This is K'naan's very first album.
The Dusty Foot Philosopher is an album by Somali-Canadian rapper
K'naan, released by BMG Music on June 7, 2005 in Canada and June 23, 2005 in the United States.
K'NAAN LYRICS
Download "Soobax" Ringtone
http://www.tvo.org/TVOOrg/Images/tvoresources/9949F82F-9EEC-8B0E-8D6954C3D0EDB1D1.mp3
"Soobax"
Basically I got Beef
I wanna to you directly
I can't ignore
I can't escape
And that's 'cause you affect me
You crippled me
You chagrined me
You shattered my whole future in front of me
This energy is killing me, I gotta let it pour like blood soobax
Dhadkii waa dhinteen nagala soobax
Dhibki waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhiigii waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhulkii waa gubteen nagala soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
So for real who's to blame
We lose lives over the disdain
Disregard for the soul, we just don't give a fuck no more
Left alone, all alone
Settle yo issues on yo own
What to do, where to go
I gotta be a refugee then soobax
Dhadkii waa dhinteen nagala soobax
Dhibki waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhiigii waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhulkii waa gubteen nagala soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Dhadkii waa dhinteen nagala soobax
Dhibki waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhiigii waa bateen nagala soobax
Dhulkii waa gubteen nagala soobax
Mogadishu (Yeah) used to be
A place where there world would come to see
Dasiida suuguumta Lida
Wardeegle iyo Madina
Argesa wasasoo Bardere iyo Berbera
My skin need to feel the same in the sun
I'm tired of the cold goddamn soobax
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
Duulki waa guubten nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
(Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey, Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey)
I guess I could use the last part to flow
Nomads the never go rondomino
And then they go oh oh now you know
Put a hole in the MC like Jerri o
They don't hear me though
I work for the struggle, I don't work for dough
I mean what I say, I don't do it for show
Somalia needs all gun men right out the door
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
Duulki waa guubten nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
Duulki waa guubten nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Nagalaa soobax
Dadki waa dinten nagalaa soobax
Dibki waa butten nagalaa soobax
Deegii waa butten nagalaa soobax
Talking: Yeah, I hope more than language you can translate the vibe cause that right there is a protest song, you know I made a protest song and it's called soobax
Soobax means come out, directly talking to the gunmen and the warlords of Africa
Letting them know that we can't, you know the people can't take it no more, yeah and it's a- it's a soundtrack to a poor man's revolutionin East Africa right now playing for the people y'know and we went to Africa to shoot the video for this, the only way you can translate the vibe y'know Soobax.
Translation:
The people are dying, just come out
The troubles are filled, just come out
The blood has filled up, just come out
The floor is burnt, just come out
Just come out
Just come out
Download "Smile" Ringtone
http://www.thissongissick.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/08-Smile.mp3
"Smile"
My tragedy's different
My life's deep, listen,
Gotta bail, I'm limpin
Walked outta hell's kitchen
Why bother cherishin'
My past is everything, wrong, and my arrogance
Walk down the stairs pissin'
Cop us cause they're bitchin'
Life isnt fair, singin'
Blues and my rap drippin'
Ooze out the blood Sinkin
Deep down to earth thinking
Leave out a nerp chicken
I should run, forfit, and everything I know LISTEN,
I was The misdirected
I was The least expected
Hop on And get rejected
Walk on And feel neglected
I feel Like I'm the message
Unheard But I'm the message
I'm the last prolific remaining offer from the gutter
SHOT was my girlfriend
When We was younger
Her I was scarred yo
Bullets I survived though
Death It's came easy
Truth the games needs me
Never let them see me down, smile while I'm bleeding
Smile When your struggilin
Smile when Your in jail
Smile When your dead broke
Smile And the rents due
Smile You ain't got friends now
Smile And no one knows you
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
Smile When he leaves you
Smile Cause girl he needs you
Smile Plenty single mothers cry the tears you do
Smile Dispite the war
Smile despite the pain yo
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
To my man Kareem in prison
I can't speak your name
It hurt me that you never listened
It can't be the same
I had to grow my intutision
Had me deep in pain
Cause I knew my options were either broke or the prison chains
I can't do it
I can't see it, look
Damnit, I can't blow it
I got a judge tellin me my lifes key
They will throw it
Nuh-uh, no sir
I plan to have a chauffeur
