Akon: Biography, Success Story, Singer

Akon’s biography is a compelling success story that spans from his humble beginnings in Senegal to becoming a global superstar. Known for his silky voice and unique blend of West African music with R&B, Akon first rose to fame with the release of his debut album Trouble in 2004. His journey through music and business ventures illustrates a narrative of creativity, resilience, and influence.

Early Life

Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam was born on April 16, 1973, in St. Louis, Missouri, into a Muslim family. His mother, Kine Gueye Thiam, was a dancer, and his father, Mor Thiam, was a percussionist with roots in a Toucouleur family of Quranic scholars from Kaolack, Senegal. Akon’s early years were split between the United States and Senegal, the latter of which he considers his “hometown.” During these formative years, he mastered five instruments: drums, guitar, and djembe.

At seven, Akon moved with his family to Union City, New Jersey, and later settled in Newark. The transition to life in New Jersey was challenging, particularly in making friends. In his teenage years, Akon and his older brother were left to fend for themselves in Jersey City after their parents relocated the rest of the family to Atlanta, Georgia. He attended William L. Dickinson High School during this period, which shaped much of his early experiences and musical influences.

Career

2003–2005: Early Stages and Debut Success with Trouble

In the early 2000s, Akon’s talents caught the eye of Devyne Stephens, the president of Upfront Megatainment. Introduced by rapper Lil Zane at Stephens’ rehearsal hall—a hub for artists like Usher and TLC—Akon’s potential quickly shone through. The relationship between Stephens and Akon started as mentorship, evolving into professional grooming as Stephens signed him to his production company. It wasn’t long before Akon’s work, notably the song “Lonely,” grabbed the attention of Universal’s imprint SRC Records. A&R Jerome “Knobody” Foster recognized Akon’s potential immediately, prompting a swift meeting with SRC CEO Steve Rifkind in Atlanta. The mutual respect between Foster and Akon set the foundation for what was to come.

Released on June 29, 2004, Akon’s debut album Trouble was a significant marker in his career. The album featured hits like “Locked Up,” “Lonely,” “Belly Dancer (Bananza),” “Pot of Gold,” and “Ghetto.” “Locked Up” climbed to number 8 in the US and number 5 in the UK. At the same time, “Ghetto” gained traction on the radio, especially after a remix featuring verses from 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. Akon’s music, a blend of his smooth West African-styled vocals with robust East Coast and Southern beats, often starts with the sound of a jail cell clanking shut, followed by Akon’s voice stating “Konvict.”

My ideas come when I least expect it, so I’ve always got to have a studio nearby or close by somewhere.

Akon

In 2005, Akon released the single “Lonely,” which samples Bobby Vinton’s “Mr. Lonely.” This track soared to the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit number one in Australia, the UK, and Germany. It also topped the UK album charts in April 2005. Akon’s “Lonely” held the record as the longest-running number-one single on music channel The Box’s top ten weekly charts, dominating for over fifteen weeks. During this prolific year, Akon featured on P-Money’s “Keep on Callin'” and Savage’s hit “Moonshine,” which topped the charts in New Zealand. His presence was also felt on Young Jeezy’s debut album with the critically acclaimed track “Soul Survivor.” In a somber turn at the year’s end, Akon’s manager, Robert Montanez, was tragically killed in a shooting in New Jersey.

In 2006, alongside Young Jeezy, Akon hinted at plans for a collaborative album, showcasing the promising direction of his evolving music career.

2006–2008:Expansion and Musical Triumphs with Konvicted

In 2006, Akon established his new record label, KonLive Distribution, under Interscope Records. His much-anticipated second album, Konvicted, was released in November 2006 and made a stellar debut at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 286,000 copies in its first week. The album quickly surpassed one million sales in the U.S. within six weeks, achieving platinum status by the seventh week and double platinum by the sixteenth. Konvicted remained in the top twenty of the Billboard 200 for 28 consecutive weeks, peaking at number two multiple times. By November 20, 2007, it had been certified triple platinum by the RIAA, marking three million units sold.

Konvicted featured star-studded collaborations with artists like Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Styles P. The first single, “Smack That,” featuring Eminem, released in August 2006, soared to number two on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining for five consecutive weeks. This single also set a record for the largest climb in the Hot 100’s 48-year history at the time, leaping from number 95 to number 7, driven by 67,000 downloads in its first week. “Smack That” was a Best Rap/Sung Collaboration contender at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.

