Song:Don't Matter
Album:Konvicted
Aliaume "Akon" Thiam started out as a songwriter and producer and that led to a record deal and success with two number one hits from the 2006 album Konvicted including Don't Matter. He's still around but he hasn't released a CD since 2008. He was born Apr. 16, 1973 in St. Louis but he spent part of his childhood in Senegal. And that African influence is certainly part of his music. His father Mor Thiam is a percussionist known as an African cultural expert. He also played with pianist Don Pullen. Akon went to high school in Jersey City, NJ. Akon claimed that he was part of an auto theft ring and he spent three years in jail. It was proven later that this was embellished. Of course jail time can get an aspiring hip hop artist credibility with fans. He got a record deal after he was introduced to music exec Devyne Stephens and eventually Akon's music got the attention of Universal's SRC label. Akon's 2004 debut CD Trouble was certified Platinum. Locked Up and Lonely were both top ten hits. His 2006 album Konvicted did even better. I Wanna Love You and Don't Matter both topped the Billboard Hot 100. Konvicted was certified 3XPlatinum. So it was a huge hit. Akon wrote Don't Matter with Anthony Lawson. It samples Bob Marley's Zimbabwe and R. Kelly's Ignition. His 2008 album Freedom didn't do as well. And then he started to have problems with Universal. His CD Stadium was supposed to be released in 2010. They kept delaying it and eventually he left. He told Larry King he wants to buy Universal. Akon signed a new deal with Atlantic. He says he plans to release Stadium in five different versions mostly through a mobile app. The album was supposed to be released early 2016 but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe Atlantic won't release five versions like Akon wants. He needs to get something out there. 2006 was a long time ago. Here's the video for Don't Matter by Akon.
No comments:
Post a Comment