The Chosen One (February 2009)
This month’s Video[Scope] opens up the archives on hip-hop’s bad boy, Akon. The platinum-selling performer, producer and entrepreneur breaks free with the release of his third studio album, Freedom.
The son of famed jazz musician Mor Thiam, Akon shot to fame with his debut album, Trouble, which contained the breakout single, ‘Locked Up.’ His star went stratospheric with the release of the dancefloor ditty, ‘Smack That’, his Grammy-nominated duet with Eminem. With the stellar success of his second album, Konvicted, he became the first artist to ever hold down the No.1 and 2 spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
While other artists shy away from revealing their criminal pasts, Akon wears his like a badge of honour. His album titles – Trouble, Konvicted and Freedom – make reference to his jail terms, his music company is called Konvict, and the clank of prison bars is often heard in his music.
Given his less-than-perfect past, we track Akon’s controversial career.
1. Trouble and Wife
Akon was rumored to have three wives. In a 2007 interview with Blender magazine, he claimed to have five children with three different women. In an effort to clear up the rumors, he's now planning a biopic called Illegal Alien starring 8 Mile's Meki Phifer. "The film will be all about my personal life," he explains, "and so you will get to know me as the person not the artist and get to look into all aspects of my private life and really get to see the real me."
2. Rough Diamonds
In 2006, Akon bought a diamond mine in South Africa, prompting criticism from human rights activists who claim the mines support illegal trade and help finance rebel groups in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Defending his decision to buy the mine, he maintains the movie Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio blew the issue out of proportion. "That's just a movie. Ain't nobody thought about nothing about conflict diamonds until the movie came out. I'm sure in certain mines and in certain areas there's probably some illegal activity going on… but at the same time, in any corporation there is a lot of illegal activity going on."
3. Deal Or No Deal
Akon claims he used to be a drug dealer, even though he's stated in interviews that he's "never drank [and] never smoked" himself. "I'm Muslim," he explained, "but really, I never understood the concept of getting high. I like to be in control of my own mind and my own destiny."
4. Love in the Club
During a 2007 gig in Trinidad and Tobago, Akon was filmed simulating sex with an audience member. When the clip hit YouTube, and the girl was later revealed to be both a preacher's daughter and underage, the conservative press set their sights on the performer. Because of the controversy, mobile giant Verizon Wireless pulled its sponsorship of Gwen Stefani's Sweet Escape Tour, because Akon was the opening act. "It was unfair," Akon said later, "but sometimes you can't control how other people are influenced. Me, I have a strong mind; no one can really influence my mind and my actions, but other people aren't like that especially these big corporations. They care a lot about what people may think or say, so even though I felt it was unfair, I didn't take it personally."
5. That Fling You Do
After an audience threw an object during a 2007 gig in Fishkill, New York, Akon brought the offender onstage. Akon then hoisted the young fan onto his shoulders and tossed him into the crowd, injuring another audience member. When police investigated the incident, Akon claimed it was a publicity stunt. "It was all staged," he explained. "It really got silly, like the media was reporting that I was getting charged for attempted murder. Seriously I felt like, "What the hell is going on here?" Honestly, if that was something that really happened, they would have locked me up on the spot." In the end, Akon pleaded guilty to the charge of harassment and was fined $350 and sentenced to 65 hours of community service.
6. True Crime
Despite all these bad-boy antics, Akon has only been convicted of one single felony – for gun possession in 1998. After pleading guilty, he was given three years probation. He also spent several months in jail following the theft of a BMW, but the charges against him were dropped. According to Akon, this wasn't his only car heist. "I used to be in the 'car business'," he revealed, "so maybe I'd like to apologize to some of my victims who had to walk home from work after I stole their cars."
I Love Akon
Hi all !! I want to tell u that i like listening Akons' song !!! How about you ????
By sophannapel Posted Feb 6, 2009, 01:28 PM.
I LIKE AKON SO MUCH
i like Akon because The song's remember me about my Girlfriend.!!!
By yudhistira Posted Feb 7, 2009, 01:19 PM.
