K'Naan and J.Period Pay Homage

I’ve been a fan of K’Naan since his Dusty Foot Philosopher LP, and I continue to dig almost everything he puts out. He’s a rapper from Somalia who seems to really put heart in the verses he drops, no matter where they are – a refreshing change from Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne types who often seem to phone it in. “America,” from his latest album Troubador, remains one of my favorite songs of the year.

Recently, he joined forces with producer J.Period to drop a quick little 3-song “Digi EP,” released for free over the information super highway. It’s called The Messenger, and contains tributes to three iconic artists – Fela Kuti, Bob Dylan, and Bob Marley. “Let’s Start,” the Fela Kuti tribute, features blaring horns and great bounce. The Dylan homage, “Relationships Lay,” is the least inspiring of the three, but features some pretty good rhymes over a familiar melody. The third tune - dedicated to Bob Marley - features a guest spot by Kardinal Offishal, and some of the most aggressive rhymes of the EP. It goes hard and hits well.

This is the type of release that I love to see: it’s a free release from some great young artists, paying respect to the forefathers of the music they are producing. It’s a gift to fans, a labor of love, and a sign of the direction music is headed. Listen to the message The Messengers are spitting.

K’Naan & J.Period – Let’s Start (Fela Kuti Tribute) (YSI) (filesavr)

K’Naan & J.Period – Relationships Lay (Bob Dylan Tribute) (YSI) (filesavr)

K’Naan & J.Period f. Kardinal Offishal – Belly Full (Bob Marley Tribute) (YSI) (filesavr)