Being the chief of a pack is a distinction that’s admirable in idea. Nonetheless, the terrain traversed can usually conclude in changing into the hunted and the inevitability of extinction. In 2004, the prospects of world famous person Akon not solely surviving, however thriving as one of many first African artists from the Hip-Hop neighborhood to realize mainstream attraction was a longshot at finest. As an alternative of being preyed upon, the singer, songwriter, producer and entrepreneur has spent the higher a part of his profession prowling for different abilities to assist placed on the map, enjoying a guiding hand in molding the careers of megastars like Girl Gaga, T-Ache, and others.
He additionally hasn’t let being an alpha deter his need to make a constructive impression on the world at massive, as he’s constantly given again to his dwelling nation of Senegal via varied philanthropic and charitable efforts. He additionally hasn’t allowed critiques or obstacles discourage him from his objective of finishing the constructing of Akon Metropolis in Africa, which he hopes shall be a central destination for natives and vacationers alike. It’s the newest transfer in his effort to shed a constructive mild on the tranquil tradition and huge alternatives that the diaspora has to supply.
But, the 49-year-old hitmaker hasn’t utterly put music on the backburner, as he stays in a artistic zone and has revealed plans to launch new music this fall. The “Locked Up” singer just lately partnered with TikTok to launch an EP on the platform, which can arrive this November. The collaboration got here to life following Akon’s resurgence in recognition amongst customers on the app, a lot of whom helped create their very own content material with the incorporation of older songs in his catalog.
Having acclimated himself to the present digital local weather, the Konvict Muzik founder seems to have gotten his second wind. Releasing his newest single, “Get pleasure from That” that includes producer Metro Boomin, and with plans for a brand new full-length studio album within the works, Akon hasn’t allowed him approaching the half-century age mark rob him of his zest to entertain, create, and empower.
VIBE spoke with Akon about his new EP, the standing of his forthcoming Akonic album, serving to lead the cost for the Afrobeat explosion, introducing the following technology of Konvict Muzik and extra.
VIBE: You could have a brand new EP popping out this November in collaboration with TikTok. What’s the title of the EP and what impressed it?
Akon: Yeah, so the title of the EP known as TikTok Freak. It’s a collaboration in a partnership with TikTok to be the primary EP launched underneath the platform. What impressed it really was I wasn’t actually a social media individual. I’m actually personal as a result of the technology we got here up with, artists at all times left this thriller about them and their life-style. So, I simply bought accustomed to simply being tremendous personal. So only recently, I began realizing that my information in my catalog begin going loopy on TikTok. Songs that I hadn’t heard in lots of a few years began popping up, simply streaming loopy on TikTok. And “Bananza” grew to become a type of information, which was my first official single even earlier than “Locked Up.”
That by no means actually labored out however this technology accepted it on an entire completely different stage. In order that’s once I was like, ‘ what, man. I actually wish to launch music in several methods than this conventional method of dropping music. And I felt that TikTok can be the proper platform to drop this new EP. So we put collectively this loopy EP that we’re gonna launch. There’s gonna be 5 songs on there. It’s extra of like a test-case research, however on the identical time, backing up with all of the catalog that’s been going loopy on TikTok and simply giving individuals music from Akon.
Undoubtedly. So did the individuals at TikTok attain out to you or did you attain out to them? How did that partnership come come to life?
Yeah, it was a imaginative and prescient of mine, really, after which I reached out to them. That is one thing I wished to essentially do. I mentioned, ‘Man. I wish to simply launch a report only for TikTok particularly so individuals can stream it and publish and create content material round it. Then I used to be like, ‘Man, it will be even crazier if I reached out to TikTok and shoot them this concept and pitch it to em and hopefully they’ll have an interest.’ And once I pitched it to ’em, they went loopy and mentioned, ‘This could possibly be superb. This could possibly be a brand new mannequin that we are able to most likely replicate with different artists sooner or later.’ So we determined to come back collectively and put this factor collectively.
How would you describe the vibe in total sound of the EP?
