DUB Magazine Feature : Akon
Consider song titles such as “Ghetto,” “Locked Up,” “Snitch” and “Soul Survivor.” Then, picture hip-hop heavyweights the likes of the L.O.X.’s Styles P, Obie Trice and Young Jeezy. Are these the track listings and featured guest appearances of some rapper on the verge of mainstream mega-stardom? One whose labor in the underground trenches has finally prepared him for airwave arrival? Perhaps an up-and-comer from uptown, U.S.A. about to have the streets in a strangle—better yet a “Million Dollar Man” style sleeper hold? Nope.
The above résumé belongs to none other than Dakar, Senegal’s favorite son: Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam or the man that America—and Billboard—knows simply as Akon.
Although he appeared on the legendary Fugees’ album, The Score (Ruffhouse/Columbia, 1996), after “meeting ‘Clef (Wyclef Jean) at the barbershop in Newark,” the SRC/Universal-signed crooner is a relatively fresh face in the crowded sea of rhythm and blues artists. Despite this, Akon has managed to quickly race to the front of the proverbial pack, largely due to his ability to mesh smooth, traditional ballads with raw, gritty narratives about his days on the corner and behind bars.
The budding superstar clearly feels that his ability to walk the thin line between girl- and gangster-friendly music has helped solidify his spot in the game. “I just like to write and sing about what’s real…about what I see,” he says. “The realer the music, the better it’s gonna be. When I make a song about something that I’ve seen or been through, it comes through.” Although it may be difficult to balance the romantic with the realistic, his debut disc Trouble (SRC/Universal, 2004) proves that Akon can traverse that tightrope as nimbly as a highwire acrobat.
Instead of resting on his laurels, Akon created his own imprint named (what else?) Konvict Records. With stripper-enamored T-Pain and recently acquired Toronto mainstay Kardinal Offishall contracted to the label, Akon is incredibly optimistic about the future.
“T-Pain’s album really popped off; we’re doing really well,” he says. “Kardinal is gonna bring something to the table that I don’t really feel any other artists can.” Yet, Akon refuses to stop simply at the recording studio. He’s taking his hustle to an even more lucrative arena—the film set.
In 2006, Akon began shooting his first flick, also titled “Trouble,” from his new movie production company, Konvict Films. According to Akon, the majority of the movies will focus “on the lifestyle of cats locked up and their stories … so kids won’t make the same type of mistakes and will learn something from them.” Who knew that the adlib that ’Kon dropped to open Young Jeezy’s ubiquitous anthem, “Soul Survivor,” would become the moniker under which he would take on the world.
Speaking of taking on the world, it seems that every time Mercedes-Benz redesigns one of its classic flagship models, the automotive community stands still in utter awe. Not surprisingly, the recent arrival of the 2007 S-Class at dealerships has had the usual time-freezing effect.
While the new CLS, R and GL have all expanded the Mercedes lineup into a more dynamic and complete collective of cars, there remains a nostalgic appeal about the S. Akon remembers his youth in New Jersey and the wonder that catching glimpses of the big body Benz would inspire in him.
“Anytime an older dude would ride by in one of those huge, super big four-doors [S-Class], I always dreamed about having one myself, man,” he said. The celebrated sedan is now offered in a 550, replacing the revered 500. The new 5.5-liter engine packs a formidable 382 horsepower into its V8—drivers can almost hear the hooves if they listen closely enough when flooring the gas.
While the front end of the car did not undergo a massive facelift, the rear of the new model closely resembles the raised haunches of its even more stately (and costly) Maybach cousin. Akon’s steel grey S 550 showcases one of the features that make the new chassis so appealing to customization enthusiasts: the ability to fit 22-inch wheels. The Konvict colonel opted for Asanti AF122 double deuces in classic chrome. The Benz’s shoes are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires, 255/30R22 in the bow and 295/25R22 in the stern.
The sedan’s stance appears extra aggressive thanks to Roadstarr Motorsports of U.K.’s sports lowering links. Beneath the newly molded rear of this 2007 S-Class rests a beastly Roadstarr dual exhaust complete with upgraded performance headers. The entire exterior package, installed at Roadstarr Motorsports of Los Angeles, creates a truly one-of-a-kind Benz for Akon…a truly one-of-a-kind customer. The inside of the new S needed little work, as Akon chose to add a simple rearview camera with night vision. It would appear that those interior engineers in Stuttgart are, as usual, aptly performing their jobs.
Just as elegance and style run in the bloodline of the S-Class, musical flair and talent are embedded deeply in Akon’s genetic and cultural roots. His father, famed African percussionist Mor Thiam, instilled an interest and appreciation for music that pushed Akon to explore his own inclination towards the mic. The city of Dakar, Akon’s birthplace, served to reinforce this interest, Akon recalling that, “…music was everywhere there. It was a big part of growing up in Senegal.”
Despite this firmly entrenched love of writing, singing and performing, Akon’s expansive vision of empire distinguishes him from his counterparts. Aiming to help redefine traditional notions of the recording and film industries, Akon wants everyone—even those who have never been locked up—to understand exactly what it means to be a Konvict.
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