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Akon
The son of famed Senegalese percussionist Mor Thiam, Akon lived in Senegal until
he was seven when he moved to New Jersey. He claims a three-year prison sentence
for unspecified offences inspired him to become a global superstar, blending hip
hop and R&B into slick pop hits. Stories of his mispent youth and his love of
women sent debut album Trouble (2004) to No 1 in the UK. But while lead single
Locked Up was an immediate hit, it was the high-pitched, chipmunk-on-helium
sounding sample of Lonely that made Akon an international phenomenon.
Collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Eminem a...