The general sound is extra international. It’s extra of a world sound, I’d undoubtedly say lots of affect of what I’m identified for, however extra so on the worldwide stage as a result of I do know TikTok is a global platform. This music is barely completely different from what can be on my album per se, as a result of this music is extra primarily based on the platform and to have enjoyable with. After which, within the course of, I’ve a brand new artist named Ameerah, who I’m really that includes on this TikTok EP as a result of TikTok is thought to interrupt model new artists. So I’m using that as effectively to interrupt my new famous person Ameerah.
You lately unveiled the music video to your new single “Get pleasure from That,” which options and is produced by Metro Boomin. How how did that music come to life?
Metro Boomin, man, that’s like household. One in every of my mentees, one of the vital explosive producers of our decade, particularly this technology, man. So me and him used to simply get within the studio and simply vibe out. We by no means actually had no objective, we simply wished to make nice music and ultimately discover the suitable platform to place it out.
And as I used to be getting reconnected with music once more and getting re-excited, I mentioned ‘Man, you realize what, this might be the proper report that outlined how I really feel proper now on this day and time. This could possibly be the primary single from the album that’s to be launched sooner or later.’ We haven’t determined whether or not we’re gonna launch it or maintain placing out singles back-to-back-to-back or a physique of labor, so we’ll see in a minute. However I shall be saying if we do put out the physique of labor. It is able to go, absolutely mastered and able to transfer.
So yeah, I suppose relying on the success of the only will decide if we drop the physique of labor instantly, or will we wish to simply experience the wave a little bit longer, you realize what I imply. We’re gonna form of really feel the power that individuals have.
Proper. So “Get pleasure from That” gained’t be part of the TikTok EP?
“Get pleasure from That” is the official single to the longer term physique of labor that’s gonna be launched because the Akonic album. After which the TikTok EP is totally separate from that. That’s particularly for the TikTok platform simply to have enjoyable with.
What was it like filming the music video for “Get pleasure from That?
The “Get pleasure from That” video, it was simply enjoyable, man. The entire idea of the video is from the second I wake up to date I stroll out the door. Like how my life is form of just about arrange from the second I get up, getting dressed to strolling out the door to the world and attending to the enterprise. So the video is nearly gonna be like the start of the intro of the mini-movie video fashion that I’m gonna be taking pictures as a result of each video connects to one another as part of the story.
What artists and producers did you’re employed with on the TikTok Freak challenge?
The TikTok challenge is especially me, I produced nearly all of it. I do have a model new producer that I simply signed out of Africa known as Nektunez, who’s additionally on the album in addition to a producer. It’s a type of issues the place it’s simply actually just about the Konvict fashion, including the producers that’s connected to the Konvict umbrella. However I’m just about the primary producer on it after which Nektunez can also be featured on it as a producer as effectively. So we’re actually enthusiastic about the whole lot and the place it’s going with it.
Being that you simply had been one of many first African artists to achieve appreciable acclaim in Hip-Hop, how has it been to see the rise and evolution of Afrobeats music and the entire artists who’ve emerged from the diaspora?
Man, it feels superb. Particularly after combating for Afrobeat to get its visualness within the U.S. for therefore lengthy and attempting to form of expose the native African artists to main labels right here. Everyone remembers me strolling into these buildings attempting to get all this curiosity within the final 10 years. To form of get them simply just about understanding what’s taking place and the way the wave is working this fashion, it’s good to step in entrance of it.
So there’s no secret the contribution that we made to getting this factor acknowledged out right here, however to see now the respect that it’s getting and to see the love that its receiving from the viewers, it feels superb. As a result of at one level, I believed I used to be going loopy. I’m like, ‘Is it simply me,’ you realize, that individuals don’t see this. However it form of helps although as a result of I seen the sport is form of actually a foul wagon kind of business the place individuals lag on to it when it’s working, however then it takes eternally to get the ball rolling.