It seems to me this chopping crack is really going no where
Therefore
I'm resurrected
They call me
The poor Injection
I infect you with the real
The Dustyfeetphilosahectagos
I spit, so sick
I skid out
I'm fallin'
I'm Shit outta luck and I'm trapped but I'll get out
Can You Help me
I'm goin crazy
My mom plays trix and I beat on the floor like bush wick
My fists bloody and blistered
A pair Like I'm balistic
I just stare at the red and smile while I'm bleedin
Smile When your struggilin
Smile When Your in jail
Smile When your dead broke
Smile And the rents due
Smile You ain't got friends now
Smile And no one knows you
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
Smile When he leaves you
Smile Cause girl he needs you
Smile Plenty single mothers cry the tears you do
Smile Dispite the war
Smile despite the pain yo
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
There are a few things you gotta take into acount
I'm not an entertainer I've never been a clown
I was born where tha mothers give birth while they frown
I would walk with the kids that would bbbrrraaaa a sound ah
Never really thought I'd make it to fourteen
And anybody wanted to fight I was most keen
Plus I had a little temper it was often forseen
Yo say somethin bout my momma id shoot ya dead out clean
But ya gotta keep in mind that I grew up Mogadishu (tell em)
The only law was gun law
And we don't walk with a pistol
You get laughed at for being so insensitive to the environment
Cause how will you be heard when those big boys are firin'
War is no place for a child
Especially if hes rollin' with an AK and a smile
He had witnesses on mother bloody in a towel
But please, please, please, please
But never let em see you down smile while you bleedin'
Smile When your struggilin
Smile When Your in jail
Smile When your dead broke
Smile And the rents due
Smile You ain't got friends now
Smile And no one knows you
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
Smile When he leaves you
Smile Cause girl he needs you
Smile Plenty single mothers cry the tears you do
Smile Dispite the war
Smile despite the pain yo
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
Smile When your struggilin
Smile When Your in jail
Smile When your dead broke
Smile And the rents due
Smile You ain't got friends now
Smile And no one knows you
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
Smile When he leaves you
Smile Cause girl he needs you
Smile plenty single mothers cry the tears you do
Smile Dispite the war
Smile despite the pain yo
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding
Download "Strugglin'" Ringtone
http://www.trohub.com/music/knaan%20-%20strugglin.mp3
"Strugglin'"
[Verse 1:]
I start out just to vibe out I ain't about to bow out. I'm more gangsta then u r but I ain't about to row out. My season will come it has to, honestly I feel like I'm 10 months pregnant, I'm past due. Sencierly, untouchy these days I can't take nuttin. I'm tryin to treat my record like the Lord shit I'm tryin to brake somthin'. N mostly I'm up n stressin when other folks sleep n believe I know struggle n struggle knows me. My life owes me like an oven dose I'm slowly driftin to the arms of trouble n trouble holds me n nothin else is close to me more than pain unfortunatly, like a self-fulfillin prophecy I'm supposed to be...
[Chorus: x2]
I'm strugglin n it's troublin in the circumstance I'm dwellin in to find myslef in the corner huddlin with some angry men n I gotta settle shit again before they gotta kill again
[Verse 2:]
I should be chillin on beaches instead my bone freezes duckin glocks n Iwas n 12s like Jesus The realest thing to me is since I was defeatedis the only break I ever got was at recess so legitematly I remain very little releaved n that thug rappas I remain very little entriged n can u blame me with how we lived in the late 80's throwin rocks at the crazy ladies n when we played these crazy games the whole crew had crazy names we even had a crypper we called him lazy legs but my faith remains untouched n unchanged still in my block you hear more shots then a gun range
[Chorus x2]
[Verse 3:]
More to the truth no writin just me recordin in the booth forced by the loop n the guitar but I'm the boss of the group I speak truth deep roots remain equal danger the pain in my song is crazy but the sequal is stranger
Hey man I'm from the oddest hardest progress then departed I'm now known as a recordin artist spittin what little remains of your memories in your process bigger or little making your name into a colossus believe me I'm thankful my brothers still with me n ain't much changed Bobbys still troublin with me I'm? still mom n pory but we always dently I got a little recordin gig but evidentally
[Chorus x2]
Download "Voices In My Head" Ringtone
http://acquiescetomusic.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/15-knaan-voices-in-my-head.mp3
"Voices In My Head"
Eh yo, welcome to my world, please listen
HEY!
