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Akon: A Biography

This artist has a story unlike any other. His life is full of stumbles that he was able to overcome through music, to the point of getting to where hes at today, being one of the greatest current hip hop singers, specializing in helping other great artists out with his singing. Akon knows that surviving each day is motive enough to write lyrics for a song. Full or reality, they give an original touch to this multi faceted artist’s music. Ever since he got out of prison, he searched for a way into the music industry, and with his amount of talent, he was already recordng his first album, “Trouble” within six months. This album contains some very moving lyrics that show the ups and downs of Akon’s life. It is a blend of many rythyms but is rooted in Hip Hop Soul.

As the name of his first album indicates, Akon has had a difficult life, as far as legal problems and education, but these events have converted him into a person of strong character who uses music as an opportunity to clean up his errors in the past and as a way to become better in every part of his life. “Trouble Nobody” is a song that describes some of the difficult times in his life. But in order to truly understand why this grand artist takes his music so seriously it is necesary to know his past, his upbringing. Akon left his native country, Senegal, and moved to the United States when he was still a child. His father was a reknowned jazz musician, and Akon grew in a world of music.

Thanks to that influence, being exposed to music at such a young age, it was music that helped him put his life back together, get out of a slump and move forward. He started playing percussion instruments and when still an adolescent when he decided that his thing would be Hip Hop – it was his way of getting rid of problems and stress.

Songs like "Show Out" demonstrate the influence Hip Hop has had on him. And although his songs can sometimes be moving or suggestive, his ability as a singer has allowed him to do songs like “Belly Dance”, lwhich has an irrisistable rythym thanks to the wind instruments implemented in the song, which makes the listener feel good. Demonstrating his capacity in each and every song, Akon doesn’t just stay with his strongly worded lyrics, but also transcends into trying to make his fans see the harsh reality in which we are living currently. Good examples are “Journey” and “Ghetto”, songs that transmit situations in the world as seen by Akon. It is his capacity to reach the listener through his music – his voice, style, and charisma. His capacity to sing as if he were talking with the listener makes Akon an artist with a whole new direction that transmits energy. He makes good music and summons up reflection through his lyrics. His example is the one to follow, especially for the many young people who have lost control of their lives...know that there is always a way, you only have to do things correctly.