Individuals don’t imagine in it from the gate till different individuals imagine in it after which the help comes, however generally that work is value placing in to be acknowledged. And I believe Africa performed that position as form of simply ready its flip. And it went from Hip Hop to Reggaeton and the Latin world after which now, Afrobeat is definitely being acknowledged.
So I simply hope that everyone respects the facet of what that’s and deal with it pretty. And never solely that, however the artists coming from Africa perceive the appreciation that’s being held for this and never take it as a right. Like actually maximize on the chance they’ve been given proper now and actually deal with it prefer it’s meant to be handled.
You lately commented that Canadians are operating Hip-Hop in mild of the success of Drake, The Weeknd, Tory Lanez, and others. What do you are feeling is the reasoning behind that?
I believe it’s a number of causes. , [the] U.S. has been dominating the music scene for an extended, very long time and I believe Canada being the neighbor has at all times been the underdog relating to that. In order that’s a giant motivation, to essentially focus to come back at that. That’s considered one of ’em, clearly the motivation stemming from the U.S.
Quantity two, the federal government placing in lots of initiatives to assist develop the music and leisure enterprise in Canada. They create these rebates and these bonds they usually create a help stage for it. They usually additionally create a coverage that provides Canadian artists much more airplay than the foreigners in Canada itself. So that they actually drive visitors for native artists in Canada, and that can undoubtedly translate outdoors of Canada. However greater than something, the third is the expertise. You actually can’t deny the expertise, man, them boys on the market are tremendous dope.
Like you’ll be able to’t simply blame it on solutions one and two, solutions one and two helps what actually is as a result of expertise’s at all times gonna discover itself and it’s at all times gonna discover its viewers. Successful report, as you realize, will at all times discover this technique to the sunshine. So on the finish of the day, you’ll be able to’t discredit the expertise that comes out of Canada, there’s superb gifted there. However then additionally they have infrastructure that help that expertise to offer it the extent of capability and visual-ship that it really wants. So I believe it’s a mix of these three issues that give Canada the up on the music proper now.
You’ve performed a job within the careers of Girl Gaga, T-Ache, Kardinal Offishall, and French Montana, all of whom have obtained worldwide acclaim. What’s your present label scenario and are there any artists you’re at present working with that you’ve excessive hopes for?
Yeah, one of many future artists that I’ve tremendous excessive hopes for is Ameerah. She’s the primary feminine rapper that I’ve ever signed and I believe she has what it takes to develop into the following largest famous person. Not simply from a rap standpoint, however she additionally crosses over genres into Afrobeat and R&B, as effectively. So I’m very wanting ahead to the place Ameerah’s future profession is gonna be going. After which Nektunez, he’s the producer that I signed out of Africa. He’s extra of a producer/DJ just like the David Guettas I’ve been connected to, the Black Coffees that I’ve been connected to of the world, the DJ Khaleds I’ve been connected to of the world. So I believe he’s gonna be a type of, however from Africa, particularly. Not solely within the Afrobeat lane ’trigger he’s a type of monster producers. One in every of his largest information was the report that tore TikTok up, with Goya [Menor].
That report is among the information that he produced, so his work is on the market and really acknowledged, however him as a producer, he was very low key. Tremendous humble, at all times stayed behind the scene and I used to be like, ‘No man, it’s time that the world know who you might be and what you really carry within the contribution to Hip Hop. So I imagine he’s going to be the following large factor on the DJ and producer stage. However then, after all, on my legacy constructing, I bought my son Jahvor, who we’ll be releasing his EP very, very shortly. I believe that if the world understood what I used to be doing and accepted my music, I believe once they hear him, they’re gonna actually go loopy as a result of to me, he’s higher than me. I imagine that he’s me on steroids and I actually don’t wanna oversell him, however I believe when the viewers will get to listen to his music, they’ll perceive.
Talking of your son, how would you describe the music that he makes. Is it R&B, Hip-Hop, or is it a mix?
