http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.67464&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rssWhen R&B crooner Akon shot to fame in 2004 with his hit "Locked Up" (Number Eight), he became the go-to star for pop and hip-hop artists wanting a silky voice to sing their hooks. So prolific in his output, Akon twice in a five month period between December 2006 and April 2007 simultaneously owned the Number One and Number Two spots on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. <br><br> The son of Senegalese jazz percussionist Mor Thiam, Akon was born Aliaune Thiam in St. Louis, MO, but lived in Senegal until he was seven. His family moved back to the United States and lived in both Jersey City, NJ, and Atlanta, GA. He began making music at 15, becoming part of the Fugees' extended group of musicians, but he reportedly ran into trouble with the law and was incarcerated for stealing a car. Upon his release in 2002 he began making home recordings, which in 2003 led to him signing with SRC/Universal. <br><br> The following year he released his debut album, <I>Trouble</I> (Number 11 R&B/Hop-hop, Number 18 Pop, 2004), a set of autobiographical songs featuring his mix of African-style R&B vocals with hip-hop beats. After his 2004 success with "Locked Up," he released the eerily melodic ballad "Lonely" (Number 4, 2005), which features a sped-up, Chipmunks-like sample of the hook from Bobby Vinton's 1964 hit "Mr. Lonely," and the bouncy "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (Number 30, 2005). A remixed version of his single "Ghetto" by Green Lantern included the voices of slain rappers Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. That year Akon also sang on Young Jeezy's Top Five single "Soul Survivor," a collaboration that has since led to many subsequent guest spots including appearances with Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, R. Kelly and even Gwen Stefani and Elton John. <br><br> Akon's sophomore release, <I>Konvicted</I> (Number Two Pop, Number Two R&B/Hip-Hop, 2006), spawned a string of Top Five hits: "Smack That" (Number Two pop, Number 34 R&B/Hip-Hop, 2006), with Eminem; "I Wanna Love You" (Number One pop, Number Three R&B/Hip-Hop, 2006), with Snoop Dogg and "Don't Matter" (Number One pop, Number Five R&B/Hip-Hop, 2007). <I>Konvicted</I> remained in the Top Twenty for 28 consecutive weeks and within a year was certified triple platinum in the U.S. and sold four million copies worldwide. His collaboration with Gwen Stefani on her ubiquitous summer hit "The Sweet Escape" (Number Two pop) helped Akon have the nation's top two pop hits twice in five months. <br><br> Akon's career has not, however, been without its share of controversies: In 2006 he purchased a South African diamond mine; in 2007 he was widely denounced for simulating sex on stage with the underage daughter of a pastor in Trinidad and Tobago; and in the same year misdemeanor harassment charges were filed against him for throwing a concert goer off a Fishkill, New York stage and injuring a bystander. <br><br> In November 2007, the singer appeared on a remix of Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" for the 25th anniversary reissue of <I>Thriller</I>. His third album, originally due out in the spring of 2008, is reportedly titled <I>Acquitted</I> and said to feature a collaboration with Michael Jackson. Contemporary R&Ben720Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:52:52 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.67464&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss When R&B crooner Akon shot to fame in 2004 with his hit "Locked Up" (Number Eight), he became the go-to star for pop and hip-hop artists wanting a silky voice to sing their hooks. So prolific in his output, Akon twice in a five month period between December 2006 and April 2007 simultaneously owned the Number One and Number Two spots on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. <br><br> The son of Senegalese jazz percussionist Mor Thiam, Akon was born Aliaune Thiam in St. Louis, MO, but lived in Senegal until he was seven. His family moved back to the United States and lived in both Jersey City, NJ, and Atlanta, GA. He began making music at 15, becoming part of the Fugees' extended group of musicians, but he reportedly ran into trouble with the law and was incarcerated for stealing a car. Upon his release in 2002 he began making home recordings, which in 2003 led to him signing with SRC/Universal. <br><br> The following year he released his debut album, <I>Trouble</I> (Number 11 R&B/Hop-hop, Number 18 Pop, 2004), a set of autobiographical songs featuring his mix of African-style R&B vocals with hip-hop beats. After his 2004 success with "Locked Up," he released the eerily melodic ballad "Lonely" (Number 4, 2005), which features a sped-up, Chipmunks-like sample of the hook from Bobby Vinton's 1964 hit "Mr. Lonely," and the bouncy "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (Number 30, 2005). A remixed version of his single "Ghetto" by Green Lantern included the voices of slain rappers Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. That year Akon also sang on Young Jeezy's Top Five single "Soul Survivor," a collaboration that has since led to many subsequent guest spots including appearances with Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, R. Kelly and even Gwen Stefani and Elton John. <br><br> Akon's sophomore release, <I>Konvicted</I> (Number Two Pop, Number Two R&B/Hip-Hop, 2006), spawned a string of Top Five hits: "Smack That" (Number Two pop, Number 34 R&B/Hip-Hop, 2006), with Eminem; "I Wanna Love You" (Number One pop, Number Three R&B/Hip-Hop, 2006), with Snoop Dogg and "Don't Matter" (Number One pop, Number Five R&B/Hip-Hop, 2007). <I>Konvicted</I> remained in the Top Twenty for 28 consecutive weeks and within a year was certified triple platinum in the U.S. and sold four million copies worldwide. His collaboration with Gwen Stefani on her ubiquitous summer hit "The Sweet Escape" (Number Two