Akon
"Akon" (born Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Nacka Puru Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam) in Dakar, Senegal on October 14, 1981) is an R&B singer who grew up in Senegal for the first seven years of his life, and from the age of seven he grew up in Union City, New Jersey. He is a Muslim, and the son of jazz percussionist Mor Thiam.
akOn released his debut album Trouble in 2004, which included the singles "Locked Up (Remix)" (featuring Styles P), "Lonely", "Bananza (Belly Dancer)", "Pot Of Gold" and "Ghetto". "Locked Up" reached the top 10 in the U.S. and the top 5 in the UK, and was written after akOn was jailed for three years for armed robbery. His road manager Robert “Screw” Montanez was gunned to death following a dispute in New Jersey in December 2005. "Ghetto" became a radio hit when it was remixed to include verses from legendary rappers Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac. In 2005, he released the single "Lonely" (which samples Bobby Vinton's "Mr. Lonely"). The song reached the top 10 on the U.S. charts, and was #1 in both Australia and the UK. His album also climbed to #1 in the UK in April, 2005. Recently, he gained more popularity after being featured in the song "Soul Survivor" with rapper Young Jeezy. He also has his own record label, called Konvict Muzik. Chilli from TLC recently signed with Konvict to release her debut album executive produced by Missy Elliott. Chilli and akOn are currently working on 4 new tracks for the soon to be released album called Dark and Light Shadows. akOn has a second album coming out soon, entitled In Your Eyes.
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | UK Singles | AUS Singles | |||
| 2004 | "Locked Up" | #8 | #5 | #33 | Trouble |
| 2005 | "Ghetto Remix" (Ali B & Yes-R featuring Akon) | #92 | - | - | Trouble |
| 2005 | "Lonely" | #4 | #1 | #1 | Trouble |
| 2005 | "Big Dog" | #100 | #92 | #0 | The Shaggy Dog |
| 2005 | "Bananza (Belly Dancer)" | #30 | #5 | #23 | Trouble |
| 2005 | "Pot Of Gold" | - | #77 | - | Trouble |
| 2005 | "Baby I'm Back" (Baby Bash featuring Akon) | #19 | - | - | Super Saucy |
| 2005 | "Soul Survivor" (Young Jeezy featuring Akon) | #4 | #16 | - | Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 |
| 2005 | "Can You Believe It?" (Styles P featuring Akon) | - | - | - | Time is Money |
| 2005 | "Moonshine" (Savage featuring Akon) | - | - | #9 | Moonshine |
| 2005 | "Stay Down" (Ruff Ryders featuring Flashy & Akon) | - | - | - | Redemption: Volume 4 |
| 2006 | "Snitch" (Obie Trice featuring Akon) | - | - | #39 | 2nd Rounds On Me |
| 2006 | "I Am Not My Hair (Konvict Remix)" (India Arie featuring Akon) | - | - | - | I Am Not My Hair: The Remixes |
| 2006 | "Gangsta Bop" (Relesed in July 2006) | - | - | - | |
Guest appearances
- 2005 "Moonshine" (Savage featuring Akon) NZ #1, Australia #9
- 2005 "Baby I'm Back" (Baby Bash featuring Akon) US #19
- 2005 "He's Leavin" (Leah Beabout) featuring Akon (unreleased)
- 2005 "Soul Survivor" (Young Jeezy featuring Akon) US #4 [UK Release: 23rd January 2006](Also appears on the "Gun Session" remix of this song, by Vybz Kartel, Shabba Ranks and Sizzla)
- 2005 "Can You Believe It" (Styles P featuring Akon)
- 2005 "Stay Down" (Ruff Ryders featuring Flashy & Akon) [UK Release: 12th December 2005]
- 2005 "Hustler's Story" (The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Scarface, Big Gee and Akon)
- 2005 "Miss Melody" (Miri Ben-Ari featuring Akon)
- 2005 "Gun In My Hand" (Booba featuring Akon)
- 2006 "U Got Me" (T-Pain featuring Akon)
- 2006 "Ur Not The Same" (T-Pain featuring Akon)
- 2006 "Party Gets Hot Tonight" (Rah Digga featuring Akon)
- 2006 "Find Us" (The Beatnuts featuring Akon)
- 2006 "Presidential Remix" (Youngbloodz featuring Akon)
- 2006 "I Am Not My Hair (Konvict Remix) India Arie feat. Akon)
- 2006 "Slow Wind Remix" R. Kelly Featuring Akon & Sean Paul)
- 2006 "Never Gonna Get It" Sean Biggs feat Topic & Akon
- 2006 "Look At Me Now" Obie Trice feat. Akon)
- 2006 "Someone" (Keith Sweat feat. Akon)
- 2006 "Watch Your Movements" (Black Rob feat. Akon)
- 2006 "On The Block All Day" (Serius Jones feat. Akon)
- 2006 "Girls" (Beenie Man feat. Akon)
- 2006 "Snitch" (Obie Trice feat. Akon)
- 2006 "Cross That Line" (Rick Ross feat. Akon)
- 2006 "Ghetto Story Remix" (Cham ft. Alica Keys and Akon)
- 2006 "Ghetto Soldier" (Papoose ft. Akon)
- 2006 "Im In Luv Wit A Stripper Remix" (T-Pain feat. Akon, R.Kelly,Twista, MJG, Pimp C, Paul Wall, and Too Short)
- 2006 "I Wanna Fuck You" (Snoop Dogg ft. Akon)
- 2006 "Blown Away" (Styles P feat. Akon)
Video Project
Akon is also planning to work on a full-length movie about his life. The title has been confirmed as "MoNeY, PoWeR, ReSpEcT: A Hustler's Dream", and the release date will be in late 2007.
Trivia
- When music channel The Box had a top ten weekly chart, which was calculated by the amount of video requests, Akon's Lonely became the longest running single on the top of the chart, spanning over 15 weeks. It was finally beaten by the smash hit "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt, much to akOn's chagrin. akOn has since verbally insulted Blunt, calling him a "fag".
- He appeared on an episode of CSI along with Obie Trice.
- Akon is an ex-armed robber.