See, that’s the factor, once I got here up, individuals didn’t know if I used to be Hip-Hop or R&B, however now it’s all one in the identical. It’s very melodic. It undoubtedly has enormous Hip-Hop roots to it, but it surely’s extra of an R&B, worldwide Hip-Hop sound, but it surely’s actually completely different although. Sort of eclectic and form of onerous to elucidate, however he does issues along with his voice that I may by no means do.
Being that you simply’ve spent the previous few years enjoying the background, do you are feeling you’ve one thing to show, by way of sustaining your status as a hitmaker and one of many extra globally-appealing artists in music?
No, I by no means actually ever felt like that ever had something to show as a result of the whole lot that I bought, I needed to work for it. So it wasn’t like I bought it straightforward or it was laid on my lap with a silver spoon. The individuals know my credibility so I’ve by no means felt like I ever must show myself to anyone relating to music, however the facet of having fun with it once more was my fundamental focus.
I actually wished to come back again into the music enterprise the second time round and revel in it. The primary time was constructing legacies creating wealth, you realize. Creating, simply breaking information. Tt was actually about confirmed to myself that I used to be worthy of supporting. Now, it’s like, ‘ Okay, a ni**a already know what it’s, I don’t have to remain out loud.’ Now, I’m out right here to have enjoyable and social gathering and I’m inviting all people social gathering with me.
So it’s not about accolades at this level, it’s about having fun with the legacy that we really put in, the affect that we gave to this technology once I take heed to radio. I hear so many information that remind me of myself so I do know I used to be an enormous affect to the enterprise and to me, that was sufficient. So now it’s about actually having enjoyable with this factor, man. Having fun with myself and hoping that everyone take pleasure in it with us.
Your final studio albums, El Negreeto and Akonda, each dropped in 2019. When can followers count on a correct full-length studio-album from you?
Yeah, so these two albums you simply talked about had been all pandemic information that I put out simply so I may have music to take heed to myself ‘I used to be so heavy into Afrobeat on the time, Reggaeton Simply to myself. experiment with issues, get myself again in movement and simply have enjoyable with it. So in the end, when you haven’t heard the Afrobeat or the Reggaeton album, you must undoubtedly pop it up and obtain it, it’s on all platforms as we communicate now. However the subsequent studio album, the official one, it’s gonna be Akonic which shall be connected to the official single, the “Get pleasure from That Document.”
What’s subsequent for Akon shifting ahead?
Subsequent proper now could be rebranding Konvict Muzik. It’s now at present Konvict Kulture, we’ve bought model new artist that we’ll be pushing out that I simply talked about to you earlier that I’m tremendous enthusiastic about. After which outdoors of that, we’re undoubtedly gonna get into the movie division.
I’ve bought lots of African tales, like actually Wakanda-style tales that we wanna get in with individuals like Marvel and do actual large funds movies that inform actual tales and actual historical past. Sort of get us again to our roots, however perceive the ability that we at all times had and the way lots of our tales are being applied in Hollywood, however using white actors. So that you suppose they’re white tales once they’re actually African tales.
So I actually wish to go into Hollywood and actually repair the narrative of how nice we’re as a individuals and simply put out music that’s actually gonna encourage us to be and develop into and keep nice, for positive. However after all, outdoors of that, my retirement and legacy shall be Akon Metropolis. As soon as town is constructed up, I can invite and hosts African People and all of the Africans from the diaspora and international individuals to come back again to African actually make investments there, lived there and lift households there. That’s actually my fundamental bread and butter, man. Simply with the ability to invite individuals again to Africa simply present them a tremendous life that that they had by no means thought existed.
Hopefully the only does in addition to it could possibly, so the general public can get that as quickly as attainable.
Completely, judging from the way it’s wanting proper now, man. We had been No. 2 within the nation, proper up underneath Beyonce. Which is superb to me as a result of I believe she’s one most… I can’t even describe how superb this lady is and what she delivered to the enterprise. So simply to know that we’re on the identical stage after dropping the information in 2008, it reveals the anticipation for the brand new album is gonna be nice. So I believe we is likely to be pushing issues up much more than I anticipated.