pop) helped Akon have the nation's top two pop hits twice in five months. <br><br> Akon's career has not, however, been without its share of controversies: In 2006 he purchased a South African diamond mine; in 2007 he was widely denounced for simulating sex on stage with the underage daughter of a pastor in Trinidad and Tobago; and in the same year misdemeanor harassment charges were filed against him for throwing a concert goer off a Fishkill, New York stage and injuring a bystander. <br><br> In November 2007, the singer appeared on a remix of Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" for the 25th anniversary reissue of <I>Thriller</I>. His third album, originally due out in the spring of 2008, is reportedly titled <I>Acquitted</I> and said to feature a collaboration with Michael Jackson. http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.24024283&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss Contemporary R&B Tue, 2 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Akon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.24024283 alb.24024283 Akon art.67464 9.99 Freedom alb.24024283 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/5/8/3/1543856_170x170.jpg 2008-12-02 00:00:00.0 2008-12-02 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.24024283&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.24024283&variant=data&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.15508068&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss Contemporary R&B Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Akon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.15508068 alb.15508068 Akon art.67464 0.99 Sorry, Blame It On Me alb.15508068 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/3/2/8/1108234_170x170.jpg 2007-07-17 00:00:00.0 2007-10-16 00:00:00.0 true false single http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.15508068&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.15508068&variant=data&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.13790014&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss Contemporary R&B Tue, 6 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800 Akon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.13790014 alb.13790014 Akon art.67464 1.29 Smack That (Nba) alb.13790014 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/5/8/1/1081858_170x170.jpg 2007-03-06 00:00:00.0 2007-03-06 00:00:00.0 true false single http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.13790014&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.13790014&variant=data&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.27100903&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss Contemporary R&B Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 Akon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.27100903 alb.27100903 Akon art.67464 0.99 Easy Road alb.27100903 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/6/7/6/1606761_170x170.jpg 2007-02-13 00:00:00.0 null true false single http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.27100903&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.27100903&variant=data&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.16114629&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss Contemporary R&B Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Akon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.16114629 alb.16114629 Akon art.67464 9.99 Konvicted alb.16114629 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/3/2/8/1108236_170x170.jpg 2007-08-28 00:00:00.0 2006-11-14 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.16114629&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.16114629&variant=data&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.16114630&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss Contemporary R&B Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Akon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.16114630 alb.16114630 Akon art.67464 9.99 Konvicted alb.16114630 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/3/2/8/1108235_170x170.jpg 2007-08-28 00:00:00.0 2006-11-14 00:00:00.0 true true main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.16114630&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.16114630&variant=data&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.12372450&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss Contemporary R&B Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Akon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.12372450 alb.12372450 Akon art.67464 9.99 Trouble alb.12372450 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/2/8/1/1081824_170x170.jpg 2006-11-14 00:00:00.0 2004-06-29 00:00:00.0 true true main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.12372450&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.12372450&variant=data&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.12372446&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss Contemporary R&B Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Akon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.12372446 alb.12372446 Akon art.67464 9.99 Trouble alb.12372446 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/2/8/1/1081823_170x170.jpg 2006-11-14 00:00:00.0 2004-06-29 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.12372446&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.12372446&variant=data&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7237699&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss Contemporary R&B Tue, 11 May 2004 00:00:00 -0700 Akon Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.7237699 alb.7237699 Akon art.67464 0.99 Gunshot (Fiesta Riddim) alb.7237699 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/7/8/1078768_170x170.jpg 2004-05-11 00:00:00.0 2004-05-11 00:00:00.0 true false single http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7237699&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7237699&variant=data&rws=%2Fakon%2Fdiscography.rss