Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam, known mononymously as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. An influential figure in world music, he rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of his single "Locked Up". Styled in hip hop, it preceded the release of his debut studio album Trouble (2004), which became his commercial breakthrough and spawned the R&B-styled follow-up, "Lonely" the following year.
"I Am Not My Hair" is a song by American soul and R&B singer–songwriter India.Arie from her third studio album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (2006). Written by Arie, Shannon Sanders, and Drew Ramsey, it was released as the album's lead single in late 2005 to moderate chart success. The song was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song at the 2007 Grammy Awards. A remix version of "I Am Not My Hair" featuring Akon was also released.
"Fiesta (Remix)" is a song by singer R. Kelly featuring rappers Jay-Z & Boo & Gotti. The hit song spent five weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart and peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. R. Kelly and Jay-Z have worked several times together. In 2002, they released the album The Best of Both Worlds, which sold 285,000 copies in its first week. The single is ranked by Billboard as the best selling and most played R&B/Hip Hop song of 2001.
"Ghetto Story" is a dancehall/ragga single performed by dancehall artist Baby Cham. It is the first single to be released from his album of the same name. The song is most known for its reggae fusion remix called "Ghetto Story Chapter 2" featuring American R&B singer Alicia Keys. The single peaked at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 15 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, and number 13 on the Billboard Rap Tracks chart. It received heavy airplay on MTV2 and BET, and some airplay on Canada's MuchMusic. The song is about growing up in the ghetto and how it was for Cham in his younger years. The video entered BET's 106 & Park at number 9 before peaking at number 5, making it one of the very few reggae videos to reach the top 5 on that countdown. Another remix features singer Akon. Rapper Lil Wayne has freestyled over the instrumental.
The discography of Akon, a Senegalese American singer, songwriter and music producer, consists of five studio albums, four mixtapes, one extended play, thirty eight singles, eight promotional singles and ninety-two music videos. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Akon lived in Senegal with his family until the age of seven, when they returned to the United States to live in New Jersey. A three-year prison sentence inspired Akon to begin recording songs in his home studio: Universal Records signed him after becoming aware of his music, and his debut album Trouble was released in June 2004. Two of its singles – "Locked Up" and "Lonely" – reached the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100, with the latter topping numerous singles charts worldwide and being certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Trouble also included the singles "Gunshot ", "Ghetto", "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" and "Pot of Gold", and was eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA and by the British Phonographic Industry in the United Kingdom, where it reached number one on the UK Albums Chart.
"Don't Matter" is a reggae fusion–R&B song by Senegalese-American singer Akon from his second studio album, Konvicted (2006). The song was released as the album's third single in January 2007. In April of that year, it became Akon's second U.S. number-one single. "Don't Matter" was ranked number 31 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007. This song was also ranked number 81 on MTV Asia's list of Top 100 Hits of 2007.
American singer Kelly Rowland has released four studio albums, two compilation albums and a box set, four extended plays, three video albums and DVDs, 45 official, featuring, charity and promotional singles, and 55 music videos. She began her career in 1997 with one of the best-selling girl groups, Destiny's Child, who have sold around 60 million records worldwide.
"We Takin' Over" is the first single from DJ Khaled's second album, We the Best. Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Baby, and Lil Wayne are all featured on this hip hop track. Nate "Danja" Hills assisted the artists in writing the song and is also the producer.
"Like This" is a song by American singer Kelly Rowland, featuring vocals by rapper Eve. Recorded late into the production of Rowland's second solo album Ms. Kelly (2007), the song was released on March 13, 2007, as the lead single from the album. The artists co-wrote the song with its producers Sean Garrett, Polow da Don, Blac Elvis, and Jason Perry, with additional production from S-Dot. "Like This" is a R&B song, with its lyrics referring to a woman growing out of a past relationship.
Super Saucy is the fourth solo studio album by American hip hop recording artist Baby Bash. It was released on March 15, 2005, through Universal Records. Recording sessions took place at Digital Services in Houston, Konvict Music Studios in Atlanta, Sony Studios in New York, Larabee North in Los Angeles, The Muzik Factory in Las Vegas, and The Grill Studios in Oakland. Production was handled by Happy Perez, Akon, Baby Dookes, Dash, Fredwreck, Jose "Block Of Rock" De Leon, Swampkat and Mintman, with Charles Chavez and Baby Bash serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Akon, Natalie Alvarado, Russell Lee, Angel Dust, Avant, A-Wax, Bosko, Butch Cassidy, Chingo Bling, Don Cisco, E-40, Grimm, Jay Tee, Lucky Luciano, Mac Dre, Miami The Most, Money Mike, Mr. Kee, Nate Dogg, Nino Brown, Paul Wall, Pitbull, Rasheed, Richie Rich, Suga Free and 3rd Wish.
