Features

All Categories

K'naan Demands Apology From South African Newspaper

Posted Jul 12th 2010 7:15PM by Carter Maness
Comments

Toronto-based hip-hop artist K'naan has had a wild month. The Somali-expat's song 'Wavin' Flag' was selected as Coca-Cola's official anthem for the World Cup, so he's been running around Johannesburg at official events to promote the company. With the tournament over and Spain reigning victorious, The Times newspaper in Johannesburg published a report that ripped K'naan for being a real pain for organizers and promoters of the event.

"There were several times when he made it so hard for us to deal with him," the article stated. "He complains and whines about the things he has to do. He even said he would not go to Alexandra Township because it was dangerous. We've received complaints from people claiming that he is mean and refuses to take pictures with them, and he also told some people that he wished he could get out of the contract and go back home."

K'naan caught wind of the article this morning (July 12) and is now demanding an apology from the paper. He, rightfully, points out that all of the anecdotes remain anonymous and attributed an "insider." It appears that this will remain one of those artist versus media situations where neither side backs down.

"I just read a Times Live article entitled 'K'naan is difficult,'" K'naan tweeted. "A piece entirely based on the opinion of 'an insider' who is never named. It's unfortunate when one of the biggest (papers) in South Africa can publish a rumor piece without ever qualifying any of their statements."

K'naan performed shows in 86 different countries on his World Cup tour while 'Wavin' Flag' has been remixed as a Haiti benefit single and is now topping charts in the U.K., Austria, Germany, Ireland and Canada. Watch his performance at the World Cup kick-off after the jump.

Filed under: Hip-Hop News, What's Beef?, Sports
Email This

Add a Comment

Sign in »

2 Comments

Filter by:

Leeee10000

how could you be so gullible to this guy who 'claims' K'naan is a 'jerk'. If anything this guy who accused K'naan is longing for fame not K'naan. So next time you say something about K'naan that is not true, check your facts and get it qualified. To my fellow countryman, K'naan, I applaud you for doing Somalia and the rest of Africa.

July 22 2010 at 3:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

proseco29

What a relief to see truth come out in the media!!!! FINALLY!!!!
K'naan is a nice guy on the outside but is a real dude who is desperate for fame. Although he has an extent of talent as many other artists, k'naan does not know how to speak to people with manners let alone his own wife! He degrades other artists AND wants to SO badly seem that he is from some rough ghetto life when he grew up in a fortunate place like Canada most of his life. WHY Lie??????

I found K'naan to be mean, unreasonable and crude.

Grow up audience and smell the fakeness!!!!
This guy sells himself to a couple of American rappers and thinks he is the best artist in the world. You got some luck with your corny song that only corny europeans would eat up. Realize that no matter who you are, you must treat everyone with respect and manners.

Go back to Canada and get a life, grow some and be real about who you really are and oh, learn how to love your wife with respect.

July 19 2010 at 12:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply