Artist spotlight: Akon
October 17th 2006 13:16
Aliaune Thiam, or Akon as he is popularly known as, is climbing the ladder in the R&B/Rap industry as a singer, song writer, and producer.
It’s great to see a man with life experiences like his achieve his dream.
At a young age, Akon migrated to New Jersey from Senegal. There were two things he discovered in the so-called ‘land of the free’; one was hip hop, the other was crime. It was only a matter of time until he got landed in jail.
What turned his life around was his music. Behind bars, Akon began to write about his experiences. When he got out, he continued writing and moved into producing in a home studio. His father, Mor Thiam, is one of the greatest African percussionists in the world, so I’m sure Akon found it easy to learn the tricks of the trade.
Now we see Akon living large. His debut album, ‘Trouble’, is a platinum hit, selling over 3 million copies across the world. It’s an album with good variation. It has club tracks, hardcore hip hop, and upbeat ballads.
His sophomore record ‘Konvicted’ is due for release on November 21, 2006. Its first single, ‘Smack That’, is already released and features Eminem. Here’s the music video:
Also look for Akon’s beats in upcoming releases. He is producing for Gwen Stefani’s next solo album and is doing a lot of work for Young Buck’s upcoming release: ‘Buck the World’.
From ghetto to million dollar recording studios, Akon is proof that anyone can make it with a truckload of guts, a tonne of determination, and just a tiny dash of talent.
Take care and peace out…
Akon: convict to superstar
At a young age, Akon migrated to New Jersey from Senegal. There were two things he discovered in the so-called ‘land of the free’; one was hip hop, the other was crime. It was only a matter of time until he got landed in jail.
What turned his life around was his music. Behind bars, Akon began to write about his experiences. When he got out, he continued writing and moved into producing in a home studio. His father, Mor Thiam, is one of the greatest African percussionists in the world, so I’m sure Akon found it easy to learn the tricks of the trade.
Now we see Akon living large. His debut album, ‘Trouble’, is a platinum hit, selling over 3 million copies across the world. It’s an album with good variation. It has club tracks, hardcore hip hop, and upbeat ballads.
His sophomore record ‘Konvicted’ is due for release on November 21, 2006. Its first single, ‘Smack That’, is already released and features Eminem. Here’s the music video:
Also look for Akon’s beats in upcoming releases. He is producing for Gwen Stefani’s next solo album and is doing a lot of work for Young Buck’s upcoming release: ‘Buck the World’.
From ghetto to million dollar recording studios, Akon is proof that anyone can make it with a truckload of guts, a tonne of determination, and just a tiny dash of talent.
Take care and peace out…
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