Mobile Music Selection from Akon

West African Beat Meets R&B

Born in Senegal and displaced to Jersey City, New Jersey, Akon, born Aliaune Thiam, quickly became musically spicy with a range of musical genres. His father was a well-known jazz musician in his native Senegal and of course in Jersey Akon grew large on urban hip-hop, East Coast gangsta rap and R&B. So far his musical career has been brief. It may have been derailed early on during his foray into crime, which bought him a stint of time in prison, a theme he works into his music.

While Akon wrote, recorded and self-promoted his work in the East Coast underground hip-hop/R&B scene, music producers for SRC/Univeral heard his music via the mixtape circuit. The label signed Akon and released his debut album, Trouble, in 2004 to mixed reviews. As much as the album was hailed for its attempts to combine African-beat with R&B and hip-hop, it has also been considered by some critics a self-conscious disappointment.

“Locked Up,” the first track off the album earned him favor with fans and music critics. The song splices together an ironic musical sensuality with lyrics inspired by his prison days.

Riding the success of Locked Up, his second album, Konvicted came out in 2006. Right away singles “Smack That,” an infectious R&B tune, and “I Wanna Love You” struck a chord among fans and climbed the charts.

Trouble (2004):

1. Locked Up
2. Trouble Nobody
3. Bananza (Belly Dancer)
4. Gangsta (featuring Daddy T., Devyne & Picklehead)
5. Ghetto
6. Pot of Gold
7. Show Out
8. Lonely
9. When the Time’s Right
10. Journey
11. Don’t Let Up
12. Easy Road
13. Locked Up (Remix) (featuring Styles P)

Konvicted (2006):

1. Shake Down
2. Blown Away
3. Smack That
4. I Wanna Love You
5. The Rain
6. Never Took the Time
7. Mama Africa
8. I Can’t Wait
9. Gangsta Bop
10. Tired of Runnin’
11. Once In a While
12. Don’t Matter