Following that, “I Wanna Love You,” featuring Snoop Dogg, was released in September and became Akon’s first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and Snoop Dogg’s second. It held the top position for two consecutive weeks. January 2007 saw the release of “Don’t Matter,” which became his first solo number one and his second consecutive top charting on the Billboard Hot 100. Another single, “Mama Africa,” was released as a European single in July 2007, coinciding with the deluxe edition of Konvicted. “Sorry, Blame It on Me” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number seven in August 2007.

In addition to his music career, in February 2007, Akon launched his clothing line, Konvict Clothing, which offers a range of urban streetwear, including denim jeans, hoodies, T-shirts, and hats. He also introduced Aliaune, an upscale line featuring blazers and premium denim for both men and women.

Akon’s influence extended beyond his own albums. He produced and featured on Gwen Stefani’s “The Sweet Escape,” which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. He contributed to the global music scene by remixing “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” by Michael Jackson for the 25th-anniversary rerelease of Thriller and collaborated with Aventura and Wisin & Yandel on “All Up 2 You.” The track garnered nominations for Urban Song of the Year and Video Collaboration of the Year at the Premios Lo Nuestro 2010. Additionally, Akon signed Jayko, a Hispanic R&B and Reggaeton artist, to his label, further diversifying his musical influence.

2008–2009: Freedom and Collaborative Ventures

In the bustling years of 2008 and 2009, Akon released his third studio album, Freedom, on December 2, 2008. The album included hits like “Right Now (Na Na Na),” “I’m So Paid” featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy, “Beautiful” featuring Colby O’Donis and Kardinal Offishall, and “We Don’t Care.” Freedom achieved platinum status in the US, solidifying Akon’s continued impact on the music industry.

During this period, Akon was rumored to be talking with Pharrell and T-Pain about forming a rap supergroup, a collaboration that intrigued fans and the music community. He also took on significant roles, notably producing Flipsyde’s 2009 album State of Survival through KonLive Distribution and Cherrytree Records and serving as executive producer on Kardinal Offishall’s Not 4 Sale. The album’s first single, “Dangerous,” featured Akon and reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Akon’s influence extended into Lady Gaga‘s burgeoning career. He co-wrote her hit “Just Dance,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. His connections and collaborations showcased his versatility and ability to cross musical boundaries.

The year 2009 was marked by personal reflection for Akon following Michael Jackson’s unexpected death. Through the tribute song “Cry Out of Joy,” Akon shared his close relationship with Jackson. He also worked on “Hold My Hand,” a duet with Jackson that leaked in 2008 and was later included on Jackson’s posthumous album, Michael, released as a single in November 2010.

Akon’s collaborative spirit was evident as he worked with various artists across different music genres. He recorded “Put It on My Tab” with New Kids on the Block for their 2008 reunion album The Block, co-wrote and produced Leona Lewis’ single “Forgive Me,” and contributed to Whitney Houston’s 2009 comeback album I Look to You on the track “Like I Never Left.” His collaboration extended to Pitbull‘s “Shut It Down” from the album Rebelution and a remix of Matisyahu’s “One Day” from his album Light. Additionally, he co-produced Natalia Kills’ debut single, “Mirrors,” from her album Perfectionist.

In a significant social endeavor, Akon co-launched the project IsThereSomethingICanDo.com on March 25, 2009, in collaboration with Peter Buffett and partnered with DoSomething.org. This project coincided with the release of their song “Blood Into Gold,” which focused on human trafficking.

Akon also ventured into new musical territories with David Guetta in the house track “Sexy Bitch,” which topped charts in more than six countries and reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. He continued to make his mark globally by producing and recording “Oh Africa” for the 2010 World Cup with Pepsi.

Reflecting on his financial success, Forbes reported Akon’s earnings to be $13 million in 2011 and impressive figures in the preceding years: $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009, and $12 million in 2008, highlighting his significant and diverse contributions to both the music industry and global initiatives.

2010–2018: Unreleased Stadium Album

Between 2010 and 2018, Akon was involved in a series of musical projects, although he took a notable break from solo work. In September 2010, he released the single “Angel,” produced by Guetta. Despite peaking at number 56 on the Billboard charts, this track did not rank as high as his earlier work. That year, he performed “Angel” at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and traveled to Jamaica to collaborate with Damian, Julian, and Stephen Marley. His collaborative efforts included working with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg on the track “Kush,” which reached number 36 on the Billboard charts. Initially intended for Dr. Dre’s album Detox, “Kush” was eventually omitted from the album, which remained unreleased.

