The album was certified platinum within seven weeks, eventually reaching triple platinum a year later.

His 2006 sophomore album Konvicted spawned three international chart-toppers: “Smack That” featuring Eminem, “I Wanna Love You” featuring Snoop Dogg, and “Don’t Matter”. In 2005, Akon made two guest appearances during the success of Trouble – the Young Jeezy song “Soul Survivor” which did well in the US and UK, and “Moonshine” with Savage which was a huge hit in Australia and New Zealand.

That year, Akon launched Konvict Music – a record label that would release Akon’s next albums in addition to albums by T-Pain and Sway. His 2004 debut album Trouble scored two international smash hits with “Locked Up” and “Lonely”, the latter topping the pop chart in seven countries and reaching the top 5 in seven more including the US and the UK. SRC’s A&R man Jerome Foster and CEO Steve Rifkind flew to Atlanta on a private plane to sign him. His career took off when Lil Zane introduced Akon to music executive DeVyne Stephens, who signed him to his label UpFront Records and became his longtime manager and business partner.Īkon’s music with Stephens, specifically “Lonely”, caught the attention of SRC Records (under Universal). Early on Akon signed a deal with Elektra Records, but was later dropped from the label.

There, he learned to play five instruments including the djembe, guitar and drums. His trademark is singing the word ‘convict’ at the beginning of most of his songs.Īkon was born in the US but spent much of childhood in the West African country Senegal. Akon (born Aliaume Akon Thiam), is a Senegalese-American Grammy-nominated and platinum-selling rapper, songwriter, singer and businessman.

Akon all songs list