Akon has been characterizing the rap music industry since his debut in the 2000’s. Those who know the man claim that he is a business man about all, and a musician second. As any celebrity does, this famous star lives his personal life in confidentiality, but we are here to give you the low-down on everything we can tell you about this revolutionary artist. Be sure to check back for our part two article, featuring the top eight juicy secrets you didn’t know about Akon!
Number Fifteen: Must Be in His Genes
For as long as he can remember, Akon has always had an evident passion for the hip hop music industry. Among the skills he adopted from growing up on the streets of New Jersey was a love for playing instruments, first starting with the drums and djembe.
Number Fourteen: The Hardened Record
It isn’t easy to grow up on the streets, and the growing man has encountered quite a bit of hard times in his day. Rumor has it that the artist spent a sentence of three years in prison for drug, theft, and robbery charges, although many still claim to this day that the jail time was merely an illusion created for the sake of his lyrics. However, official statements record that the man was put on probation for possession of a firearm in 1998, and was arrested a handful of other times for various charges.
Number Thirteen: The Religious Background
Akon prides himself in being a very dedicated religious man and refrains from use of drugs or alcohol due to his Muslim roots. He is even rumored to partake in polygamy, claiming to have a total of three unidentified wives. Regardless of the sources of his children, he is said to be a wonderful father to them.
Number Twelve: Akon Gets His Start
The musician’s renowned career began when fellow artist Lil’ Zane introduced him to the president of Upfront Megatainment studios, Devyne Stevens. The young rapper made quite an impression on the businessman, who worked tirelessly to distribute his music stylings.
Number Eleven: Making Hits
He became an instant success with SRC Records, beginning with the popularity of his initial album, Trouble, in 2004. He made the top charts of music in record time, going double-platinum with sales of over $2.8 million in the United States alone.
Number Ten: Making a Name
As Akon began attracting the attention of the media, he also attracted the adoration of fellow artists. In his 2006 album, Konvicted, he created tracks in collaboration with renowned stars such as Eminem and Snoop Dogg. He was also very buddy-buddy with Savage and Young Jeezy, creating tracks with them as well.
Number Nine: The Real Trouble
The media lashed out relentlessly as Akon encountered some trouble in Trinidad and Tobago. While performing on stage, the rapper took part in a very dirty dancing display with an underage teenager. Turns out that it wasn’t safe to assume that the age requirement for admission was reliable. In response to the incident, he moved forward with the creation of one of his biggest hits to date: “Sorry, Blame it on Me”. Be sure to check back for our part two article, featuring the top eight juicy secrets you didn’t know about Akon!