[Chorus:]
Poison in my veins, inside I'm torturing my brains,
And still I try, aiaiai
Voices in my head, am I alive or am I dead,
Alone I cry, aiaiaiai
[Verse 1:]
The shit that I'm in and the pain, I'm literally going insane
I'm frightened, my heart and my head have been fightin
I'm certain that it's hurtin the rest of my body
Them voices as loud as manhattan come chattin,
They say? and you kno you better than al of these replicates screamin they represent
C'mon man c'mon man
And the people inside me say they wanna see me go on tragically
And it's evil, cause I'm only 20 something working for a crumbs n some bread
[Chorus]
[Verse 2:]
The harder the struggle the deeper the trouble,
Come out of the bubble, I'll teach you to cuddle,
With demons inside me, what demon is not me,
These demons inside me they got me, they stop me from feedin,
And eatin and keepin it even, and even my reason for breathin this season,
Sleetin in a danger, my nose when I'm readin, it's bleedin on paper,
It's bleedin on paper,
And I'm tired of this violence, so tortured inside?, akward and overly open inside, have I already died,
Has mom already cried? And why do I feel like I'm over this life,
I'm not hateful, I'm grateful, my girlfriend is tasteful, livin it up,
I might even blow, like a leak in a truck, with a torch and a clutch,
And explosion that leaves a whole? of dust, and the people,
Inside me saying, they wanna see me go tragically,
And it's evil, cause I'm only twenty something, working for some crumbs and some bread
[Chorus]
[Verse 2:]
I'm still awake, and it's quarter to six,
I'm trying to write and I ain't thought of no shhh,
I live with guilt like I slaughtered the sick,
I live with shame, like my daughter a bitch,
I don't make living but I still persist, I could sell out but I still resist,
So don't tell me about no pain and shit,
I was born and raised in poverty bitch,
And I smile all the while and don't complain,
I'm something like gail scott heroine,
Do you know what it feels like to lose a friend, again and again and again, again
The bitterness in the killer the poet, the river of blood within the mess flowin,
I'm the bitterness in the killer the poet, the river, the blood will keep on flowin,
People inside me say, the wanna see me go on tragically,
And it's evil, it's evil, cause I'm only twenty something years old working for a crumb or some bread or nothin
[Chorus: until end]
Download "Boxing My Shadow" Ringtone
http://www.petyarn.com/john/music/k%27naan/The%20Dusty%20Foot%20Philosopher/16%20-%20Boxing%20My%20Shadow.mp3
"Boxing My Shadow"
[Verse 1:]
It's like writing to the dead, dear people, I don't know if you'll hear my last plea,
But somebody needs to be a little concerned about me, it's like I'm standing on the edge of a high tower by kanie,
Ya'll are rootin me to jump, nobody stoppin me,
It's like a drug filled rock n roll documentary,
Just wait till the world knows what's inside of me,
Cause you ll be sorry when I'm gone, and I'll be gone so very soon,
If the pressure on my diaphragm keeps resisting,
If the feds keep my brothers stompin up and down prisons,
If you can't understand my offerings and deep mission,
No label is willing to see my unique vision,
If metro housing keep threatning my poor mother with eviction,
You'll be sorry, (you'll be sorry),
You'll be sorry if I stay so poor I can't afford my own medicine to cure my ulcer,
And get vexed at every rich person that walks passed, that won't blast, just yet I don't even have enough gas to pass the exit, so don't laugh, (don't laugh) I think a smile is a charity, but fuck don't laught my anger, (resulted) from pressure, (exhaustion) my boys be (orphans), my voices, (is all bent), I'm tired (I'm coughing) my daddies, (divorcin), my momma (is hopin), my eyes be (so open), for chances, (I'm walkin), I'm walkin an
Talkin and boxing my shadow.
