The Click Hear crew will be taking a break for the next two weeks, but you shouldn't let that stop you from swinging by this spot to (re)discover some of our favourite tracks from the past year. There's no real rhyme or reason behind these picks; they're just the songs that have helped soundtrack the last 12 months for us. Enjoy and have a happy holidays.
K'naan recorded much of his second album, Troubadour, at Bob Marley's legendary Tuff Gong studios. But on this recently released new track, he outwardly plays tribute to the reggae pioneer.
"Belly Full" is actually taken from The Messengers EP, a new collaborative project between K'naan and J. Period. For those unaware of J. Period, his meticulous, conceptual approach to mixtapes puts the DJs who yell over tracks to shame.
The Messengers EP is a tribute to iconic and legendary musicians. As well as Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and Fela Kuti are also honoured in the first tracks to surface from the mixtape that will be gradually released online in five parts.
"Belly Full" reworks Marley's "Them Belly Full" and features K'naan, alongside Duck Down's Steele and Kardinal Offishall, for a notable collaboration between two of Canadian hip-hop's most visible figures. Kardinal starts off the track in a stern, righteous mood and later passes the baton to K'naan, who maintains the theme, but isn't averse to injecting a little humour into the proceedings. It would be interesting to hear a collaboration on an "official" project, but in the meantime, it's obvious both enjoyed taking advantage of the artistic freedom The Messengers project affords.
Listen to, and download, "Belly Full" here.
K'naan recorded much of his second album, Troubadour, at Bob Marley's legendary Tuff Gong studios. But on this recently released new track, he outwardly plays tribute to the reggae pioneer.
"Belly Full" is actually taken from The Messengers EP, a new collaborative project between K'naan and J. Period. For those unaware of J. Period, his meticulous, conceptual approach to mixtapes puts the DJs who yell over tracks to shame.
The Messengers EP is a tribute to iconic and legendary musicians. As well as Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and Fela Kuti are also honoured in the first tracks to surface from the mixtape that will be gradually released online in five parts.
"Belly Full" reworks Marley's "Them Belly Full" and features K'naan, alongside Duck Down's Steele and Kardinal Offishall, for a notable collaboration between two of Canadian hip-hop's most visible figures. Kardinal starts off the track in a stern, righteous mood and later passes the baton to K'naan, who maintains the theme, but isn't averse to injecting a little humour into the proceedings. It would be interesting to hear a collaboration on an "official" project, but in the meantime, it's obvious both enjoyed taking advantage of the artistic freedom The Messengers project affords.
Listen to, and download, "Belly Full" here.
