Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Bongo Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam [ 1 ](born April 16, 1973), known asAkon(pronounced / ˈ eɪ k ɒ n /), is an American R&Band hip hop recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. [ 2 ]He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of " Locked Up", the first single from his debut album Trouble.
He has since founded two successful
record labels, Konvict Muzikand Kon Live Distribution. His second album, Konvictedreceived three nominations for the Grammy Awards in two categories, Best Contemporary R&B Albumfor Konvictedalbum and Best Rap/Sung Collaborationfor " Smack That" and " I Wanna Love You".
He is the first solo artist to hold both the number one and two spots simultaneously on theBillboardHot 100 charts twice. [ 3 ]Akon has had four songs certified as 3x platinum, three songs certified as 2x platinum, more than
ten songs certified as 1x platinum and more than ten songs certified as gold in digital sales. Akon has sung songs in other languages including Tamil, Hindiand Spanish. He was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the #1 selling artist for master ringtones in the world.
Akon often provides vocalsas a featured artist and is currently credited with over 300 guest appearances and more than 35 Billboard Hot 100songs. He has worked with numerous performers such as Michael Jackson, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Whitney Houston, Bone Thugs- N-Harmony, Gwen Stefaniand many
more artists. He has had five Grammy Awardsnominations and has produced many hits for artists such as Lady Gaga, Colby O'Donis, Kardinal Offishall, Leona Lewisand T-Pain.
Forbes ranked Akon 80th (Power Rank) in Forbes Celebrity 100in 2010 [ 4 ]and 5th in 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa list, in 2011. [ 5 ]Billboard ranked Akon No. 6 on the list of Top Digital Songs Artists of the decade. [ 6 ]
Early life
Akon was born in St. Louis, and spent much of his childhood in the West African country Senegal, which he
describes as his "hometown". The child of a dancer mother and a percussionist father, Mor Thiam, Akon learned to play five instruments, including drums, guitar and djembe. [ 7 ]At age 7, he moved with his family to Union City, New Jersey, [ 8 ]splitting his time between the United States and Senegal until settling in Newark, New Jersey. [ 7 ]Growing up in New Jersey, Akon had difficulties getting along with other children. When he and his older brother reached high school, his parents left them on their own in Jersey Cityand moved the rest of the family to Atlanta, Georgia. [ 9 ]
Akon has stated in interviews that his full
name is Aliaune Damala Akon Thiam and that as a Muslim, he has never drunk alcohol or smoked. [ 10 ]although there is some ambiguity and debate about Akon's legal name and birth date. Akon is usually credited as Aliaune Thiam. [ 11 ] [ 12 ]In addition to the longer form, Akon's full name has been reported both as Aliaune Badara Thiam and Alioune Badara Thiam [ 13 ]and the former was used on an official document issues against the rapper by the county of Dutchess, New York. [ 14 ]
In regards to his birth date, Akon is very protective of it, which is the reason many media outlets have reported incorrect
dates. However, legal documents released by The Smoking Gunlist Akon's name as Aliaune Damala Thiam and his date of birth as April 16, 1973. [ 15 ]
Music career
2003–05: Discovery andTrouble
Akon's alleged three years in jail saw him begin to recognize his music abilities and develop an appreciation for his musical background. Music mogul Devyne Stephens, president of Upfront Megatainment first heard about Akon when the rapper Lil' Zanebrought him
along to Stephens' rehearsal hall, a place that at the time saw talents such as Usherand TLCbeing developed. The relationship between Stephens and Akon began as a friendship and mentorship, with the young artist regularly stopping by to ask for advice, but when Akon lost his deal with Elektra Stephens signed him to his production company and began grooming him professionally. [ 16 ]The songs Akon recorded with Stephens were brought to the attention of Universal's imprint SRC Records. [ 16 ]In an interview with HitQuartersSRC A&R Jerome Fostersaid, "What caught my attention right away was "Lonely", and I said, 'this kid is official – this is a
huge record." [ 16 ]Foster and SRC CEO Steve Rifkind immediately boarded a private plane to Atlanta to meet the young artist. [ 16 ]Akon knew of Foster's work as producer Knobodyand so there was a mutual respect for one another and the pair hit it off. [ 16 ]
Akon increased his exposure further by collaborating with overseas artists, including New Zealand's rapper Savage(" Moonshine" from album of the same name) and hip-hop producer P-Money("Keep on Callin'" from Magic City), performing choruses as a featured vocalist.
Akon's solo debut album, Troublewas
released on June 29, 2004. It spawned the singles " Locked Up" and " Lonely", " Belly Dancer (Bananza)", " Pot Of Gold", and " Ghetto." "Locked Up" reached 8th position in the U.S. and 5th in the UK. "Ghetto" became a radio hit when it was remixedby DJ Green Lanternto include verses from rappers 2Pacand The Notorious B.I.G. The album is a hybrid of Akon's silky, West African-styled vocals mixed with East Coast and Southern beats. Most of Akon's songs begin with the sound of the clank of a jail cell's door with him uttering the word "Konvict". [ 17 ]
In 2005, he released the single "Lonely"
(which samples Bobby Vinton's " Mr. Lonely"). The song reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped the charts in Australia, the UK and Germany. His album also climbed to number one in the UK in April 2005. When music channel The Boxhad 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 fifteen weeks. Akon then released another single featuring with a New Zealand rapper, Savagewith the single Moonshine, which had become a success in both New Zealand and Australia, becoming number one in the
New Zealand charts. In 2005, He made his first critically acclaimed guest appearance on Young Jeezy's debut album, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, with the song " Soul Survivor." In December the same year his manager, Robert Montanez was killed in a shooting after a dispute in New Jersey.
