer cars to auctions
I am taking over like how drug dealer cars are sold at auctions.
Oh these are hungry men
These are men with strong desires.
These are angry men
These are men with strong emotions and feelings.
Heard you got a lot of guts
I heard that you are brave or daring.
They'll call your bluff
They will expose you as a liar.
Your shit is laughable
Your work or ideas are ridiculous and funny.
Why you rapping oh
Why are you rapping?
Why don't you just wrap sandwiches to earn a capital?
Why don't you just make and sell sandwiches to make money?
And half the shit that you spit
And half of what you say or create.
Ain't even that sick
Isn't even that impressive or great.
If you was doing my physical you couldn't have my shit
Even if you had my physical capabilities, you still wouldn't be able to produce what I do.
Back to my verse flow
Returning to my style of music.
I don't get shit yo
I don't understand anything.
My skills so bright when I spit my lips glow
My talent and abilities are so excellent that they shine.
The dusty foot philosopher
Referring to himself as a philosopher from the streets.
Ripping up kilometers
Tearing up and dominating the music scene from far distances.
Winking at you officers da dum da dum da dum
Toasting and taunting those in authority who doubt him.
Sicking up the monitor
Shocking those who monitor and analyze his music.
Waking up the auditors da dum da dum da dum
Causing the audience and critics to take notice of his music and message.
And I've seen war and some
I have witnessed and experienced war and its effects.
Survived the slaughter son
I am a survivor of the war and its violence.
Kids play cops and robbers and not with the water guns
Children imitate violence they see around them and play with toy guns instead of water guns.
So yeah yeah picture me
Could you just picture me?
And big brother Lee
With my older brother named Lee.
Walking through the fire
Braving and enduring difficult situations.
We came to claim our victory
We arrived to take what we deserved.
And I roll with a harder pen
My lyrical skills are superior and more intense.
I might start a trend
My style might cause a new movement or influence others.
Beat down a wack MC cause you know there's a lot of them
Defeat and humiliate a weak musician because there are many of them.
Wait till my shit crashes
Wait until my career declines or ends.
Rip asses
Defeat and humiliate others.
Women who give me neck suffer from whiplashes
Women who give me oral sex experience intense pleasure.
I frighten the masses
I scare and intimidate many people.
Cause I'm that nasty
Because I am that skilled and fierce.
I heard to get a deal you had to give lap dances
I heard that in order to achieve success, one must compromise and be submissive.
This shit is serious
What I'm saying and doing is important and should be taken seriously.
Sincere it is
I am genuine and authentic in what I am doing and saying.
The people wanted something real
The audience demanded something authentic and honest.
Well yo here it is
And now, here it is.
My rhymes push records back like a belly button dirty rutting
My music is so groundbreaking and intense that it is like dirty belly button sex.
I got stiff neck steady nuttin' it ain't nothing
I am unaffected and unimpressed by difficulties or obstacles.
I got the track laid like I'm fucking
I have created this music so well that it's like I am having sex with it.
The only balls you got is made outta cotton
You are weak and timid.
This is what you waited for
This is what you have been anticipating.
Glad you stayed the chorus
I am grateful that you have continued to listen and sing along.
Cause a lot of rappers is getting treated like lady whores
Many rappers are being disrespected and mistreated.
And I don't like Babylon
I don't like the oppressive and corrupt system of Babylon.
I don't like your song
I don't like your music.
I don't like hearing that fake accent from Dylon
I dislike hearing fake accents in music, such as that used by rapper Dylan.
The industry commentator
Critics or analysts of the music industry.
Fuck it I'm a hater
Forget it, I am simply an envious or resentful person and don't like what I see.
My mind is like your life straight up cause it's made up
My thoughts and ideas are like your life because they are a product of my mind and imagination.
I'm strolling like babies with big ass ladies (yeah)
I am moving confidently and calmly, like babies walking beside large, confident women.
That rock more fellas than ten thousand daisies
That attract more men than countless flowers.
Harder than harbouring Bin Laden inside the bottom compound with Donald Rumsfield and Bush blood
Stronger and more difficult than harboring the infamous Bin Laden while hiding from authorities along with the dangerous Rumsfield and Bush families.
Moving along like people who don't want it
Moving forward without hesitation or doubt.
Even if I had jewels I'd be the type who don't run it
Even if I had riches or treasures, I would not show them off or flaunt them.
They call me dusty cause my feet have been through a lot
People refer to me as dusty because I have been through many hardships and struggles.
The wisdom of my survival that's just due to Allah
My ability to endure and survive can be attributed to my faith and belief in Allah.
So I'm not gonna sit here and whine like crushed grapes
I won't stay here and complain like a defeated grape that has been crushed and turned into wine.
My mind leaves you speechless like duct tape
My thoughts and ideas are so awe-inspiring that one is left speechless, like when one's mouth is covered with duct tape.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GLENN AARON GOLDSTEIN, KEINAN WARSAME, PETER WOLF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joshrosenthal7975
If we're being real, this is one of the best hip hop albums of the era
@aloname
His music paints the truth, the dark reality we live in, there are constant struggles around us...we should all be grateful. Thank you K'naan for reminding us how blessed we are!!!
@africaethiopia3469
sure u r a dusty feet philosopher ... respect from ethiopia
@dangermouse8351
Yaay !!!
@jovibrook7627
hi K naan I spent 6 moths working in Somali western desert refugee camps and your music makes me cry not for sadness but for emotional intensity
Rob
@BFbeba
Oh my god I was 18 when I first listened to this song. Good memories
@74yoyo
Aww. His lyrics just make me smile so much so it just forces you to listen to his words. <3
@nikopoa6555
This whole first album is absolutely brilliant.
@Technik33Hifi
J'ai connu k'naan en tombant sur un live diffusé sur arte un soir de 2008 et depuis je me remet encore et encore les sons cet album qui sont juste magique !!!
@MKFingerstyleAcademy
i like the whistle thing.. soo amazing