AKON

Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam, known by his stage name Akon, was born on April 16, 1973, in St. Louis, Missouri. He hails from a Muslim family and has Senegalese roots. His mother, Kine Gueye Thiam, is a dancer, and his father, Mor Thiam, is a percussionist. Mor Thiam was born into a Toucouleur family of Quranic scholars in Kaolack, Senegal. Akon spent a significant part of his childhood in Senegal, considering it his "hometown."

From a young age, Akon displayed a passion for music and developed his musical talents. He learned to play several instruments, including drums, guitar, and djembe. At the age of seven, he and his family moved to Union City, New Jersey, and later split their time between the United States and Senegal before settling in Newark. Akon faced challenges while growing up in New Jersey and struggled to get along with other children. When he and his older brother reached high school, their parents moved the rest of the family to Atlanta, Georgia, leaving them to fend for themselves in Jersey City.

Akon attended William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City. It was during this time that he began to make significant strides in his music career. Akon's talent caught the attention of music mogul Devyne Stephens, the president of Upfront Megatainment. Stephens, impressed by Akon's abilities, took him under his wing and became both a friend and mentor. Akon frequently sought advice from Stephens, who eventually signed him to his production company and played a crucial role in shaping his professional career.

Stephens introduced Akon's music to Universal's imprint SRC Records, which led to a pivotal moment in his career. The song "Lonely" garnered widespread attention and recognition, impressing A&R executive Jerome "Knobody" Foster. Foster described the track as a "huge record" and was immediately captivated by Akon's talent. Alongside SRC CEO Steve Rifkind, Foster flew to Atlanta to meet Akon, forging a strong working relationship and mutual respect.

In 2004, Akon released his debut album "Trouble," which gained significant success with the release of the singles "Locked Up" featuring Styles P and "Lonely." The latter became a breakout hit, propelling Akon into the limelight. His distinctive voice and fusion of R&B, hip-hop, and pop elements garnered attention from both fans and industry professionals.

Building on his initial success, Akon released his second album, "Konvicted," in 2006. The album achieved massive commercial success and earned three Grammy Award nominations. Hits such as "Smack That" featuring Eminem, "I Wanna Love You" featuring Snoop Dogg, "Don't Matter," and "Sorry, Blame It on Me" dominated the charts, solidifying Akon's status as a prominent artist.

Akon continued to thrive in the music industry, collaborating with numerous artists and achieving remarkable chart success. He holds the distinction of being the first solo artist to hold both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. His contributions as a featured artist, totaling over 300 guest appearances, have resulted in five Grammy Award nominations.

Beyond his own music career, Akon founded two record labels, Konvict Muzik and KonLive Distribution. Through these labels, he signed and nurtured the talents of artists like Lady Gaga, T-Pain, R. City, Kardinal Offishall, Jeffree Star, and French Montana. Akon also ventured into producing and songwriting, working with mainstream artists such as Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Lionel Richie, Leona Lewis, Sean Paul, and Whitney Houston.

Akon's accomplishments have earned him recognition and accolades. Forbes ranked him 80th on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2010 and 5th on the 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa list in 2011. Billboard honored him as the 6th Top Digital Songs Artist of the decade.

Throughout his career, Akon has proven himself as a multi-talented artist, record producer, and entrepreneur. His unique blend of musical styles, philanthropic endeavors, and contributions to the industry have cemented his place as an influential figure in the world of music.

Akon's solo debut album, "Trouble," was released on June 29, 2004. It featured the singles "Locked Up," "Lonely," "Belly Dancer (Bananza)," "Pot of Gold," and "Ghetto." "Locked Up" reached number 8 on the US charts and number 5 in the UK. The remix of "Ghetto" featuring verses from 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. became a radio hit. The album showcased Akon's silky, West African-styled vocals blended with East Coast and Southern beats. Many of Akon's songs begin with the sound of a jail cell door clanking, followed by him uttering the word "Konvict."

In 2005, Akon released the single "Lonely," which sampled 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, "Trouble," also reached number one in the UK. "Lonely" became the longest-running single on The Box's top ten weekly chart, holding the top spot for over fifteen weeks. Akon collaborated with other artists during this time, including P-Money, New Zealand rapper Savage, and Young Jeezy.

In 2006, Akon launched his own record label, KonLive Distribution, under Interscope Records. His second album, "Konvicted," was released in November 2006 and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 286,000 copies in its first week. The album achieved platinum and double platinum certifications in the US and spawned hit singles such as "Smack That" featuring Eminem, "I Wanna Love You" featuring Snoop Dogg, and "Don't Matter." Akon's collaborations extended to working with artists like Gwen Stefani, Michael Jackson, and Aventura.

Akon released his third album, "Freedom," in December 2008. It included singles such as "Right Now (Na Na Na)," "I'm So Paid" featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy, and "Beautiful" featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall. The album received platinum certification in the US.

In the following years, Akon worked on various projects, including producing and featuring on songs for other artists, appearing in films, and engaging in philanthropic endeavors. He released singles such as "So Blue" in 2013 and collaborated with artists like Pitbull and Ozuna.

Akon has been actively involved in philanthropy, particularly through his Akon Lighting Africa project, which aims to provide electricity to African countries. He also launched the Konfidence Foundation, a charity for underprivileged children in Africa.

In recent years, Akon has focused on releasing new music and establishing his record label, Akonik Label Group. He has released albums like "El Negreeto," "Akonda," and "Konnect." Additionally, he has made headlines with his plans to build a futuristic city called Akon City in Senegal, which will operate on a cryptocurrency-based economy.

Akon's personal life includes having six children with three women. He has been involved in legal issues, including a controversy surrounding a staged incident at a concert and protests in Sri Lanka over a planned concert due to allegations of insulting Buddhism in one of his music videos.

Overall, Akon's career has been marked by successful albums, hit singles, collaborations with prominent artists, philanthropy, and ventures outside of music.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akon