b. Aliaune Thiam, 14 October 1981, Dakar, Senegal. The son of jazz percussionist Mor Thiam, Akon spent his early years in the west African country of Senegal before his family returned to the USA and settled in New Jersey. His parents relocated to Atlanta while he was still at high school, leaving the youngster to make the most of his freedom by running into trouble with the law. A custodial sentence followed but the time inside was instrumental in turning Thiam’s life around. When he was released he emulated his father by throwing himself into music. His home-taped demo impressed major label SRC/Universal and Thiam was offered a recording contract.
Adopting his new moniker (actually one of his middle names), Akon set about recording his debut album. Although nominally an R&B recording, Trouble drew heavily on hip-hop and reggae to create a refreshing take on contemporary urban music. Akon’s heavily accented vocals also helped add a unique slant to his songs. His label’s faith in him was repaid when ‘Locked Up’ (featuring rapper Styles) broke into the US Top 10 in September 2004. The follow-up single ‘Lonely’, a rewrite of Bobby Vinton’s 60s hit ‘Mr. Lonely’, was an even bigger success, reaching the US Top 5 in April 2005 and also topping the UK chart.
Following his successful debut in the music business, Akon notably set up an organisation to help rehabilitate prisoners after their release from jail. He also launched his own record label, Konvict Muzik, and collaborated with rapper Young Jeezy on the US hit ‘Soul Survivor’. The first single from Akon’s second album, ‘Smack That’ (featuring Eminem), reached US number 2 in October 2006. ‘I Wanna Love You’ (featuring Snoop Dogg) and ‘Don’t Matter’ both reached the top of the US charts.
