AKON

Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur.
He gained prominence in 2004 with the release of "Locked Up" featuring Styles P, the first single from his debut album "Trouble" in 2004. This was followed by the release of the second single, "Lonely."

Akon's second album, "Konvicted," released in 2006, received three Grammy Award nominations, including Best Contemporary R&B Album. He also earned nominations for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Smack That" featuring Eminem and "I Wanna Love You" featuring Snoop Dogg. Both of these singles reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, along with "Don't Matter" and "Sorry, Blame It on Me." His third studio album, "Freedom," in 2008, featured the single "Right Now (Na Na Na)."

Akon is known for providing vocals as a featured artist and has over 300 guest appearances, with more than 35 Billboard Hot 100 songs, resulting in five Grammy Award nominations. He holds the distinction of being the first solo artist to simultaneously hold the number one and two spots on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. Akon has multiple songs certified as platinum and gold by the RIAA, and he was recognized by Guinness World Records as the top-selling artist for master ringtones.

In addition to his music career, Akon founded two record labels, Konvict Muzik and KonLive Distribution, signing successful acts like Lady Gaga, T-Pain, R. City, Kardinal Offishall, Jeffree Star, and French Montana. He is also a prolific producer and songwriter, working with artists like Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Lionel Richie, Leona Lewis, Sean Paul, and Whitney Houston.

Akon's achievements have garnered recognition from Forbes, ranking 80th in the Forbes Celebrity 100 in 2010, and he was listed as the 5th most powerful celebrity in Africa in 2011. Billboard also acknowledged his impact, ranking him 6th on the list of Top Digital Songs Artists of the decade.