K’naan’s first ‘in’ in the music business was when he became friends with Canadian promoter Sol Guy, who helped him secure his first speaking engagement before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1999, where K’naan performed a spoken word piece which criticized the UN (United Nations) for its failed peacekeeping missions to Somalia. This performance led to other UN events and helped K’naan meet Canadian producers Brian West and Jarvis Church. K’naan went on to tour and collaborate with such artists as Nelly Furtado, Mos Def, will.i.am, The Roots, Dead Prez and Pharoahe Monch. In addition to his artistic career, K’naan has shown his philanthropic side in such efforts as becoming a co-spokesman with singer/activist Bono to raise awareness of the 2011 drought in Eastern Africa and teaming up with Sol Guy to perform at various concerts in support of the same cause.