In 2006, Akon and Young Jeezy suggested plans for a collaborative album.
He has since founded two successful
record labels, Konvict Muzikand Kon Live Distribution. His second album, Konvictedreceived three nominations for the Grammy Awards in two categories, Best Contemporary R&B Albumfor Konvictedalbum and Best Rap/Sung Collaborationfor " Smack That" and " I Wanna Love You".
He is the first solo artist to hold both the number one and two spots simultaneously on theBillboardHot 100 charts twice. [ 3 ]Akon has had four songs certified as 3x platinum, three songs certified as 2x platinum, more than
ten songs certified as 1x platinum and more than ten songs certified as gold in digital sales. Akon has sung songs in other languages including Tamil, Hindiand Spanish. He was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the #1 selling artist for master ringtones in the world.
Akon often provides vocalsas a featured artist and is currently credited with over 300 guest appearances and more than 35 Billboard Hot 100songs. He has worked with numerous performers such as Michael Jackson, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Whitney Houston, Bone Thugs- N-Harmony, Gwen Stefaniand many
more artists. He has had five Grammy Awardsnominations and has produced many hits for artists such as Lady Gaga, Colby O'Donis, Kardinal Offishall, Leona Lewisand T-Pain.
Forbes ranked Akon 80th (Power Rank) in Forbes Celebrity 100in 2010 [ 4 ]and 5th in 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa list, in 2011. [ 5 ]Billboard ranked Akon No. 6 on the list of Top Digital Songs Artists of the decade. [ 6 ]
Early life
Akon was born in St. Louis, and spent much of his childhood in the West African country Senegal, which he
describes as his "hometown". The child of a dancer mother and a percussionist father, Mor Thiam, Akon learned to play five instruments, including drums, guitar and djembe. [ 7 ]At age 7, he moved with his family to Union City, New Jersey, [ 8 ]splitting his time between the United States and Senegal until settling in Newark, New Jersey. [ 7 ]Growing up in New Jersey, Akon had difficulties getting along with other children. When he and his older brother reached high school, his parents left them on their own in Jersey Cityand moved the rest of the family to Atlanta, Georgia. [ 9 ]
Akon has stated in interviews that his full
name is Aliaune Damala Akon Thiam and that as a Muslim, he has never drunk alcohol or smoked. [ 10 ]although there is some ambiguity and debate about Akon's legal name and birth date. Akon is usually credited as Aliaune Thiam. [ 11 ] [ 12 ]In addition to the longer form, Akon's full name has been reported both as Aliaune Badara Thiam and Alioune Badara Thiam [ 13 ]and the former was used on an official document issues against the rapper by the county of Dutchess, New York. [ 14 ]
In regards to his birth date, Akon is very protective of it, which is the reason many media outlets have reported incorrect
dates. However, legal documents released by The Smoking Gunlist Akon's name as Aliaune Damala Thiam and his date of birth as April 16, 1973. [ 15 ]
Music career
2003–05: Discovery andTrouble
Akon's alleged three years in jail saw him begin to recognize his music abilities and develop an appreciation for his musical background. Music mogul Devyne Stephens, president of Upfront Megatainment first heard about Akon when the rapper Lil' Zanebrought him
along to Stephens' rehearsal hall, a place that at the time saw talents such as Usherand TLCbeing developed. The relationship between Stephens and Akon began as a friendship and mentorship, with the young artist regularly stopping by to ask for advice, but when Akon lost his deal with Elektra Stephens signed him to his production company and began grooming him professionally. [ 16 ]The songs Akon recorded with Stephens were brought to the attention of Universal's imprint SRC Records. [ 16 ]In an interview with HitQuartersSRC A&R Jerome Fostersaid, "What caught my attention right away was "Lonely", and I said, 'this kid is official – this is a
huge record." [ 16 ]Foster and SRC CEO Steve Rifkind immediately boarded a private plane to Atlanta to meet the young artist. [ 16 ]Akon knew of Foster's work as producer Knobodyand so there was a mutual respect for one another and the pair hit it off. [ 16 ]
Akon increased his exposure further by collaborating with overseas artists, including New Zealand's rapper Savage(" Moonshine" from album of the same name) and hip-hop producer P-Money("Keep on Callin'" from Magic City), performing choruses as a featured vocalist.
Akon's solo debut album, Troublewas
released on June 29, 2004. It spawned the singles " Locked Up" and " Lonely", " Belly Dancer (Bananza)", " Pot Of Gold", and " Ghetto." "Locked Up" reached 8th position in the U.S. and 5th in the UK. "Ghetto" became a radio hit when it was remixedby DJ Green Lanternto include verses from rappers 2Pacand The Notorious B.I.G. The album is a hybrid of Akon's silky, West African-styled vocals mixed with East Coast and Southern beats. Most of Akon's songs begin with the sound of the clank of a jail cell's door with him uttering the word "Konvict". [ 17 ]
In 2005, he released the single "Lonely"
(which samples Bobby Vinton's " Mr. Lonely"). The song reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped the charts in Australia, the UK and Germany. His album also climbed to number one in the UK in April 2005. When music channel The Boxhad 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 fifteen weeks. Akon then released another single featuring with a New Zealand rapper, Savagewith the single Moonshine, which had become a success in both New Zealand and Australia, becoming number one in the
New Zealand charts. In 2005, He made his first critically acclaimed guest appearance on Young Jeezy's debut album, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, with the song " Soul Survivor." In December the same year his manager, Robert Montanez was killed in a shooting after a dispute in New Jersey.
In 2006, Akon and Young Jeezy suggested plans for a collaborative album.
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