In 2010, Akon contributed to the charity single “We Are the World: 25 for Haiti,” aiding relief efforts following the devastating earthquake in Haiti. After nearly three years, he returned with the promotional single “Dirty Work,” featuring Wiz Khalifa in February 2013, peaking at number 31 on the Rhythmic Billboard charts. Later, in November 2013, he released the standalone single “So Blue.”

On January 1, 2015, Akon released five singles from his album Stadium, announcing it would feature five different genres: Euro, Pop, Urban, Island, and World. However, these singles did not chart. In November 2015, he revealed plans to release Stadium in four themed versions—Stadium-Island, Stadium-Urban, Stadium-World, and Stadium-House—exclusively through the Stadium mobile app. Yet, the album’s release was indefinitely postponed.

Throughout late 2015 and early 2016, Akon released several singles, including “Want Some,” “Hypnotized,” and “Good Girls Lie,” following a new deal with Atlantic Records. In April 2016, he appeared on the Chinese reality TV show I Am a Singer with Taiwanese singer Jeff Chang. He was featured on Joey Montana’s “Picky” remix alongside Chris Brown on Gucci Mane’s Michael Jackson tribute single “Moonwalk.”

In late 2017, he released Konvict Kartel Vol. 2, a mixtape in collaboration with Konvict signees. The following year, he teamed up with reggaeton singer Ozuna on the bilingual single “Coméntale,” marking his first Spanish-language venture in a Latin song. He adopted the nickname “El Negreeto” to explore more Spanish-language collaborations.

2019–present: Return to Music

Since 2019, Akon has returned to the music scene with several new ventures and album releases under his newly formed Akonik Label Group. In May 2019, he ventured into Latin music with the release of “Get Money,” featuring Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA. This track was initially intended as the lead single for his fourth album, El Negreeto, but it was not included in the final album version. El Negreeto was set to be released on August 30, 2019, but the date was moved to October 4, 2019.

Following this, on September 6, 2019, Akon released “Cómo No,” featuring Mexican-American singer Becky G. This song served as the lead single for El Negreeto. He continued his prolific output by releasing another album, Akonda, on October 25, 2019. Akon released his sixth studio album, Konnect, in December 2019, rounding out a busy year.

Akon City

In 2018, Akon announced an ambitious project with the Senegalese government to create a tourist destination called Akon City. The city is planned to operate primarily on a cryptocurrency-based economy, utilizing Akon’s cryptocurrency, Akoin, for transactions.

By January 13, 2020, Akon announced on Twitter that all agreements for Akon City had been finalized and the project was moving forward. He expressed excitement about the future, sharing a photo with Senegal’s President Macky Sall and looking forward to welcoming guests.

Just finalized the agreement for AKON CITY in Senegal. Looking forward to hosting you there in the future pic.twitter.com/dsoYpmjnpf

— AKON (@Akon) January 13, 2020

In June 2020, KE International, known for their work on Mwale Medical and Technology City, secured a $6 billion contract to construct Akon City. The first phase of construction, scheduled to start in 2023 and complete by 2026, includes building essential infrastructure such as roads, a hospital, residences, hotels, a police station, a waste facility, a school, and a solar power plant.

Despite these plans, construction had yet to start as scheduled, leading to concerns among local communities about the delay. On September 1, 2020, Akon held a news conference to mark the laying of the first stone of Akon City. However, the site remained underdeveloped, with only a tiny, unnoticed placard marking the significant project.

Additionally, Akon faces legal challenges in the United States. Devyne Stephens has filed a lawsuit against him, claiming nearly $4 million owed in debt linked to the development of Akon City. Stephens has alleged that Akon City and Akoin are part of a fraudulent scheme.

Film and Television

Akon is expanding his talents into television and film, revealing plans for various projects that showcase his multifaceted career. One of his ventures is a reality television show titled My Brother’s Keeper. The show will feature Akon’s two brothers, who resemble him, navigating Atlanta and attempting to fool the public and gain VIP treatment by posing as the music star. This concept was inspired by frequent instances where his brothers were mistaken for him in Atlanta.

In 2006, Akon announced plans for a full-length movie called Illegal Alien based on his own life experiences. Reports have indicated that actor Mekhi Phifer is set to portray Akon in this biopic.

Furthering his involvement in the film, Akon confirmed in a 2007 interview that he was part of a Cocaine Cowboys project. This film delves into the life of Jon Roberts, a notorious pilot for the Medellín Cartel.

