Akon Bio - Akon Biography

Akon: Biography

Aliaune Thiam, aka Akon, grew up in Senegal before he and his family (including his father, jazz percussionist Mor Thiam) eventually settled in New Jersey. There he discovered hip-hop for the first time, as well as crime. He was eventually jailed, but he used the time to work on his musical ideas. Upon release, Akon began writing and recording tracks in a home studio. The tapes found their way to SRC/Universal, which eventually released Trouble, Akon's debut LP, in June 2004. The album was an interesting hybrid of Akon's raps and silky, West African-styled vocals with East Coast- and Southern-styled beats.

Akon is featured in the song "Dangerous" by Kardinal Offishall.(edit)
At the 2007 American Music Awards, Akon was chosen as the Favorite Male Artist for Soul/R&B category.(edit)
At the 2007 Teen Choice Awards, Akon got the top vote for the category "Choice Music: Breakout Artist Male".(edit)
Akon performed at Giants Stadium on July 7th, 2007 as part of the Live Earth concert. (edit)
Akon's actual full name is Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam. (edit)
In February 2007, Akon launched his clothing line, Konvict Clothing.(edit)
Akon is 5'11" tall.(edit)
Akon song "Bananza (Belly dancer)" reached the top 5 in the UK.(edit)
Akon appears along with Sean Paul on R. Kelly's "Slow wind Remix".(edit)
Chilli, from TLC, recently signed with Konvict to release her debut album executive produced by Missy Elliott. Chilli and Akon are currently working on 4 new tracks for the soon to be released album.(edit)
Akon has his own record label, Konvict Music.(edit)
Akon gained more popularity after being featured in the song "Soul Survivor" with rapper Young Jeezy.(edit)
Akon's album, "Trouble", climbed to #1 in the UK in April, 2005.(edit)
Akon song "Lonely" reached the top 10 on the U.S. charts, and was #1 in both Australia and the UK. (edit)
In 2005, Akon released the single "Lonely", which samples Bobby Vinton's "Mr. Lonely".(edit)
Akon released his debut album "Trouble" in 2004.(edit)
"Locked Up" was written after Akon was jailed for three years for armed robbery. (edit)
Akon song "Locked Up" reached the top 10 in the US and the top 5 in the UK.(edit)
Akon song "Ghetto" became a radio hit when it was remixed to include verses from legendary rappers 2Pac (Tupac Shakur).(edit)
Akon grew up in Dakar, Senegal, for the first seven years of his life.(edit)
Akon's road manager Robert "Screw" Montanez was shot to death following a dispute in New Jersey in December 2005.(edit)
Akon is a Muslim, and the son of jazz percussionist Mor Thiam.(edit)
Akon performed on the CSI episode "Poppin' Tags" along with Obie Trice.(edit)
When music channel The Box had 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 15 weeks. It was finally beaten by the smash hit "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt.(edit)
Akon single "Locked Up" features Styles P.(edit)

Akon: I will be the same person; I can't really see myself changing. I am just happy people can relate to my music like I do.(edit)
Akon: I grew up [in Senegal] but I was born in St. Louis. My mom and pop made sure we were all born in the States, that way we wouldn't have any immigration problems. We came here to go to school. Then in the summer we would go back to Senegal. Eventually, after high school, I ended up staying.(edit)
Akon: As a kid, growin� up, I can�t front, it was hard. I was just coming in from Africa. I was mad black. Dark skin wasn�t in style. My accent was crazy. I was getting teased and fighting, but you know, kids are gonna be kids anyway. But they didn�t give me the impression that I didn�t get along with them. I ended up making crazy friends once they got to know me. I just think it�s a lack of understanding. People stereotype you before they get to know you as a person.(edit)
Akon: Growing up, I was always surrounded by musicians. After I got into that trouble, got locked up and when I got out I couldn't work a regular 9 to 5 like everybody else because of being locked up. The only jobs available were minimum wage. With today's economy, it's hard to survive on minimum wage, so I had to find another way to keep a lifestyle and live day to day, so I realized I was going to be an artist and give it a shot.(edit)
Akon: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. When I was stealing cars I used to think, "If I stole your car it's because you did something bad and it's coming back to you. If I can't get this car, it's because God doesn't want me to have it because this is a good person." If I wanted to steal a car and took it, no problem, I figured it was because this person who owned it had done wrong and God was letting me steal their car as retribution. That's absolutely ludicrous! It's ridiculous. [Laughs] But that's how I thought at the time.(edit)
Akon: I love Phil Collins. "In The Air Tonight" is an incredible song. I hope to work with Phil. He's got an amazing vocal tone. His vocal tone makes me cry.(edit)
Akon: The language barrier [was the toughest transition when coming to the US]. Learning to speak English. Nobody in the U.S. really speaks French. Well, not in New Jersey!(edit)
Akon: [The cops] play my song "Locked Up" in their cars when they pick kids up and are taking them to jail. The police told me that the song is the police department's anthem. It doesn't get realer than that.(edit)