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It’s pretty rare to come across an act the caliber of Somali-Canadian-Earthling K’naan. I can safely say he’s the only artist at SXSW whose last gig before jumping a jet to ATX was playing at the UN General Assembly. That probably makes him the only person to have rapped for Nas and Desmond Tutu.  Lucky badge-holders are already lining up to catch K’naan’s next set at one of the festival’s most interesting evenings of music showcases, Afro-Punk, which will be hitting Austin Music Hall Thursday night. The collection of artists are all leading the charge away from over-commercialized rap and into uncharted territories. Big Boi will be playing with a punk band along with Janelle Moreau, K’naan and Dallas Austin.

Everyone seems to be catching onto the fact that bling looks even more ridiculous and out of touch in a depression and that self-styled gangstas don’t compare to actual war veterans. K’naan grew up in Mogadishu, which has been torn to pieces as a vicious civil war has replaced any semblance of a Somali government. At age 13 he landed in Toronto, Canada and began learning English through rap. Troubador, his third album, was just released and seems to have clued the masses into the phenomena critics have written about for years.

“My albums are just very much about myself and who I am,” K’naan says. The new attention isn’t a result of anything different he’s doing, but thinks the conditions may have ripened listeners to his intelligent, aware lyrics and unique full blend of beats. K’naan says he’s been listening to a lot of Tenu Wer, a blues-rock band from the Mali desert; Dylan; Fela Kuti and Studio One era Bob Marley.

K’naan is on slow boil for a worldwide explosion on the music scene, and for a good reason. He’s got the charisma, clarity and music that transcends borders and cultures and taps into the elements of music that bring people happiness without tranquilizing them from reality. If you get the chance, take Tutu’s tip and check out K’naan.

Words by Jacob Cottingham, Photo by  Jamie Newman