March 19, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
AKON: The Last Hit Maker
No R&B artist has more influence on today's pop music than Akon. Laura Checkoway goes in.
"Bend... over, look back, and watch me," Akon commands, his hands too busy slapping ass to wipe the sweat from his brow. "Smack that," he sings with a smile, "Til you get sore." It's past midnight in Park City, Utah, and icy outside, but inside Harry O's nighclub, it's sticky, and Akon is onstage living some strange version of the American Dream. Party girl/actress Tara Reid's legs are wrapped around his waist, and they're both gyrating to his No. 1 pop hit "Smack Thhat" in front of a sold-out, mostly white Sundance Film Festival-attending crowd. The track that's causing all the commotion, a repetitive, unabashed tribute to ass-smacking (which features Eminem) broke the Billboard Hot 100 record in October for the largest one-week climb in the chart's 48-year history. The "Smack That" ring tone went platinum faster than almost any other since the Recording Industry Association of America began certifying them in 2004. That's a whole lot of booty-slapping.
Akon hates the cold, but weather conditions don't much matter to him anymore. Though the temperature is subzero in the Wasatch Mountains, it's almost 80 degrees in Dakar, Senegal, where Akon was named a "Youth Ambassador" in 2005. It's in the low 50s in Atlanta, where Akon's four sons and possibly more than one wife (more on that later) make their residence. But Akon really only makes it home for the holidays. These days he's busier than ever promoting the year's biggest pop/R&B sneak-attack, Konvicted (Upfront/Konvict/SRC/Universal). After the unexpected success of his pensive, three-million-selling debut, 2004's Trouble (SRC/Universal), Akon enhanced his sophomore release with A-list rap cameos, but he saved a bunch of money on production costs, laying all but one track himself - the most popular, most aggravating, Eminem-produced "Smack That."
To read more of Akon's cover story, cop VIBE's April 2007 issue, on stands now. For excerpts and outtakes from this exclusive interview with Akon, hit up writer Laura Checkoway's blog!
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Previous: The Baddest BPage printed from:
http://www.vibe.com/news/cover_stories/2007/03/vibe_april_07_cover/
Comments
1.
rkelly says:
view profile
man put more effect k. u be my fan
June 18, 2008 at 1:20 pm
2.
JEMAIMAH.LOVE says:
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, i jst love the way u sing.I wish i get a click on the way u sing,Akon keep it up .Jemie.
November 8, 2007 at 10:54 am
3.
Key says:
Hollla back at me why u named yourself "convict"???
November 5, 2007 at 1:48 pm
4.
halit says:
koli,oluklu mukavva,kutu,plastik ambalaj
October 19, 2007 at 3:04 am
5.
kay slay says:
Akon yu are good bt don' forget yo roots!
September 28, 2007 at 10:21 am
6.
Paige says:
I like your video Smack that peace out luv Miley Cyrus :)
September 19, 2007 at 6:02 pm
7.
Jackie-Jackie says:
Please listen to my tracks, I sing, write3 and produce my own beats.
ever since I was 10.
I have more if you are interested.
601-291-0091
thank you Laura
August 13, 2007 at 10:24 am
8.
Bíró Zoltán says:
http://www.grain.hu/eso.htm
rainmaker
June 4, 2007 at 4:54 am
9.
RoN1n says:
Akon rullz!
Hehe
May 12, 2007 at 1:28 pm
10.
Anna says:
I love Akon so much!!! He's much more talented than the other singers who call themselves "artist."
May 2, 2007 at 10:11 am
11.
SpyderJ says:
Akon rips. And he's got the pimpest belt buckles i've ever seen. Where can i get one?
April 20, 2007 at 8:45 pm
12.
susu says:
tes trop beau mon pot
April 20, 2007 at 3:00 pm
13.
Geraldine says:
Akon is so sexy! I love him. All of his music is the best! He is the greatest singer, song writer, and producer of all times. I am Geraldine from philly and just wanted to express my heart felt feelings for Akon! I love that picture man!
April 19, 2007 at 8:22 pm
14.
nasir says:
i am form Africa son i like u you are cool
April 11, 2007 at 3:23 pm
15.
nasir says:
i form somaila u cool akon
April 11, 2007 at 3:20 pm
16.
marie therese njie says:
I LIKE YOU AKON BECAUSE I COME FROM GAMBIA AND GAMBIA AAND SENGNL AND I NOT THAT HOW THE TWO COUNTY ARE LIKE BUT MY MUM COME FROM SENGENL BUT I AM BI BUT I AM A AFR AS WELL AND I LOVE EVERY SONG YOU DO
April 1, 2007 at 11:43 am
17.
Jodie says:
As for Akon, I have to say I enjoy some of this music atleast the ones with no profanity such as "Mama Africa"love it, "Never took the time", & "Don't Matter" not much there since there quite a bit of profanity on this album. Don't agree on the whole 3 wives issue but that's not for me to agree since I am not aware of what goes on in this culture.
March 30, 2007 at 2:38 pm
18.
LISTER says:
I SO LOVE MY FELLOW AFRICAN. HES MUSIC IS SOO GUD N ITS THE BOMB. DONT CARE WAT HE DONE WIT HIS LIFE BT AS LONG HE GIVES ME GOOD BEATS..AM HOME 'N DRY
March 30, 2007 at 6:42 am
19.
bunmi amosu says:
Don't know why the hate is guching out of them bellies. As far as i'm concerned, Akon is the best thing that has happened to Africa after Fela Kuti and His heir, Femi Kuti. Synthesized or not, his voice is simply awesome and dollar-spinning. Those who can live with that should head to Iraq and face pray to be hit by some insurgents.
March 28, 2007 at 12:48 pm
20.
dare says:
you should be shame nown , keep hate him ,and will be # 1 and world , you want or no bithch
March 24, 2007 at 1:17 pm
21.
Dee says:
Why is Akon on the cover of Vibe?? This magazine is slowly going downhill! Akon cant sing and his songs especially Smack That are awful! And I agree with the person who called him a hypocrite regarding the diamonds. I mean what direction is he taking he was Locked Up, Lonely, and now Smack That??? rubbish!
March 23, 2007 at 11:44 am
22.
paul says:
Akon is such a great singer n all dat hate should hung.
March 23, 2007 at 3:22 am
23.
Jessica Romano says:
I have enjoyed everything that Akon has produced, but to call him the last hit maker is absurd! I have been a loyal fan of Timbaland since he produced "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" for Missy in '97. He is all over the radio and showing no signs of backing down. I think we need a producer show down, with no beat biting! Much love to my super friends!
March 23, 2007 at 1:43 am
24.
dj mo-laudi www.myspace.com/djmolaudi says:
Akon is African, he's got that original african voice you would find with central african singers like Baba Maal, Salif Keita... Akon represents many voiceless africans out there, check out my remix of smack that @ www.myspace.com/djmolaudi
March 22, 2007 at 8:56 am
25.
F Akon says:
Akon is:
a polygamist (has 3 wives)
a criminal (stole buncha cars, boast that he dealt meth, 5 yrs in jail)
a hypocrite (owns a diamond mine in senegal but won't give details on how workers are treated or if they are exploited)
vulgar (no other artist is more vulgar on the radio today - he has zero class no matter how much he talks about fancy things like Gallardo's)
Lastly he's a terrible singer whose tracks are all re-worked with synthesizers. Kermit the frog sings better.
This is who you are telling african americans to look up to and emulate.
March 21, 2007 at 4:56 pm