The Dusty Foot Philosopher has a celebratory air.

Artist: K'Naan

Genre: Hip Hop/RnB

Label: Universal

Toronto, Canada, Jan 6, 2006 (The Sydney Morning Herald) – Refugee rapper K'Naan blends Eminem and Arrested Development with his African roots.

Hip-hop's obsession with being shot at would hold no sway with this guy. Although now based in Toronto, K'Naan is from Somalia, in East Africa. He was born and raised in the strife-torn capital, Mogadishu.

When he was 10, the warlords came: bullets flying over his young head became commonplace. When he was 11, he ran from armed gunmen with two mates who were both killed. Then his brother was due to be executed for trying to overthrow the police state but was spirited away by his aunt with hours to spare.

Finally K'Naan (''traveler'' in Somali) and his family managed to get a rare flight to the US, then Canada - a mercy dash. Now he's making records, recalling all these grim times but also giving plentiful thanks for being able to escape and for being able to live.