In a time when almost all rappers are bragging or fudging about street credibility, Akon does not need to boast any further as he is the real deal - though his music does not always show it. An actual ex-con (he did time for pinching an auto), he has more actual gansta in him than most. However, he is best known for his slow jam ballad “Lonely,” which sampled, of all things, Bobby Vinton's cheesy '60s ballad “Mr. Lonely.” While Akon sped Vinton's vocal sample up so much that Vinton sounded as if his lungs were filled with helium, it was a substantial hit, but not one that would land him in the same company as Kanye West or 50 Cent.
At first glance, Konvicted appears as if it is going to be more of a nod to his harder side, but that is not always the case. “Smack That,” the disc's first release, is more of an attempt to appeal to club hoppers and Top 40 followers and was a safe bet for a hit single. Not wanting to play it too mainstream, he also dabbles in some musical genre-hopping throughout Konvicted. “Mama Africa” contains more of a smooth reggae tone delivery and is more that just a bit akin to Kevin Lyttle's sound. Also, doing an R Kelly-lite take on the ballad "Never Took the Time," is not the way Akon wants to go if he wants to escape the “Lonely” stigma.
Since Akon apparently does not have the chops to rap himself, he certainly has great taste in the guests he chooses to grace his products. “I Wanna Love You,” which appears as if it is to be the second single from Konvicted, is a sort of love (or lust) tune that is saved from mediocrity by a great flowing rap from Snoop Dogg. The aforementioned “Smack That” also features a guest spot from Eminem. While this is not the best work Eminem has ever done, his always beaming attitude adds a nice uppercut punch to the song’s tame, but very danceable, beat.
Article comments
1 - alex
akon's konvicted cd is ground breaking. he seems to have a secret - that is, to make u listen to cheesy stuff until u really don't mind (like in don't matter). the smooth afro-carribean mix in his voice and his street credibility cannot be ignored by anybody. this is his time.
2 - jacki
wow!! akon is an awesome singer, he is so talented i think i luv him to death!! he did good!!
3 - jacki
wow t pain made the best song in the world i luv him to!! and akon is awesome is kool too but he needs to do a song with t pain and he'll be awesome
4 - jacki
wow!! r kelly is also a very good rapper i louv him also i think he needs to do a song with chris brown so he will be an awesome person too!!lol
5 - jacki
wow! (sry i love to say wow @ da beggining of all my thangys) ok i want everone to kno that i have da best boyfriend EVER! he makes me feel soosoosoo good inside and out!(not in a gross way) but ya we both love bow wow and akon and they need to do a song together that would be soo soos oo kool cuz it could be me and my boyfriends song!!lol but i love them all!!
6 - me8
akon is the best of the best and who doesnt love his voice , and most of all everyone in africa love him . he is such talented , go akon.
7 - santana
hey akon i love ur evry song. specially DON MATTER. it has sumthin that relates ma lif.
keep goin ma negga
8 - jy
akon love songs are the best specially hold my hands and don't matter i can listen to them every single day of my life akon is the man...
9 - NOUMAAN
he's kinda cute just like his songz n me like too his songz from pakistan i'm sindhi