Africahit - Akon( Senegalese-American singer): Prison changed my life

Not long ago,. Akon couldn’t beg his way onto the radio. Now, of course, things have changed for the St. Louis-born singer-producer who split his childhood years between Africa and the U.S. Now based in Atlanta, the 25-year-old entertainer recently added a Grammy nomination to his musical vita, and a new movie based on his life, The Illegal Alien, is currently in the works.

How did growing up in both Senegal and the States influence you as an entertainer?
“I think the culture influenced me more than anything else. It gave me more to talk about. It allowed me to be able to get into international topics and be able to translate them through songs, and have people able to understand it.”

I know you were once incarcerated (for car theft). What happened to make you turn your life around?
“Getting locked up was my defining moment. It showed me how everything you accomplish can be taken away from you in seconds.”

What made you want to be a musician?
“I had no intention of ever being a recording artist. After I got out of prison. I had no occupation. Nobody would hire me. But I had a talent and that kind of opened up the door for me to say. ‘I’ve got this talent and I need to take it and use it as a blessing; it’s here for a reason.”

You’ve worked with a lot of entertainers in a relatively short time. What’s your dream collaboration?
“Right now my dream collaboration is with Michael Jackson. I’m hoping to accomplish that this year. I grew up listening to a lot of things that he did. The whole way he conquered the music industry in general – I admired all that about him.”

Tell me about Konfidence Foundation; what plans do you have in the works for your charity for kids, which is based in Africa?
“Every year we do a huge concert to raise money to rebuild schools and hospitals. We figured we’d start with the kids first. As long as they have health care and education ... they can think on a level where they can benefit the country. It’s like a rolling snowball that is getting bigger and bigger.”

T-Pain Feat Akon - Bartender