Avg Rating: 
3.7 ( 21 total votes )
K'NAAN - Nothing to Lose
Artist: K'NAAN
Featuring: Nas
Producer: Chuck Harmony
Album: Country, God, or the Girl
Label: A&M/Octone
Mixing introspective street rhymes with a ballad style chorus isn’t anything new in hip-hop. This style allows for worthy lyrics to escape prior to the sing-a-long hook that begs to get stuck in the heads of the listeners. Somali-Canadian artist K’NAAN has made several of these songs before (just check out Wavin Flag), but the worldly hip-hop singer and rapper didn’t have the large critical and commercial expectations that he now faces. In an attempt to get back in the swing of things, K’NAAN has released new single Nothing to Lose, featuring the legendary Nas. The rags-to-riches theme runs throughout the song as both K’NAAN and Nas discuss doing menial jobs, hustling and having to navigate obstacles; there aren’t many places with more obstacles than Somalia, even Queensbridge. Produced by Chuck Harmony, the backdrop to the song is simplistic and light, allowing it to hold up through multiple repetition. For more from K’NAAN, his new five-track EP, More Beautiful Than Silence, also featuring fellow Candian Nelly Furtado, is set for release on January 24, followed by a new full-length album set to be released this spring.
This song first appeared on the
Top Hip Hop / R&B Chart
on January 23, 2012
Listen to More: K'NAAN , Nas , Music Videos, R&B/Pop, Hitmaker Written by JC Poppe
More From K'NAAN
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Member Reviews and Ratings
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11866 |
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K’NAAN is one of my favorite artists and this song release (and EP to follow) comes at the perfect time. I was just beginning to wonder when we would hear some new material... and out of nowhere... bam! This lands in our inbox. Welcome back, K’NAAN.
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2949 |
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Fan of the crazy verses, not so much of the chorus, goes hard.
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Member |
Goes hard
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 8297 |
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Not feeling this chorus at all. K'NAAN was OK on the verse. Nas was good though. I'll throw it into rotation.
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 1684 |
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This is great, K'NAAN kills it on this track.
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 477 |
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Quite an annoying and random chorus, totally different vibe from the hard street verses. Like Danielle said on RefinedHype, it sounds like something to intro a Disney Channel show.
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1069 |
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I dig it verse and hook
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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K'NAAN was great in the third verse, Nas killed it too. Good to hear some new material from both.
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 380 |
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verses are dope...hook is ok...production is ok
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 715 |
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There is some thing about K'NAAN's voice which puts me off. I like it for a minute, but then his voice gets on my nerves a little bit. His energy is great as always. Nas saved the track for me, I always enjoy hearing him spit.
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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woooh! this joint is DOPE!
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| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 12 |
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Was going to give this 5 star just 'cause i been waiting since Troubadour for some new material for Knaan.
I like the hook. Will certainly get him some airplay and some new fans. & its stuck in my head. Nas goes in |
| Posted on Jan 20, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 172 |
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this is sick
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| Posted on Jan 21, 2012 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1805 |
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Knaan is the man!!
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| Posted on Jan 23, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 2 |
K'aan and nas went hard, hip hop aint it without 'em#legit
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| Posted on Jan 23, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 1840 |
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Two great artists coming together and both do their thing on the verses. I expected much better though, the chorus seems to be lacking
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| Posted on Jan 24, 2012 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 128 |
"This video is private"
:( |
| Posted on Jan 24, 2012 |
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| Posted on Oct 19, 2012 |
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Tastemaker |
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All the elements of a great song... from lyrics to the production to the delivery, this song has it all.
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| Posted on Dec 12, 2012 |
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