Somalia. The name alone conjures up images of unbridled destruction, merciless warlords and ruthless terror. A place where nobody—children, the elderly, religious figures—is safe from the atrocities of war, and where the idea of childhood, where 8-year olds handle AK-47s like toys, exists in chronological terms alone. When Forbes magazine recently unveiled their Most Dangerous Destinations, Somalia, above Iraq and Afghanistan, topped the list. But its also The Nation of Poets, where a poem can both inspire peace and end wars. Where every weekend, regardless of the climate, one can find a play or concert at a local theatre. Growing up, it was both of these Somalias that informed musician/emcee Knaan Warsame, whose sophomore album Troubadour is released this September. The grandson of Haji Mohamed, one of Somalias most famous poets, and nephew of famed Somali singer Magool, the emcee is creating his own musical path through reggae, funk, pop, soul and, above all, hip-hop. Recorded primarily in Kingston, Jamaica at the legendary Tuff Gong studios and Bob Marleys home studio, Troubadour is a hip-hop album like no other. With contributions by Damian Marley, Mos Def, Chubb Rock, Vernon Reid and Adam Levine and James Valentine (Maroon 5), Knaan successfully blends samples and live instrumentation for a sound thats both rooted in traditional African melodies and the classic hip-hop tradition. For more info go to http://www.myspace.com/knaanmusic