Roderick Anthony Burton II better known by his stage name Dolla, was an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. Burton embarked on his music career in 2003, with hip hop group Da Razkalz Cru, under the pseudonym Bucklyte. The group quickly disbanded, and Burton went on to work as a model for the Sean John clothing line. In 2007, Burton signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik label. Burton released three singles from 2007 to 2009. The first, his commercial debut single "Who the Fuck Is That?", featuring T-Pain and Tay Dizm, charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Can't Believe It" is a single by American singer T-Pain. It was released on July 29, 2008, as the first official single from T-Pain's album Thr33 Ringz. The song features rapper Lil Wayne, marking the second collaboration between T-Pain and Lil Wayne being released as a single.
"I'm So Paid" is the second single from American singer Akon's third studio album, Freedom. The song features additional vocals from rappers Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy, and was released as a digital download worldwide and a physical single in France only on October 4, 2008.
5.0 is the sixth studio album by American rapper Nelly. It was released through Universal Motown Records and Derrty on November 12, 2010. The album features guest appearances from Kelly Rowland, Keri Hilson, DJ Khaled, Baby, Sophie Greene, Ali, Plies, Chris Brown, T.I., Yo Gotti, T-Pain, Akon, Talib Kweli, Avery Storm, Murphy Lee, Dirty Money and Sean Paul while production was handled by Infamous, Dr. Luke, Mr. Bangladesh, Jim Jonsin, Multiman, Polow da Don, Rico Love and The Runners, among others. 5.0 is predominately a hip hop and pop music album with subtle influences of R&B.
American rapper Yo Gotti has released 11 studio albums, 25 mixtapes and 57 singles, and 5 promotional singles. After several guest appearances, mixtapes and independent releases, he released his major-label debut album Life, in 2003.
"Motivation" is a song recorded by American recording artist Kelly Rowland for her third studio album Here I Am (2011). The song was written by Jim Jonsin, Rico Love, Daniel Morris and Lil Wayne, with Jonsin producing the song and Lil Wayne having featured vocals. The R&B slow jam was released as the fourth single from Here I Am on March 2, 2011, by Universal Motown Records.
"Neva End" is a song by American hip-hop recording artist Future from his debut studio album Pluto. The hip hop and pop song was produced by Mike Will Made It, and on December 4, 2012, it was released as the fifth official single from Pluto. The single version features an additional verse by American singer-songwriter Kelly Rowland, and was included in the 2012 re-release of Pluto, titled Pluto 3D.
"Dirty Laundry" is a song recorded by American recording artist Kelly Rowland, for her fourth studio album, Talk a Good Game (2013). Co-written and produced by The-Dream, the R&B ballad was serviced to radio as the album's second single on May 15, 2013, and was released for digital download on May 21, 2013, through Republic Records. The record candidly documents the time in Rowland's life after the release of her debut album Simply Deep (2002); Rowland speaks of her envy of former groupmate Beyoncé's solo success and the domestic abuse she suffered during a previous relationship. Critics praised the sparse piano-led melody, as well as Rowland's openness about her jealousy of Knowles and the inspiring message about leaving an abusive relationship. The official remix features a new introduction from Rowland and new verses from R. Kelly.
Maurice "Verse" Simmonds is a Puerto Rican / Virgin Islander rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and record executive. Based in Los Angeles but raised in the Virgin Islands, he moved to the United States after high school and he formed the production duo the Jugganauts in the 1990s. The duo has since co-written and produced tracks such as "Man Down" by Rihanna and "Who Gon Stop Me" by Kanye West and Jay-Z, both of which charted prominently on Billboard.
Konvict Kulture is a record label founded by Melvin Brown and R&B singer Akon in 2003 under the name Konvict Muzik. Artists including T-Pain, Kat DeLuna, Mali Music, Red Café, Dolla, Ya Boy, and Costa Titch have signed to and released singles or albums by the label. Heard at the beginning of many of the label's recordings, besides Akon's own production or songwriting contribution, is the sound of the clank of a jail cell, followed by Akon uttering "Konvict". In 2022, the label was rebranded into Konvict Kulture. By 2011, Fotemah Mba was appointed Vice President of A&R for the label.