Akon has also appeared in reality TV and wrestling shows. He was a guest on Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 2 on November 30, 2007, and appeared on WWE Raw on November 17, 2008, where he was mentioned during Santino Marella’s speech.

His contributions to cinema include working with the music director duo Vishal–Shekhar on the song “Chammak Challo” for the 2011 Bollywood film Ra.One. Akon made his acting debut in the 2012 Nigerian-American film Black November and starred in the 2014 action movie American Heist alongside Hayden Christensen and Adrien Brody under the direction of Sarik Andreasyan. These roles highlight his versatility and commitment to branching into new creative territories.

Personal Life

As he revealed in a 2007 interview, Akon’s personal life includes fathering six children with three women with whom he maintains strong relationships. He prefers to shield his family from the public eye, valuing their privacy above all.

Professionally, beyond his music career, Akon is deeply involved in the diamond industry. He owns a diamond mine in South Africa and has been vocal about his skepticism regarding blood diamonds, often dismissing the concept as a fabrication popularized by the movie industry. However, Akon acknowledges the reality of blood diamonds and is committed to ethical practices in his mining operations. He ensures his mine operates responsibly, focusing on benefiting local communities.

Akon also openly discusses his faith and lifestyle choices; he is a practicing Muslim and abstains from alcohol.

In his leisure time, Akon enjoys soccer and avidly supports the English Premier League club Chelsea F.C. His passion for the sport was highlighted during his appearance on the ITV2 show The Hot Desk, where he expressed his fandom for the team.

Controversies

In April 2007, Akon was at the center of a controversy after an incident during a performance at the Zen Nightclub in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. During the show, Akon engaged in a staged act with Danah Alleyne, who was 15 years old at the time and the daughter of a pastor. This act, which simulated a sexual encounter, took place despite the nightclub’s age policy requiring patrons to be over 21. The event, captured by Akon’s crew, quickly spread across the internet. On April 20, 2007, the footage was broadcast by local channel CCN TV6, leading to widespread criticism from various media outlets.

The fallout from this event was significant. Verizon Wireless, reacting to the public outcry, removed Akon’s ringtones from their offerings and withdrew their sponsorship of The Sweet Escape Tour, where Akon was scheduled to open for Gwen Stefani. While Universal Music Group did not discipline Akon directly, they took steps to have the controversial video removed from YouTube, citing copyright infringement.

The incident also attracted criticism from conservative circles, with commentators such as Brent Bozell, Michelle Malkin, Laura Ingraham, and Bill O’Reilly accusing Akon of degrading women. Malkin furthered the debate by posting commentary and footage from Akon’s music videos and the concert on YouTube, which Universal Music Group initially had removed under a DMCA takedown notice. However, after intervention by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which argued that the removal was a misuse of copyright law, the claim was rescinded, and the video was reinstated on YouTube.

In another controversy, in 2010, Akon faced backlash from Buddhist groups in Sri Lanka, who took offense to his music video for “Sexy Chick,” which featured a Buddha statue in the background. The uproar was strong enough that the Sri Lankan Government denied him a visa, effectively canceling his planned concert in the country.

Legal Issues

Akon has publicly shared details of his alleged involvement in an auto-theft ring, claiming he served a cumulative three years in prison between 1999 and 2002. However, his account was disputed in April 2008 by The Smoking Gun, which presented court records and interviews with detectives, indicating that Akon was neither convicted of any crime nor did he serve the claimed prison time. In response, Akon clarified that while he never served a single three-year term, he had multiple shorter incarcerations that collectively amounted to three years.

On June 3, 2007, an incident occurred involving Akon and a concertgoer during a concert at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, New York. After someone in the audience threw an object on stage, Akon requested that the person be brought up. Security complied, and Akon dramatically hoisted the attendee over his shoulders and threw him back into the crowd. This act was captured on video and later reviewed by local police. Akon later claimed the incident was a staged act that led to his next song. However, the Fishkill police filed charges against him for endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment. Akon was arraigned on these charges in Fishkill Court on December 3, 2007.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Trouble (2004)
• Konvicted (2006)
• Freedom (2008)
• El Negreeto (2019)
• Akonda (2019)

Final Reflections

Akon’s biography closes on a note of inspiration, marking him as a successful artist and a visionary entrepreneur. His success story is highlighted by his ventures in music, with albums like Konvicted and Freedom, and his significant philanthropic efforts. Akon’s life and career inspire many, proving that dedication and passion can pave the way for profound impact and success.

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