“I’m a lot more conscious than on my first few albums,” says the singer. “I have a 
lot of kids that follow me now, so I have to be responsible to those who listen to my 
music. On [my debut album] Trouble, that wasn’t even a concern because it was 
about who I was and what I been through. Now I have fans that actually look up to 
me and follow me, so I’m really watching the content I put on my records.”

What hasn’t changed about Akon is his willingness to discuss his personality and 
past. “I always felt like people need to know who I am and what my history is,” he 
says. “That’s why I’m always wide open with everything that happened with me. 
As much as people support me, I want them to know who they’re supporting.”

There are two moments on the highly anticipated third album titled Freedom, from 
Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum artist Akon, that are strikingly different. On 
“Freedom,” the titular track, African melodies and marching drums build up in a 
brooding anthem that is both glorious and exultant. The autobiographical track is 
arguably the singer’s most powerful statement to date, as the song crescendos, 
church-like, to its rousing conclusion.

Elsewhere, “Keep you Much Longer” tells the story of a successful singer who gets 
the tables turned when his girlfriend embarks on a career of her own. An insistent 
rhythm with a merciless 4/4 beat, the dance floor filler seems destined to explode in 
clubs all over the world. As the singer, once again, displays his impressive vocal 
range, the track is an updated piece of classic house music.

The 13 tracks on Freedom show a marked growth in the singer/producer’s career, 
exemplifying the more dance-friendly side of the artist. Not to be mistaken: Akon 
hasn’t abandoned his hip-pop and R&B roots, as the album features guest spots 
by Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Young Jeezy, Kardinal Offishall, Ray Lavender and 
Wyclef Jean. But tracks like “Troublemaker” and “We Don’t Care” are set to blow 
up dance floors, with the former a dance record made “purely for fun” and the latter 
riding a chugging, arpeggiated synth and disco groove that would make Giorgio 
Moroder proud.

“The key is to take it from the dark side and into the light,” explains the singer of the 
album’s vibe. “I’m not gonna be miserable, preachy and unhappy forever. Of course, 
when you first come out from doing time, you’re excited about being free and want 
to teach everybody what you’ve learned. But it’s like with the name Konvict 
Entertainment [Akon’s record label]. “I always use the name as a reminder of 
where I don’t want to be. It was always for a positive purpose, but some people were 
falsely translating my message. Just because you presume something a certain way 
doesn’t mean it’s necessarily that way. You gotta take the time and get fully 
educated about it, then judge for yourself. I know people have preconceived notions 
about me. I’m not who they think I am.”

2009 shaped up to be the biggest year of Akon’s career. In addition to his own 
album, the Konvict CEO is prepping releases for T-Pain, Lady Gaga, Kardinal 
Offishal, Flipsyde Dolla and Colby O’Donis. His fashion line, Konvict and 
Aliaune Clothing, is set to launch in January. Finally, Konfidence Foundation, the 
charity Akon has personally funded for four years, has teamed up with 
songwriter/philanthropist Peter Buffett to launch IsThereSomethingICanDo.com, 
a Google of sorts for charitable foundations. (An elementary school in the singer’s 
home country of Senegal has already been built, with a hospital being 
developed.)

It’s easy to get complacent when you achieve the level of success Akon has. With 
worldwide sales of over 7 million albums, certified gold and platinum status in over 
23 countries, hundreds of guest appearances (including a collaboration with 
Michael Jackson), and the record for the first artist to have the #1 and 2 songs 
simultaneously on the Billboard charts twice, you’d be forgiven for allowing Akon 
to lean back. But, to quote the singer himself, “The more successful I get, the harder 
I work to keep it.”

This work ethic was ingrained in the singer at an early age by his father, famed 
percussionist Mor Thiam. While being raised in Senegal, Akon would take all the 
percussion lessons taught by his father while simultaneously studying the violin and 
keyboard. Upon moving back to the states and later settling in Atlanta, the producer 
opened up some recording studios as an investment, but quickly found an urge to 
create music of his own. After doing time, the singer used those experiences as the 
basis for Trouble, his 2004 debut album which would eventually sell over 2 million 
copies. 2006 saw the release of the follow-up Konvicted, which, with the help of 
now-ubiquitous songs “Smack That,” “I Wanna Love You,” and “Don’t Matter” sold 
over 3 million copies.

“In my heart, I’m the same exact person I was in 2004, the only difference is I’ve 
grown a lot, I’m just a more mature man,” admits the singer. “I’ve learned from my 
mistakes. I’ve apologized and corrected them today. At this point, some would say 
the success is here, relax, but I realize I still need to make the best music possible to 
capture your attention. If I can accomplish 10% of what I want to do, I might be 
almost satisfied.”