[Chorus: x3]
I hate you!, I hate this
I hate food, I won't eat,
In case you, Offend me
I wait you, so don't sleep
[Verse 2:]
It's like the possibility of making it in the industry is just around the corner now,
It's just about your ability, but see it's like an enigma,
An insomniac singer, a dream a figment of your imagination it seems,
Itll never be succesful, please protect your neck before they squeeze,
I'm your biggest hater you suck, and even if you don't,
You know your luck you'll probably get runover by a truck before your first label meeting,
Meeting is the issue you prick, yo yo you really make me sick, no no you make me sick,
I can't stand this argument, see this is what happens when my mind starts to dwell
And my strenght starts to fail,
And I get an anxiety (resulted) in panic attacks (exhaustion)
I might as well look for (a fence), my health is (dissolving)
I am tired (I'm coughing) my wife is (divorcing), my girlfriend, (is open)
Cause I gotta so (open) over these niggas, (walkin) I'm walkin and talking,
And boxing my shadows.
[Chorus x3]
[Verse 3:]
And now I sing about the poor, and I sing about the war,
And how can I not represent, when I'm the most critically acclaimed,
Put most emcees to a lyrical shame, get some um fame,
Express my pain and still keep this shit raw, how can one person be so poor,
Look at it, your better off, (without me), I mean even I (doubt me),
My own dreams, (mock me) the snicker and talk, (about me),
They want me to suffer, [? ], take my life around me, (rob me),
They got me boxing my own shadow!
[Chorus x3]
Download "My Old Home" Ringtone
http://www.tvo.org/TVOOrg/Images/tvoresources/93C67044-CB6F-56D0-33EC84631CB2E814.mp3
"My Old Home"
So yea basicaly alot of people ask me how life was then... so here it is
My old home smelled of good birth
Boiled red beans kernal oil and hand me down poetry
It's brick white washed walls widdowed by first paint
The tin roof tops humm in songs of promise while time ends
Locked into demonic rythm with the leaves
The trees had the wind huggin them loving them a torturous love
Bug in wind it was over and done the the rounds ment to pocket
Kept the rain drops cool neighbours dwellers spatter in the pool
Kids playing football with a sand in a sock
We had what we got and it wasn't alot
No one knew they were poor we were all inocent to grieve judgment
The country was combusing with life like a long hybernatin volcano
With a long tale of succes like j-lo farmers, fishers, fighters,
Even fools had a place in production teh coral reefs make your days
In reflection the costal line was the place of seduction
And women walked with grace and perfection
And we just knew we were warriors too nothing worried us too
We were glorious?
[Verse:]
And one day it came
Spoiled the parade like rain
Like oil in a flame it pained
The heart attack sudden
Harder then livin
Harder then a punch in the woom
Harder then the lunch you consume for us
It had a cancerous fume war, lust
Men who made killing hobbiest
Sellin powerfully
Like healthy livestock
It made tides rock
With a diligent mock
Confused with the people
Infused in the evil
(profester) reject
Like jews in the sequal
So when it came in the morning
With a warning and without
The hearding was a burden
Only certain was dealt
A mythical tale
No soul knows well
Liberty went to hell
Freedom caught four shells
Fears was the bloke
Keep your to the show
It apears old will
Was right in 84
Half baked brother
Killed mother in a store
But all of us watching
But they don't love her anymore
[Chorus:]
(peed) my poem
Mother was my old home
Good will is looted
In my old home
Religions is burnt down
In my old home
Kindness is shacklled
In my old home
Justice has been raped
In my old home
Murderers hold post
In my old home
The land vomits ghosts
In my old home
[Verse:]
We got pistols with eyes
Curuption and lies
Trust us snakes
And death without breaks
Suspicious new borns
Live in the horn
We used to teh pain
Rack bodies
Not grain
Chop limbs
Not trees
Spend lies
Not wealth
Seek vengance
Not truth
The craziest youth
Moist pains
Are plans
.nigga fuck your plans
[Chorus:]
Bandits are leaders down
In my old home
Rooms are a [? ]
In my old home
Seditives of faith
In my old home
Rapers are praised
In my old home
Demons dress well
In my old home
Infants are nailed
In my old home
Spirits are jailed
In my old home
Grudges grow tails
In my old home
[Bridge:]
Our roads have seen electric hate and
Our women labour, but need no invadin
Our farms produce giulty grubin
Our kids depend on shifty luck see
Our news is like "for death is all"
Don't blame me for the truth I've told
[Chorus:]
Good will is looted
In my old home
Religions is burnt down
In my old home
Kindness is shacklled
In my old home
Justice has been raped
In my old home
Murderers hold post
In my old home
The land vomits ghosts
In my old home
