• April 16, 1973
• The real name of Akon is Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam. He spent his childhood in Senegal, the home country of his father.
• His father was a percussionist and taught him to play several instruments, including the djembe.
• Akon played basketball in high school, and he was good, averaging 25 points per game his senior year. He earned a full athletic scholarship to Georgia Tech, but couldn't take advantage of it after a random locker search turned up guns, knives and test answers. Akon was expelled from school and banned from competing in NCAA Division I Basketball.
• Akon was introduced to the music industry while in high school by the then unknown Wyclef Jean. In an interview for VH1 he described the experience: "I used to work at a barber shop in Newark and Clef used to come get his hair cut. At the time he didn't have a deal. We used to go in my basement outside of Newark and just create music. I was one of the original members of the Refugee Camp."
• Akon can definitely be called a pop star collaborator. As a songwriter, producer or performer, he has worked with Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Quincy Jones, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and many others. Some of his more popular projects include Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape," Lady Gaga's "Just Dance," and David Guetta's "Sexy Bitch."
• At the age of 18, Akon was arrested and put in jail for being part of a car theft ring. It was during his time in jail that he realized his music abilities. He saw in his musical talent a way to start a new life. Many of Akon's songs begin with the sound of the clank of a jail cell's door with him uttering the word "Konvict."
• Akon has founded two record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution. He has produced many hits for artists such as Lady Gaga, Colby O'Donis, Leona Lewis, T-Pain.
• Akon started his own clothing line, Konvict Clothing, which sells urban streetwear like denim jeans, hoodies, T-shirts and hats. Akon also has an upscale apparel collection called Aliaune, which consists of more stylish and sophisticated collections covering blazers, denim jeans and other items.
• He started his own charity organization for underprivileged children in Africa called the Konfidence Foundation.
• Akon founded a solar energy company in Africa in 2014. Akon Lighting Africa employs around 5,000 mainly young people who install and maintain solar equipment.

Comments

More Songfacts:

(Don't Fear) The ReaperBlue Öyster Cult

Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult wrote "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" after he was diagnosed with a heart condition and started thinking about his own mortality.

Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz is from the perspective of Jesus Christ: "I am the chosen I'm the one."

You Get What You GiveNew Radicals

"You Get What You Give" by The New Radicals was the first hit song to use the word "frenemies" in the lyric.

Shot In The DarkOzzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne's "Shot In The Dark" is titled after the 1964 Pink Panther movie A Shot in the Dark. His bass player, who co-wrote the song, was a fan of the film.

My GenerationThe Who

Pete Townshend wrote the lyrics for "My Generation" by The Who during a train ride from London to Southampton on his 20th birthday when he was thinking about "trying to find a place in society."

At This MomentBilly Vera & the Beaters

"At This Moment" was first released by Billy Vera & the Beaters in 1981, and hit #79. After it was used in two episodes of Family Ties in 1985-1986, it went to #1.

Editor's Picks

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.