Akon
Akon is a Senegalese-American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, businessman, and philanthropist. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of “Locked Up”, the first single from his debut album Trouble. His second album, Konvicted, earned him a Grammy Award nomination of the single “Smack That”. He has since founded two record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution. He is one of the most succesfull & versatile R&B singers of the last decade. Akon often sings hooks for other artists and is currently accredited with over 200 guest appearances and 32 Billboard Hot 100 songs. He is the first solo artist to accomplish the feat of holding both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice.He has had 6 Grammy Awards Nominations and has produced many hits for artist such as Lady Gaga, T-Pain, Leona Lewis and more.
Akon released his new album Freedom on December 2, which spawned four singles: “Right Now (Na Na Na)”, “I’m So Paid” (featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy), “Beautiful” (featuring Kardinal Offishall and Colby O’Donis) and “We Don’t Care”, We Don’t Care has failed to chart significantly in many countries, only reaching 61 in the UK and 91 in Australia so far. The album has reached gold status by selling over 600,000 units. After the unexpected death of The King Of Pop Michael Jackson, who Akon was working with in Jackson’s last years. Akon released a tribute song called “Cry Out Of Joy”. Akon & Michael Jackson were close friends near the end of Jackon’s life.
Speaking of his relationship with Michael Jackson to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning ‘Blues & Soul’ in October 2008, Akon stated: “Mike is the King Of Pop, and I think that it’s a dream come true for ANY major artist/songwriter/producer to be able to work with the best in the business! You know, to work with someone like Mike – who’s created opportunities, opened doors for so many people, and achieved so much in the music world, period – is just an experience which would be enough to take home for ANYONE! I mean, when I first flew up to Vegas and met him it was almost like we’d known each other for YEARS! LITERALLY! ‘Cause musically we were on the same exact page! The chemistry was just INCREDIBLE! And, as a person, he was the most cool, humble dude I’ve ever met! I mean, we even actually got to go to the movies together – in broad daylight! Which was an experience in itself!”
David Guetta collaborated with Akon in Sexy Bitch, a first house track by Akon, and has been a “summer anthem” across the globe. Reaching #1 in more than 5 countries, and charting at 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 , it is featured on Guetta’s One Love album.