Akon.Akon.Akon
Akons still got bad as banging music and if he was that much of a crimmnal then why is it that other music artists are still singing along side him in their music clips!!!!!
By melissa taylor Posted Feb 8, 2009, 08:22 PM.
I love akon too
Well i love akon so much <3<3 (L) nd i think my fave song from akon is I wanna make up right now
By Monique Posted Feb 8, 2009, 09:07 PM.
akon rockz
i love akon coz of his voice....i have all his songs my fav is i wanna love u ?akon yahooo...........
By muhammed imran Posted Feb 11, 2009, 02:03 PM.
beutiful :)
i love his new song! BEUTIFUL :)
By charisse rivera Posted Feb 14, 2009, 12:27 AM.
so cool
wow akon is the best of the best man and he is so cool !!!!!!!!!!!!
By hokchhe Posted Feb 14, 2009, 09:54 PM.
Akon's the flavour!!
Hell all the R&B artists can sing...I so luv em all but when Akon comes into the pictures, when he is featured in their song, he really takes it to the limit, adds the sweetness and makes it all mouthwatering and stuff. I think yall know what I mean....he's the flavour, man!!
By Senjay Posted Feb 17, 2009, 06:38 PM.
I LOVE AKON
nhung bai hat cua anh that tuyet
By homanhdung Posted Feb 17, 2009, 10:22 PM.
AKON UUUHHHHH
I think akon is not the best man
By satria laksana Posted Feb 19, 2009, 03:17 PM.
Akon
his voice is cool
By bn Posted Feb 20, 2009, 11:03 AM.
My FAVE
Akon .........my FAVE.... liked his voice so much...........AKON
By Rex Zhu Posted Feb 21, 2009, 05:11 PM.
ihate akon YAK!
akon is not taking a bath
By patricia angel s. cullen delasalas Posted Feb 21, 2009, 06:32 PM.
I Luv Akon
Co khi nao anh sang Viet Nam Dien show khong!!?
By Tran Gia Thuan Posted Feb 21, 2009, 07:12 PM.
AKon, U rock!
His voice is outstanding, his performance is always amazing and he also a very good looking.
By errin Posted Feb 22, 2009, 11:56 PM.
AKON RULES
Akon is cool but. period, umm I just wwantt to be in the next month chosen 1 -Joe Jonas
By Joseph Adam Posted Feb 23, 2009, 06:44 PM.
Akon
He is the man who rocks the muisc gallery
By clinston thomas Posted Feb 23, 2009, 08:41 PM.
AKON MANIA!!!!!!!
wow.... thats incredible..... i love his song.no one could ever do that.keep playing the song of akon.
By jeffrey clemente Posted Feb 26, 2009, 07:50 PM.
Akon Akon!!!
I love every song of akon. Akon you are the best glamorous!
By Jason Xie Posted Feb 28, 2009, 04:57 AM.
Hi. [A]Kon
I love album your freedom and I love right now ^^! Akonnnnn.....n :D
By Nguyen Phuoc Triem Posted Mar 3, 2009, 09:21 AM.
akon fans....
i love right now (na na na) song by: akon..
By jennilyn Posted Mar 8, 2009, 06:50 PM.
TVXq
Please include tvxq to be the chosen one
By Vita Andriana Posted Mar 12, 2009, 04:50 PM.
TVXQ
TVXQ TVXQ TVXQ TVXQ TVZQ TVXQ
By Jirapaa Kanjana Posted Mar 14, 2009, 01:34 PM.
tvxq or big bang
plzzzz....i want tvxq or big bang to be the chosen one pllzzzz....
By najiha Posted Mar 15, 2009, 10:48 AM.
akon? wahaaah‼
love ryt now na'na'na
By omar baunto Posted Mar 18, 2009, 01:34 PM.
Big Bang
Pls. feature Big Bang to be the chose one
By Michelle Dizon Posted Mar 20, 2009, 11:54 PM.
TVXQ
tvxq or any kpop singer please!! :))
By Chesca Lee Posted Mar 21, 2009, 08:23 PM.
