Akon is a Senegalese-American singer, songwriter and producer whose distinctive vocals helped shape the crossover sound of 2000s R&B, hip-hop and dance-pop. He broke through with “Locked Up” and “Lonely” from his 2004 debut album Trouble, followed by international hits including “Smack That,” “I Wanna Love You,” “Don’t Matter,” “Right Now (Na Na Na)” and “Beautiful.” His collaborations include David Guetta’s “Sexy Bitch,” Gwen Stefani’s “The Sweet Escape” and Michael Jackson’s “Hold My Hand.” Through his Konvict Muzik and KonLive ventures, Akon also helped advance the early careers of artists including T-Pain and Lady Gaga. His later releases have explored Latin, Afrobeats and dancehall influences, including El Negreeto, Akonda and the 2026 album Beautiful Day.
