Fridae

It's safe to say that Toronto-based rapper K'naan got a real good taste for pop after his success with "Wavin' Flag" that received a steady push from Coca-Cola. The soda giant used the song in a massive global advertising campaign in support of the 2010 FIFA World Soccer Championship that helped the rapper break into the mainstream. "Wavin' Flag" was followed by the equally radio-friendly "Bang, Bang" that featured none other than Maroon 5's Adam Levine, and collaborations with Keane and Mary J Blige. 

With his rising success in the pop world, K'naan decided to take a break from his politically-charged raps, and continue his experiments with a sound prepped for mass consumption that would more easily resonate with a global audience. He been working with a bunch of pop heavy-weights (Ryan Tedder, Bruno Mars) and industry insiders have been buzzing for months about the rapper's new album that is about the get a major push. 

The brand-new "Is Anybody Out There" is an excellent example of K'naan's evolving, pop-savvy aesthetic. With lyrics about never giving up, even when you're feeling down, he taps into a feeling that people everywhere can easily relate to and that never gets old. Furtado amplifies that sentiment with her one-of-kind vocals, reaching out to the sky and crying out, "I don't want to be left in this world behind, say you'll run to my side." 

It's pretty darn exciting to hear Nelly Furtado resurface again on this new K'naan single. It's been forever since we last heard from her after she won her GRAMMY for "Mi Plan." But rest assured that more Furtado goodness should be unleashed upon soon. She's has been working with Passion Pit and others on her new LP that is scheduled to be released this year. 

"Is Anybody Out There" is taken from K'naan brand-new EP, entitled "More Beautiful Than Silence," that also includes the very good and autobiographic "Better" that features hitmaker Ryan Tedder. That track can easily be the next big single for K'naan. Grab the entire new EP on iTunes now.