Konvicted - Akon

Joseph Smith | 18 July 2007

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Following his 2003 multi-platinum debut Trouble, Senegalese singer Akon returns with more stories of gangster life, love and lust in Konvicted.

Trouble was a form of redemption for Akon following his three-year jail sentence for grand theft auto. He actually spent much of his time in prison penning the lyrics and music that would make up his debut album.

With Konvicted Akon is now reflecting on both his life on the streets and his new found fame and success.

The streets

Opening track Shake Down sets the tone for the album with beats that make you bounce and lyrics that leave you with little doubt that Akon is a gangster who is all about the street. Guns aren’t just in the lyrics; gunshots are an instrument that ring out every few bars.

While Akon has not been shot nine times like 50 Cent, the fact that he was a street hustler and served time in jail gives him all the credibility he needs to be respected in the rap world.

However, his lyrics about riding in cars with women, shooting guns and doing deals on the streets would be shocking if they weren’t so clichéd. Certainly, Akon has a right to sing about his experiences, but his perspective adds little that is fresh to the world of rap lyrics.

In Blown Away Akon admits “I ain’t never shot nobody but I’m known for fightin’”. He certainly makes the streets sound like a terrible place to earn a living. It’s a world full of violence, anger and dishonesty. But sadly, Akon doesn’t make an effort to change the game or seriously question the reasons for his involvement.

Yet he also acknowledges the role of religion:

Mama got a little church I could join
But I didn’t go yet
Man got a mosque I could join
But I didn’t go yet
Cool with the devil on my back
I’m in cold sweats

The faith

God and spirituality are themes that pop up several times on Konvicted. Akon is reportedly a Muslim, but his ideas about God seem to be conflicted.

In The Rain Akon feels a disconnection with his purpose and even addresses God:
“Please help me lord, it’s all over. But I can’t escape the rain”.

Tired of Runnin’ continues the theme of street life. But Despite Akon’s previous professions of believing in a personal God, he sings “I learned there’s no one to catch ya when ya falling, and there’ll be no one to hear ya when you’re calling”.

Then in Once in a While he is talking about relying on God again, seeking his protection through trials.

God please hold it down for me
Don’t let Satan get a hold of me
I’m tryin’ to tell you it can happen to me too
But it happened a lot worse to my brother
Muhammad thank God he recovered

While Akon acknowledges Satan’s power as real, I believe the God Akon sings about is neither the Christian nor the Muslim one, but rather a God of Akon’s own creation that is only present when convenient to Akon.

The hits

Casual radio listeners may be familiar with Akon’s two top ten hits: Smack That featuring Eminem and I Wanna Love You featuring Snoop Dogg. Both cover similar territory: the objectification of women.

I’ll allow you to work out what Akon means when he tells a lady he wants to “smack that” but I don’t think it’s good if he’s saying he wants to “smack that ‘til you get sore”.

Then I Wanna Love You is ironically not about loving a woman at all. The fact that the uncensored album version’s chorus actually substitutes another famous four-letter word for “love” indicates what is really on Akon’s mind. Also, he’s watching the said lady “winding and grinding up on that pole” which suggests Akon is looking for love in all the wrong places.

The controversy

If one thinks Akon’s objectification of women is just something restricted to his lyrics a recent transgression at a concert would suggest otherwise. In April 2007, Akon drew criticism for a raunchy dance with a 14-year-old girl on stage at a Trinidad club.

The incident was filmed by Akon’s crew and later uploaded to the Internet. Then came the barrage of criticism. In response, Akon recorded a song which is on his MySpace page titled Sorry, Blame It On Me in which Akon apologises to the young girl for the incident.