Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam or Akon which is the name this famous rapper of St. Louis is known to thw world. Although born in St Louis, Akon is now settled in New Jersy, USA with his parents. Akon became a household name from his very first album Trouble released in June 29, 2004.It spawned the singles “Locked Up” and “Lonely”, “Belly Dancer (Bananza)”, “Pot Of Gold”, and “Ghetto.Among them “Locked Up” reached the top 10 in the U.S. and the top five in the UK.”Ghetto” became a radio hit when it was remixed by DJ Green Lantern to include verses from rappers 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G.”Lonely” reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped the charts in Australia, the UK and Germany. His album also climbed to number one in the UK in April 2005
“Akon’s second album, Konvicted was released on November 14, 2006. It included collaborations with Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Styles P. The first single “Smack That” featuring Eminem was released in August 2006 and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks. and also earned him Grammy Award nomination.”I Wanna Love You,” (featuring Snoop Dogg) was the second single released in September also made their way to the upper regions of the Billboard charts.
The surprisingly Europop-flavored Freedom, his third album, followed two years later, and it repeated Konvicted’s chart success by peaking within the Top Ten of the Billboard 200.Freedom spawned four singles: “Right Now (Na Na Na)”, “I’m So Paid” (featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy), “Beautiful” (featuring Kardinal Offishall and Colby O’Donis) and “We Don’t Care”.We Don’t care was a super flop song by Akon.
According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008.He has worked with numerous performers such as Dr. Dre, Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Quincy Jones, Eminem and Whitney Houston. Akon often sings hooks for other artists and is currently accredited with over 200 guest appearances and 32 Billboard Hot 100 songs.
In India Akon was always famous for his numbers like Smack That, Lonely, Right Now, Locked up.But these days Akon is the matter of discussion and appreciation on breakfast table,in school and college canteen, clubs and pubs, in loos and restrooms, metro stationand pan wala’s shop for his lastest number Chammak Challo in Shahrukh film Ra One. Akon with his oomps and attitude in the song Chamak Challo along with Hansika Iyer has won the hearts of million that today Chammak Challo needs no introduction.It is a grand amalagation of Middle-eastern, Indian and contemporary music and with Akon trademark style in it the song becomes simply additive and irresitiable.Chammak Challo’s international version which is sung by Akon all alone is also foot tapping number.
