This week’s edition of Globacom-sponsored African Voices on CNN International will feature Senegalese born hip-hop super star Akon.
A statement by Globacom explained that the choice of the music star by CNN as the guest on this week’s show is in line with Glo’s objective to showcase prominent Africans who have excelled on the global stage in different areas of endeavour.
American-based Akon is a mega star in the music industry, a multi-platinum selling artiste, producer and entrepreneur. He is known for his collaboration with countless pop and hip-hop icons such as Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Snoop Dog and Eminem.
But it has not always been rosy all the way. Born Aliaune Thiam on April 30, 1973, in the United States, Akon grew up in Senegal before he and his father, jazz percussionist Momar Thiam , and the rest of the family returned to USA and settled in the state of New Jersey. There he discovered hip-hop and R&B music as well as crime. While in Jersey City, he discovered hip-hop for the first time by the time he started hanging around with local thugs.
He initially attended Snyder High School where he did everything against the school regulation and was expelled for selling guns, bullet and test questions for every test. He later on attended the Bayonne High School. Akon also became popular for his bravery in fighting and was jailed for armed robbery and drug distribution.
However, he used his time in jail to work on his musical ideas. Upon release, Akon began writing and recording tracks in a home studio. The tapes found their way to SRC/Universal, which eventually released “Trouble,” Akon’s debut album, in June 2004. The album was an interesting hybrid of Akon’s hip-hop-influenced sung lyrics and silky, West African-styled vocals with East Coast- and Southern-styled beats.
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