TVXQ
TVXQ PLZZZ.....
By najiha Posted Mar 23, 2009, 11:02 AM.
WWWWWWWWWOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW
LOVE HIS VOICE AND MUSIC . The coolest song of Akon are LONLEY and RIGHT NOW (NANANA)!!!
By katja hamersky Posted Mar 24, 2009, 08:48 PM.
Super Junior and Arashi
PLEASE play super junior's 3rd album -sorry, sorry- and arashi's songs like -one love, love so sweet, wish and subarashiki sekai-..can u also play -planetarium by ai otsuka- and -flavor of life by utada hikaru-. I'd be very thankful if u could play them all:))
By alyana lee Posted Mar 25, 2009, 03:05 PM.
Super Junior and Arashi
PLEASE feature Super Junior and Arashi on double shot:))
By alyana lee Posted Mar 25, 2009, 03:10 PM.
I reall enjoy with [AK],Akon albumn!
I Love his cool style
By Sokummono Khan Posted Mar 25, 2009, 04:48 PM.
TVXQ
The next Chosen One should be TVXQ since they just released a bunch of singles and a new album but not only that, they're also having a concert tour!!!!! TVXQ FIGHTING!!!
By jungyunho Posted Mar 26, 2009, 01:27 AM.
TVXQ
[V] i love you because you listen to us netizens. PLEASE let TVXQ be The Chosen One, they've accomplished so much that its unfair that no one acknowledges it. PLEASE!
By Freda Jane Posted Apr 5, 2009, 09:19 PM.
TVXQ
i agree with the previews posts here. TVXQ should be the next!
By elline cada Posted Apr 6, 2009, 10:27 PM.
please do it
i love big bang band!!!! wish they are the chosen one soon!!!! and i hope also their viseo can be seen always in the number one channel V !!!! loves a lot
By saira Posted Apr 7, 2009, 06:48 PM.
Big Bang
let Big Bang be the chosen one please!
By pa chee xiong Posted Apr 8, 2009, 03:22 AM.
TVXQ/ Tohoshinki/ Dong Bang Shin Ki (DBSK)
I like TVXQ to be the next chosen one~!!!!!!!! they are really deserving~!!! they had many tours and encore and they have A LOT of singles and albums in Korea and Japan! ^^
By Krystl Kel Posted Apr 8, 2009, 02:54 PM.
SUPER JUNIOR !!!
They been working hard for their third album !!! for once i would like to see some Asian artiest to be the chosen one !!! CHANNEL [V] !!! PLEASE ~!!
By Chuah Phei Yee Posted Apr 8, 2009, 06:42 PM.
Ayumi Hamasaki or SHinee
i love them and they deserve to be the "chosen one"...
By Anthony Posted Apr 10, 2009, 03:27 PM.
go big bang!!!! VIP
go go v.i. v.i.p lets go big bang!!!! please let the big bang were the chosen one and please show some music video of big bang. love a lot especially to my big bang!!!!
By saira Posted Apr 11, 2009, 10:17 AM.
S.H.E
Please feature S.H.E as the next chosen one! They have come a long way since their debut in 2001. They have produced numerous albums and songs. S.H.E fans will be happy if you take time and feature them. :)
By Amber Chen Hui Ren Posted Apr 13, 2009, 02:45 PM.
TVXQ/Super Junior/Big Bang
Please feature these guys on THe Chosen One. If it's Big Bang = It will be Grand Hyper Music!!! If it's TVXQ = It will be Hyper Bling Bling Super Voice!!! If it's Super Junior = It will be a Pot Of Fun Music that so Addictive!!!
By Dollyna Harun Posted Apr 24, 2009, 06:43 PM.
Lo[V]e Akon
You're so beautiful! You're so beautiful! You're so beautiful! You're so beautiful! You're so beautiful! You're so beautiful! You're so beautiful! You're so beautiful! You're so beautiful! You're so beautiful! You're so beautiful! You're so beautiful!
By Van Tuyen Nguyen Posted Apr 29, 2009, 05:30 PM.