Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam, also known as Akon, is a Senegalese- American born singer born April 16, 1973. Akon’s unique voice took the world by storm and almost everyone bopped to his songs. Akon put Africans on the US charts. Here will explore his early life and how he rose to fame.
Early Life
Born to a dancer mom and a percussionist father in St Louis, Missouri. His parents are from Senegal an d the family is muslim. Through the years Akon spent his time between Senegal and the USA. He learned to play many instruments while growing up, which may have been a significant influence on his musical career. Akon and his family moved from St Louis to New Jersey, and finally settled in Atlanta. He attended William L Dickinson High School in New Jersey.
Career
Akon rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of his album (Trouble). ‘Locked up’ and ‘Lonely’ were the two smash singles that had everyone talking about him. Music mogul Devyne Stephen was the catalyst to Akon’s success. He listened to his first hit single ‘lonely’, album ‘Trouble’ with songs like ‘Belly Dancer’, ‘Pot of Gold ‘, and ‘Ghetto’. They were huge successes in the US, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Akon’s intro, which featured the sound of a jail door closing and the subsequent Konvict, which he said was the intro to his songs also made him famous.
Albums & Collaborations
Akon started his record label Konvict Muzik in 2006. In November the same year, he released his second album ‘Konvicted’ with singles ‘Smack that’ and ‘I Wanna Love You. In 2007, he released ‘Don’t Matter’, ‘Mama Africa’, and ‘Blame It on Me.
2008 saw the release of his third studio album titled ‘Freedom’ which featured ‘I Am So Paid’ and ‘Beautiful’. Akon has done a lot of collaborations with different musicians; he also co-wrote a lot of songs.
Some of the people he has worked with include:
- Lil Wayne,
- Dr Dre,
- Michael Jackson,
- Kardinal Offishal,
- Gwen Stefani,
- Lady Gaga,
- David Guetta,
- Damian Marley,
- Snoop Dogg, Plies,
- T-pain,
- New Kids on the block,
- Eminem.
Popular singles released over 5 years after his third album include ‘Hypnotize’, ‘Hold my Hands’ and ‘So Blue’
Personal Life & Net Worth
Akon has six children with three different women. Not much is known about them because he is very tight-lipped about his family.
As of September 2022, Akon is said to be worth $60 Million. He has a diamond mine in South Africa, and runs a lot of charities aimed at improving lives in communities. Recent news also shows that Akon is building a solar community in Senegal.
