Lists
25 Things you should know about Akon
- Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam better known as Akon, is a Senegalese American R&B and hip hop recording artist, songwriter, record producer and businessman.
- Akon was born in April 16, 1973.
- Akon was born in St. Louis, and spent much of his childhood in the West African country Senegal, which he describes as his “hometown.
- He is a child of a dancer mother and a percussionist father, Mor Thiam.
- He has since founded two successful record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution.
- Akon is the first solo artist to hold both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice.
- Akon has had four songs certified as 3x platinum, three songs certified as 2x platinum, more than ten songs certified as 1x platinum and more than ten songs certified as gold in digital sales.
- Akon has sung songs in other languages including Spanish and Hindi.
- He was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the no. 1 selling artists for master ringtones in the world.
- He has worked with numerous performers such as Michael Jackson, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Whitney Houston, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Gwen Stefani and many more artists
- Akon has had five Grammy Awards nominations and has produced many hits for artists such as Lady Gaga, Colby O’Donis, Kardinal Offishall, Leona Lewis, T-Pain
- Forbes ranked Akon 80th (Power Rank) in Forbes Celebrity 100; in 2010 and 5th in 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa list; in 2011. Billboard ranked Akon No. 6 on the list of Top Digital Songs Artists of the decade.
- Akon’s alleged three years in jail saw him begin to recognize his music abilities and develop an appreciation for his musical background
- In November 2007, Akon recorded a remix of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” with Michael Jackson..
- In 2006, Akon started his new record label Kon Live Distribution under Interscope Records. His first signed artist was Ray Lavender.
- Akon worked with Whitney Houston for her 2009 comeback album I Look to You. He appears on the track “Like I Never Left”.
- Akon has confirmed that a reality television show is in the works. It will be called “My Brother’s Keeper”
- On November 30, 2007, Akon entered the Big Brother house in Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2 as a guest so the housemates can meet him for only 100 seconds. He also appeared on November 17, 2008 edition of WWE Raw, with Santino Marella citing him in his speech.
- The Company Pepsi chose him to produce and record “Oh Africa” for the 2010 World Cup.
- In February 2007, Akon launched his clothing line, Konvict Clothing. It features urban streetwear including denim jeans, hoodies, t-shirts and hats
- According to Forbes, Akon grossed $13 million in 2011, $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008.
- Akon is also a Muslim.
- He also has his own charity for underprivileged children in Africa called Konfidence Foundation.
- Akon owns a diamond mine in South Africa and he is partial-owner of an African mine.
- Akon stated that he is a fan of English Premier League club Chelsea F.C when he appeared on the ITV2 show The Hot Desk
