Song of the day: K'naan - 15 Minutes Away

All apologies about the video quality, gang, but I wanted to show something live and there wasn't exactly a lot to choose from. Anyway, you can hit up the studio version of 15 Minutes from his newest album Troubadour here.

The album could be the big break he needs, featuring heavyweights like Damian Marley and Mos Def, while pumping out a record that's heavy on issues and light on its feet at the same time.

K'naan's an interesting hombre. He grew up in Somalia during the Somali Civil war and his dad bailed to drive a cab in New York and send cash back to the rest of the family. As the story goes, K'naan and the rest of his family finally skipped Somalia in 1991 on the last plane out of the country to join his father in Harlem before they finally settled in Toronto.

All Somalis know that gangsterism isn't to brag about.The kids that I was growing up with in Rexdale would wear baggy track 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. -K'naan

So welcome to Toronto. That's where K'naan (meaning "traveller") started to learn english with the help of some Nas and Rakim albums. You can still hear some of that influence in his flow. By 10th grade, he ditched the books and hit the road for the luxurious life of the Open Mic rambler.

Needless to say, this guy knows what it's like to wonder where the next paycheck's coming from, but still brings a positive vibe that won't get out of your head.

Stick this on your iPod and go for a run. You'll come out of it a better person.

Some K'naan reads: K'naan at Coachella, K'naan on pirates and peace, NFL Drafts K'naan

Other tight tracks on Troubadour: Fire in Freetown, Fatima, Wavin' Flag, I Come Prepared (f. Marley), Bang Bang, (f. Adam Levine - dude from Maroon 5)